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Home Brew Tubes

Discussion in 'Amps/Cabs Tech Corner: Amplifier, Cab & Speakers' started by Trout, Jan 4, 2008.

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  1. Jan 4, 2008 #1
    Trout

    Trout Member

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    Saw this in another forum, Its just to good not to pass along.

    DIY Tube Video
     
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    #1
  2. Jan 4, 2008 #2
    Blue Strat

    Blue Strat Member

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    Great stuff! Thanks for posting.
     
    Blue Strat, Jan 4, 2008
    Blue Strat, Jan 4, 2008
    #2
  3. Jan 4, 2008 #3
    Trout

    Trout Member

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    YVW,

    BTW, his website has a lot of interesting info, though my French is very rusty.

    Trout
     
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    #3
  4. Jan 4, 2008 #4
    Rosewood

    Rosewood Member

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    That may be the smartest guy I've ever seen, great tools too.
     
    Rosewood, Jan 4, 2008
    Rosewood, Jan 4, 2008
    #4
  5. Jan 4, 2008 #5
    uberpict

    uberpict Member

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    DIY!!!???? Well if you're a full fledged EE, ME, glassblower and machinist you might do it yourself, LOL.

    This is, however, a great lesson on how to start up a tube manufacturing shop without the expensive machinery used by the current tube manufacturers. Still takes lots of equipment but not out of reach for someone with the gumption and cash flow to do it.

    +1 This guy has some mad skills and great tools, very impressive!

    Thanks for the link!
     
    uberpict, Jan 4, 2008
    uberpict, Jan 4, 2008
    #5
  6. Jan 4, 2008 #6
    Trout

    Trout Member

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    Based on the past 2 years of farm and estate auctions I have been at, I but you could be as well equipped at this guy for about 4-$5000.
    Saw a cherry bridgeport go last summer with at least $20,000 worth of tooling for under a grand at a farm auction.

    Seems like a heck of a lot of old school machinist had some pretty fine equipment and I see a lot of it lately going cheaper than cheap.

    Credit to the guy in the video though, Guys got skill for sure.

    Trout
     
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    #6
  7. Jan 4, 2008 #7
    Tallhorses

    Tallhorses Member

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    That was awesome...
     
    Tallhorses, Jan 4, 2008
    Tallhorses, Jan 4, 2008
    #7
  8. Jan 4, 2008 #8
    phsyconoodler

    phsyconoodler Member

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    That's what rich French guy's do for relaxation.That and dig for truffles with their pet pigs.
     
    phsyconoodler, Jan 4, 2008
    phsyconoodler, Jan 4, 2008
    #8
  9. Jan 4, 2008 #9
    mr.blacksummer

    mr.blacksummer Member

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    pretty amazing. never have seen that process before. thanks for posting that!
     
    mr.blacksummer, Jan 4, 2008
    mr.blacksummer, Jan 4, 2008
    #9
  10. Jan 4, 2008 #10
    fyrwyr

    fyrwyr Member

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    Very cool, I wonder if he is selling these? If so probably around $300 or so maybe more:eek:
     
    fyrwyr, Jan 4, 2008
    fyrwyr, Jan 4, 2008
    #10
  11. Jan 4, 2008 #11
    TheAmpNerd

    TheAmpNerd Member

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    That was very kewl, thanks.
     
    TheAmpNerd, Jan 4, 2008
    TheAmpNerd, Jan 4, 2008
    #11
  12. Jan 4, 2008 #12
    teleamp

    teleamp Senior Member

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    My thoughts exactly!!!

    MikeY
     
    teleamp, Jan 4, 2008
    teleamp, Jan 4, 2008
    #12
  13. Jan 4, 2008 #13
    conundrum

    conundrum Member

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    Four days in and we already have the Post of The Year:BEER
     
    conundrum, Jan 4, 2008
    conundrum, Jan 4, 2008
    #13
  14. Jan 4, 2008 #14
    The Pup

    The Pup Supporting Member

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    Wow.
     
    The Pup, Jan 4, 2008
    The Pup, Jan 4, 2008
    #14
  15. Jan 4, 2008 #15
    Trout

    Trout Member

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    Now that I have watched the vid a few more times, I just keep seeing more and more genuis. Guy even made his own tube bases.

    I suspect he even made the evacuation pump from the looks of it. Now My wheels are turning haha, Start buying up all the old high output sweep tubes for parts(plate material) and whatever else that can be salvaged and then head over to American Science & Surplus for some Glass!:D

    Like I need another project, my women would kill me!

    Trout
     
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    #15
  16. Jan 4, 2008 #16
    Rosewood

    Rosewood Member

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    What would be a fair price for making a tube, $5000 each? Man that's a lot of work, I'll never again complain about the prices we have to pay for tubes.
     
    Rosewood, Jan 4, 2008
    Rosewood, Jan 4, 2008
    #16
  17. Jan 4, 2008 #17
    GenoBluzGtr

    GenoBluzGtr Supporting Member

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    My next thought is.. how would it sound?

    Amazing. If he hadn't cleaned the glass, he could sell them for extra $ as "smoked glass" versions...
     
    GenoBluzGtr, Jan 4, 2008
    GenoBluzGtr, Jan 4, 2008
    #17
  18. Jan 4, 2008 #18
    Trout

    Trout Member

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    Got That Right,

    It is an art that is dying faster every year.

    Richardson has been running an help wanted ad for several years at the plant up the street from me.

    Glass Blower

    How do you get previous experience at vacuum tube manufacturing here in the USA and still be under or well past retirement age?
     
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    Trout, Jan 4, 2008
    #18
  19. Jan 4, 2008 #19
    LZ_69

    LZ_69 Member

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    I bet someone who used to do light bulbs would be there only hope.
     
    LZ_69, Jan 4, 2008
    LZ_69, Jan 4, 2008
    #19
  20. Jan 4, 2008 #20
    John Phillips

    John Phillips Member

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    Notice how the very first tool he uses is mankind's greatest invention, too :).


    Quite amazing, really! It's the way he does most of the fine work with apparently quite crude tools (not only the Swiss Army knife) that's most impressive in some ways...
     
    John Phillips, Jan 4, 2008
    John Phillips, Jan 4, 2008
    #20
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