EBay also sells "socket protectors" from time to time -- I have both 7 and 9 pin ones on the miniature sockets on my Hickok tube checker -- and have just taken EBay delivery of another 9 pin one since the one that's been atop the tube tester's front panel for 20 some years is beginning not to make good contact with tubes under test pins anymore. (go figure)
Good luck ! Mike/ K5MGR _________________________________ Mike Langner 929 Alameda Road NW Albuquerque, NM 87114-1901 (505) 898-3212 home/home office (505) 238-8810 cell [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Boatanchors [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Glen Zook via Boatanchors Sent: Friday, August 19, 2016 8:28 AM To: Paul Kraemer; Bob Groh; boatanchor; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Has anyone ever cut the glass top off a miniaturetube to re-use the base? It is also possible to make a plug from a 9-pin or 7-pin molded type miniature tube socket. Put suitable gauge solid wire in each of the tube pin positions and then solder the wires in place. Trim the wires to the proper length. Of course, remove the sheet metal bracket that is used to hold the socket to the chassis. This makes for a suitable plug that doesn't look "half bad"! I have done this a number of times and the plugs work very well. Glen, K9STH Website: http://k9sth.net From: Paul Kraemer <[email protected]> To: Bob Groh <[email protected]>; boatanchor <[email protected]>; [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 19, 2016 9:12 AM Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Has anyone ever cut the glass top off a miniaturetube to re-use the base? Bob I have done that to obtain 7 pin plug. My poor experience using the "all you gotta do" glass cutting tricks I went a different way---used the cut off wheel on a Dremel. For safety I put the tube and cutter in a heavy plastic bag and that way all the debris was safely bagged and minimized any risk to my eyes if something went wrong. The cut was nice and clean and the side of the disc ground it smooth. Soldering to the pins requires scraping them clean and bright and using a good flux like Rubyfluid. Filling the "plug" with epoxy after soldering wires get you there. Also, the real deal plugs do show up on ebay once in a while, 9s more common than 7s. Making circuit board plugs is also a possibility but you need to solder suitable pins to some pretty small pads and then not unsolder them when you connect to the back ends of the pins. It works but not a quantity producible solution by any means---unless you just sell the circuit board and loose pins and let the buyer deal with it. Too bad those Vector plugs of the 70's are history. _______________________________________________ Boatanchors mailing list [email protected] https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors _______________________________________________ Boatanchors mailing list [email protected] https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
