What can cause a CRT to implode?

[classictv80s]

Besides trying to remove cataracts by heating it, or dropping the television set?

[zenithfan1]

Hitting the neck of the tube especially, flaws in the glass, sudden extreme temperature changes, sometimes a dirty look can implode a 23EGP22, just kidding {Doug's not laughing}. Handle with extreme care. Act as though it is a giant egg that could implode at any moment when the CRT is outside of the set. Always set it down on its face with a blanket underneath, not too thick as to make it easy to tip. Never lay it down on it's side so pressure is on the neck.

[radiotvnut]

A friend of mine had an early '80's Philco console with a 25" inline tube with mounting ears that was defective. He had a spare Zenith tube without the ears. He installed it in the Philco by using a metal wire band and four brackets to hold the tube in the set. He placed the cabinet in it's normal position and a few seconds later, BLAM! The tube imploded and left him a big mess to clean up. My friend was not hurt, thank God! I guess the makeshift wire band that he had holding the CRT in the set was putting too much pressure on the glass. I generally won't do any sort of improvising to make a CRT fit. If it won't fit by it's intended mounting method, I move on to another tube that is designed for the specific application.

[firenzeprima]

the kinescopes implode, which is the opposite of explode, because in them there but empty air. the breaking of the capsule causes the attraction of splinters of glass to the inside and then later expand to outside. The implosion is dangerous because it risks being hit by splinters of glass large. So all the maximum precautions must be taken to avoid this.
kinesscopes robustness of the screen is very high and very low on the neck. I happened to see televisions rolled up the stairs or fallen from the car which suffered damage to houses but the tube remained intact, while conversely stuck on the hoof neck it was in my hand. Always do care. and example of egg ZENITHFAN1 is perfect.

[zenith2134]

Had my DuMont osillograph's 5AFP1 crt out tonight. It notes on the bell to 'never exert force when handling' Bet it has zero implosion protection.

If a scratch on the tubes face is deep enough, there could be some risk of implosion.

[kx250rider]

It's anybody's guess. Usually, it's caused by improper handling, but I've seen tubes implode in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. An analogy for those of us who ride motorcycles in city traffic. Oncoming cars aren't supposed to turn left in front of us, and most don't but one MIGHT! So plan accordingly. CRTs usually don't implode, but when one does, be sure you're protected.

Charles

[firenzeprima]

that the tubes implode on the night for no apparent reason seems strange, if one happens right outcome. or are oscillations / vibrations that are echoing the kinescopes, or bump in temperature which detach the glue between its component parts, or earlier suffered shock or defects in construction. Have tried to sing in front of a kinescopes? sometimes the sound waves of a certain frequency and intensity issued interfere with electron guns creating waves on the surface of colored phosphors. Try to believe!

[Kiwick]

modern CRTs (starting in 1964 but mostly 70s onward) with tensioned rimbands are usually quite safe, you can throw a rock at them or hit them with a hammer and they would just fracture and slowly lose their vacuum without imploding

the only way to implode them is to smash them face-down on the floor, but even then most of the glass remains within a few feet.

Of course, a CRT with a missing or weakened rimband (rusted away...) is a real time bomb!

Older unprotected CRTs, the ones with separate safety glasses or bonded lenses are a lot weaker and far more likely to implode when disturbed, and they usually throw larger shards at higher speeds...

[drknstrmyknight]

I've found a .380 auto very effective at close range, especially if my team lost in the final seconds.

[thisOne]

Originally Posted by drknstrmyknight

I've found a .380 auto very effective at close range, especially if my team lost in the final seconds.

I think for those without bullets a heavy ashtray or a half full bottle of Jack Daniels might do...

[ccheath]

I used to pick up the picture tube by the neck. But that was a long time ago when I was a stupid kid. Wonder it didn't implode on me.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by Kiwick

modern CRTs (starting in 1964 but mostly 70s onward) with tensioned rimbands are usually quite safe, you can throw a rock at them or hit them with a hammer and they would just fracture and slowly lose their vacuum without imploding

the only way to implode them is to smash them face-down on the floor, but even then most of the glass remains within a few feet.

Of course, a CRT with a missing or weakened rimband (rusted away...) is a real time bomb!

Older unprotected CRTs, the ones with separate safety glasses or bonded lenses are a lot weaker and far more likely to implode when disturbed, and they usually throw larger shards at higher speeds...

I saw a mid '80's GE 25" console that someone's kid shot the screen with a BB gun and all it did was leave a hole in the screen. I saw another early '70's Zenith 4-tube hybrid 25" console where someone (that I knew) got mad and hit the screen with a baseball bat. It cracked the tube but it did not implode. I've heard that a CRT is not likely to implode if you knock it's neck off or break off the tip on the end of the neck. OTOH, I've created quite a few productions when I'd throw older B&W tubes without implosion protection in the dump. A TV repairman friend of mine told me that he would shoot all of the dud tubes when he hauled them off just to make sure someone didn't get hurt in the event one of them imploded. That was back in the '60's and early '70's, before we had all the "illegal dumping" laws that we have now.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by ccheath

I used to pick up the picture tube by the neck. But that was a long time ago when I was a stupid kid. Wonder it didn't implode on me.

I saw one of our local so-called TV repairmen doing that once and I got all over him. He just laughed at me. I told him we'd see how hard he was laughing when one broke and he got cut all to pieces.

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by ccheath

I used to pick up the picture tube by the neck. But that was a long time ago when I was a stupid kid. Wonder it didn't implode on me.

I think that's basically OK as long as you're not trying it with a 36" Sony Wega tube . I do it routinely with tubes up to 25". Just keep the grip straight; no sideways force or the neck could snap off and slice your hand.

Charles

[mr_fixer]

Somewhere at sometime i have read that "Nature abhors a vacuum" so if you think about it, every vacuum tube at one time or another will fail even if it is a billion years from now. Logan