Progress Reports on the ETF Rebuilding Project

[Username1]

I agree on your thoughts on volume production, 1 a day is a good idea.

And by all means seal the leaks ! Just think about a house with energy costs...
Seal the lower end, it will be cooler....

You might think about making a "hat" with ear flaps you can just pull down outside
the oven, it may just be easier to deal with.... And you won't give up any inside volume.
Close the door, pull the hat down....

You may find you need to add a heating element too.....

.

[ppppenguin]

It is possible to pump a CRT without baking. This was done for the 6/6 rebuild at Display Electronics in 1986. They gave 2 reasons. One was worries about the state of the pyrex, fears that it might implode due to all the imperfections in the glass. The other was the purely practical point that the CRT was too long for their oven.

The CRT worked very well after rebuild but I don't know how it's doing a few years on. The set with this CRT is currently in store at the National Media Museum, Bradford.

I know that the CRT wasn't left down to air for very long. While the gun was away for rebuilding they fitted the graded seal and rough pumped it. They also fitted a generous amount of getter.