crt rebuilding

[AiboPet]

I ran across a few listings for CRT internals when I was looking on ebay for a 4.5" little CRT a couple weeks ago. There were listings for big cases or "flats" of just the gun assemblies that would be used in a rebuild.

I remember thinking just what sort of hardcore TV guy would or COULD rebuild a CRT. I was completely stumped by simply finding a single broken focus pin on a little tiny b/w CRT. I eventually TRIED to look at mine through two sets of magnifiers and NECKED the thing the SECOND I touched it. I forgot you have to be CAREFUL with trying to work behind HIGH magnification and immediately smacked the end of the tube with a pair of needlenose. Broke the little nib off the end of the tube even before I had the chance to try and solder a lead to the broken off focus pin :-(

Must take a whole WORKSHOP of specialised stuff to actually safely remove and replace the gun assembly...AND be able to work with the glass....evacuate the tube, etc.

Wouldn't that be an awesome "attaboy" feeling to accomplish this though and rescue some IMPOSSIBLE old CRT!