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Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Marking Tubes  (Read 2916 times)

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Offline tubesornothing

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Marking Tubes
« on: June 10, 2011, 03:31:17 pm »
Hi all.  I go through a lot of tubes.  I would like some way to mark them so I know approx when I purchased them and who the supplier was.  This would help me greatly in determining if some suppliers, who pre-test their tubes, are worth the extra cost.  I already do this with pre-amp tubes, just using a labeller.  I cannot do this with power tubes though.  Any suggestions?  Any kind of a hi-temp marker that wont burn off?

Offline jojokeo

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Re: Marking Tubes
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2011, 04:08:55 pm »
I use masking tape or painter's tape on the phenolic base and write on that w/ a Sharpie. Works for me.
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

Offline tubesornothing

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Re: Marking Tubes
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2011, 05:11:23 pm »
Yeah,  I shoulda specified EL84s. Little beggers...

Offline LooseChange

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Re: Marking Tubes
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2011, 10:17:03 pm »
Sharpies work great for me.  I even have a silver one to mark the black bases if i need to.
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Offline bluesbear

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Re: Marking Tubes
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2011, 09:32:12 am »
You can write on the glass with a Sharpie. The heat won't affect it and it won't hurt the tubes. I've matched tubes this way for years with no problems.
Dave

Offline tubesornothing

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Re: Marking Tubes
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2011, 09:33:39 am »
Sounds good I will give it a shot - thanks!

Offline jeff

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Re: Marking Tubes
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2011, 08:06:59 am »
 Watch out for using masking tape on tube bases. I did this and used the tubes, next time I looked at the tubes the heat baked on the masking tape.

 


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