Tubes, to damp or not to damp?

George, that Silicone-Mouth-Gag looks pretty kinky!

Years ago I bought silicone O-rings at a marine supply store.  They are red and look just like those in your link.

They worked fine on driver tubes in a amp (open air, not enclosed) as well as tubes in preamps.

I may be imagining things but I seem to remember putting Tube Socks over my Quicksilver Mono Amp's output tubes.

There are different silicone compositions. Some of the compositions are ferrous, some are not (alloys). Others just a single added element, like lead, copper, or silver. The highest temp silicones are conductive, (graphite, carbon).
The high temp o-rings in hydraulics are very dark, nytrill, teflon, silicone all kinds of o rings for REAL high temp...

I’ve seen entire pieces of heavy equipment burned to the ground. Aluminum pumps burn the O-Ring was still there...

The high temp SILICONE HOSES, engine block, rims and frame, was all, that was left. Aluminum/Magnesium, burn just fine, add a little diesel
yahoo, ride um cowboy.

50 years I’ve always removed the o-rings. Valves acting a little shady.
Microphonics for me, means one thing, change the valve... I don’t use
valves to play instruments. I use them to reproduce, what someone else
has already messed with.. Not mess with the sound while it’s being reproduced...

Easier to stay out of trouble, than get out of trouble.

 O-Rings are just that... They will distort the glass, too. Never been a fan...


Regards

Whether you're a fan of tube damping or not, O-rings are too tight and apply pressure on the glass.

The stock dampers on ARC amps are probably ok since they selected them or they're proprietary.