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Can you touch the tubes?

I was talking to someone at the tube store about replacing some KT 150 tubes and he said it was perfectly fine to touch the tubes.

I've always thought you're supposed to handle these things very carefully with white gloves or a microfiber cloth.

Handling them with my fingers makes it easier to pull them out , insert them more securely.

Does it really matter if my fingerprints get on the glass or should I clean them off with a microfiber cloth after I touch them?

emergingsoul
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,620 posts
 

If you don't want to touch the tubes something that works well is a small piece of plastic wrap like Glad cling wrap.You can still get a firm grip on them. I used to do that when I first got into tube gear.If my hands are clean I don't worry about it anymore.

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,607 posts
 

Not a problem for HiFi vacuum tubes, though it's best to only touch/move tubes that have cooled down (not always doable with a musical instrument/PA amp in use/demand).

https://i.discogs.com/TU_M5i6i4CvCz7BKbVTOHYKhqR9UhAHf8DWxwpXnbvA/rs:fit/g:sm/q:40/h:300/w:300/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTUyMzcz/ODctMTM4ODQwNjAy/NC05NzIzLmpwZWc.jpeg

 

DeKay

roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,012 posts
 

Some say that if you touch them with bare skin the oil gets into the glass, but I doubt that too. I will say that it's a bad idea to touch 845 tubes when they're hot!🤬

roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,012 posts
 

@dekay 

That group should be named The Douchettes.

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,607 posts
 

Roxy:

Yes, they are not creepy @ all.

 

DeKay

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