1963 RCA CTC-12 Ainsworth (Australian)

[Eric H]

That cataract is so bad it may just fall off once the tube is removed!

I soaked a safety glass off a tube last year, it was on a NOS rebuilt tube and was still tightly bonded but the safety glass had been cracked. It took a few weeks to get it all off but I figured it was worth the time so I wouldn't risk imploding it with heat.

[Fairlane500skyliner]

Originally Posted by Eric H

That cataract is so bad it may just fall off once the tube is removed!

I soaked a safety glass off a tube last year, it was on a NOS rebuilt tube and was still tightly bonded but the safety glass had been cracked. It took a few weeks to get it all off but I figured it was worth the time so I wouldn't risk imploding it with heat.

I'm hoping you're right about the cataract!

I've also attached the documentation the seller emailed me, including the modified tube line-up and the PAL decoder.

Chris

[DaveWM]

hot wire will not, have not tried fishing line, but doubt it, the bonding agent can be VERY tough. I say very since I have come across some that were tougher than others. There are two types.

Green around the edges, is a oily messy kind that can but cut thru with safety wire (no need to heat). It more like a stiff jello, messy but not hard to cut thru.

white around the edges, Much tougher, can be rock hard or rubbery either way will not respond the hot wire (red hot will not effect it, I tried it). best bet on those is just to get soak the face in water ( I used a small plastic kiddie pool) about 4" deep to make sure you get under the glass. Remove the plastic tape around the edge to allow the water better access.

do this for as long as you can, I did one for a couple months, longer the better.

the idea is to get the bonding agent more of a rubbery consistency. After this you dig out chunks around the perimeter mount the tube in a support structure (a large stable round can like a garbage can) and leave it out in the sun on a hot day. in Florida summer days are in the 90's (air temp) for hours, in the sun things get hotter. using small wood wedges (like wood clothespins) inserted around the perimeter (where the chuck where dug out) you "gently" tap these wedges in to exert upward pressure all around the lens. The key is to go slow you just tap the wedges in until the make light contact with a little upward pressure. Too much and you break the glass making removal much more of a problem. The sun heat and the light pressure take time to work so you just make sure the wedges are snug and walk away for 30 min, come back see if any are loose, if so lightly tap them in until just snug (from pressing up on the lens). then walk away.

based on the look of yours it looks like soaking in for a week just to soften up the part that has already come loose will be enough time in the water. then dig out some chunks and begin the process described above.

The key is not to rush the upward pressure. Oh and make sure the can the CRT is resting in will not tip over.

[Ampico-kid]

Here's an indepth discussion about cataract removal from a few years back here on VK. It also includes a number of pictures and lots of hands on experiences.

http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=250651