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6L6 Suitabilitay for creating X-Rays

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Dragon64

Mon Aug 29 2011, 12:57AM

Registered Member #1438 Joined: Sat Apr 12 2008, 12:57AM
Location: Canada
Posts: 218

After some time searching any tubes in the local area, I've managed to find someone selling a bunch for a very cheap price.
However, I'm wondering if any of these tubes are applicable for generating even a bit of x-ray using a power supply of 35kv or more.

From the looks of some data sheet of the 6L6 Tubes listed below and the picture from the seller, there seems to be some metallic getter but I could be wrong.

The ones indicated are the following (these are all 6L6)
- 2 Mesa
- 2 Sylvania
- 1 Groove Tube
- 1 Fender

If all comes to worst and these tubes are not usable for generating x-rays, I could just use them since I've never played with any tubes in my life.

*Added picture of the tubes below*

Shrad

Mon Aug 29 2011, 08:17AM

Registered Member #3215 Joined: Sun Sept 19 2010, 08:42PM
Location:
Posts: 780

you should sell those on ebay as they are reputed musical tubes (look at the brands)

go compare the prices on ebay and figure out what you could offer you as an x-ray tube for the price you'll be able to sell them

Dragon64

Mon Aug 29 2011, 04:48PM

Registered Member #1438 Joined: Sat Apr 12 2008, 12:57AM
Location: Canada
Posts: 218

Wow some of these tubes goes up to $70+ on ebay and I'm getting all 6 tubes for $25. The only problem is that I'm inexperienced at selling anything on ebay.

But still I'm curious if I could just keep one of them to produce a small amount of x-ray and perhaps find a buyer for the other five

radiotech

Mon Aug 29 2011, 06:27PM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
Location:
Posts: 1546

What you could try is connecting all the pins on the base together to one wire. Then make tinfoil wraps or caps
placed at places where the gettering shows. (this is the silvery zone on the inside of the bulb.

Connect the foil to the high side of your 35kV source and the low side to the wire from the
base connections. Don't let the voltage flash back to the base. The mischmetal in the getter
might contain something that an electron could knock hard enough.

Pay attention to any faint visible glows seen in your various tubes. Are any
of your tubes Soviet in origin?

Dragon64

Mon Aug 29 2011, 08:15PM

Registered Member #1438 Joined: Sat Apr 12 2008, 12:57AM
Location: Canada
Posts: 218

So I just went and bought it anyways since it was cheap enough.

radiotech wrote ...

Pay attention to any faint visible glows seen in your various tubes. Are any
of your tubes Soviet in origin?

All of the tubes are American. There does seem to be a pretty thick layer of getter on most the tubes.
Should I power the heater filament or run the tube cold?

*Here's a better picture I took of the tube*

testtest

Mon Aug 29 2011, 09:39PM

Registered Member #3271 Joined: Mon Oct 04 2010, 02:29AM
Location: Canada
Posts: 159

I would find someone with a tube tester and see if they still have good emission. If so, sell them on e-bay to someone who will appreciate what these classics can do in a good amp instead of **^%$#%$** them!

There are many other tubes (like HV rectifiers and shunts) for old color TVs that give a lot of x-rays, can be had cheaply and have no real use nowadays.

Dragon64

Mon Aug 29 2011, 10:10PM

Registered Member #1438 Joined: Sat Apr 12 2008, 12:57AM
Location: Canada
Posts: 218

richnormand wrote ...

I would find someone with a tube tester and see if they still have good emission. If so, sell them on e-bay to someone who will appreciate what these classics can do in a good amp instead of **^%$#%$** them!

There are many other tubes (like HV rectifiers and shunts) for old color TVs that give a lot of x-rays, can be had cheaply and have no real use nowadays.

If I'm going to sell these, I might have to sell it locally. Never sold anything on eBay before and I don't want anything going wrong with shipping etc.

pauleddy

Tue Aug 30 2011, 03:18AM

Registered Member #2909 Joined: Wed Jun 09 2010, 12:31AM
Location: fort belvoir, Va USA ( south of DC)
Posts: 145

try to sell them here, someone might want them, shoot if i had the extra cash i would buy them. i have allways wanted to build an oldschool tube amp

Shrad

Tue Aug 30 2011, 08:04PM

Registered Member #3215 Joined: Sun Sept 19 2010, 08:42PM
Location:
Posts: 780

same here ;)

it would be a crime to fry those, and a crime not to get the money they could provide for nice HV projects ;)

radiotech

Fri Sept 09 2011, 03:59AM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
Location:
Posts: 1546

Should I power the heater filament or run the tube cold?

Run them cold. You are interested in getting the mass of metal in the tube to let flee some electrons,
that could smash into gettering coating under electrostatic force.

Edit- Forgot to mention that this method of trying to get X-Rays from 6L6 tubes shouldn't harm the tubes
as long as you use a spark coil with very low energy output. Somewhere on-line you may find
C.L. Stongs circuit diagram of Simons' X-ray apparatus which is what you are trying to do.(p 510
The Amateur Scientist)

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