I've made a bloody mess!

[veg-o-matic]

Well, it's too late to do anything about the tubes 'cause I've already sent them off. On the good side, a lot of what I've read seems to point accusingly to that 6GF7A vertical output tube, so maybe getting a new one will do something.

Digital multimeter, eh? Well, I guess the budget will stretch for one. Plus, they're small and a reasonably fun gadget so I'll go shopping soon.

Frankly, though, I just can't see myself patiently testing all these voltages in a logical manner. I'm thinking 10 minutes tops, then I go take a nap.

As for gaining skill and knowledge through experience, well, I can easily see myself getting a really bad perm before any of that "knowledge" stuff sinks in.

Case in point: I got hold of a do-it-yourself TV service book from 1969 yesterday. Looking through it, I see a how to discharge the high-voltage anode (??-- suction cup thing on the CRT). Okay, you attach one end of a lead to the high-voltage cage, then pull the suction cup and poke the other end of the lead to the connector. I'm thinking that lead ought to be pretty heavy duty, but there was no mention of it. And here's the kicker: the picture illustrates the process with the guy's arm leaning on the HV cage while he does it.

Heaven knows I'm no expert, but isn't that kind of...what's the word I'm looking for...assholic?

Well, back to the drawing board. If you don't hear from me for a while, send flowers.