Tube DIY Asylum

Posted by ironbut (A) on July 02, 2009 at 17:57:31

Close on the heels of that terminal strip thread, I'm looking for some nice 1/4" anode caps that actually make a decent contact and sit straight on the tubes. It seems like all the smaller ones are pretty much the same design,.. Cheap!

I seem to remember seeing some that looked like they were cut from a rod of teflon so they sat on top like a stove top hat (without the brim).

Maybe if I can't find any, I can make them myself and rig up a set screw instead of relying on the spring metal that I have to bend every time I pull a tube in or out.
Doing a nice neat job of boring a hole into a rod lengthwise doesn't sound like much fun though.
Hmm, maybe a nice plug of finished maple with a teflon tubing sleeve might work though,.. or ebony or,..a popes mitre!

Well, you can see how my mind works. Please save me from myself and tell me where I can buy the ones I'm thinking of!

• RE: Anode caps - Al Noakes 10:04:34 07/03/09 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by ironbut on July 02, 2009 at 17:57:31

  Tear up some 20mm chassis mount fuse holders or find some 20mm PCB mount fuse terminals . These should fit but will need insulating , if some 1/2" teflon rod is parted off and drilled out , this should make good insulation
  
  Al
  

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• Spark plug leads - andy evans 04:30:09 07/03/09 (4)
  In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by ironbut on July 02, 2009 at 17:57:31

  For that automotive look!
  
  andy
  

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  • RE: Spark plug leads - ironbut 08:39:47 07/03/09 (3)
    In Reply to: RE: Spark plug leads posted by andy evans on July 03, 2009 at 04:30:09

    I sometimes wonder about some of the really high tech (supposedly) leads that they sell for use in high demand racing arenas like F1 or drag racing (where one iffy stroke of a piston could easily loose a race) might be well suited for B+ leads.

    
    

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    Edits: 07/03/09

    • RE: Spark plug leads - PakProtector 08:49:11 07/03/09 (2)
      In Reply to: RE: Spark plug leads posted by ironbut on July 03, 2009 at 08:39:47

      hey-Hey!!!,
      I suspect you'd wish to avoid the EMI supression types, connector:copper wire core:connector, and the whole thing wrapped well in silicone insulation. Carbon conductor, and 3k Ohm resistance sorts need not apply.
      cheers,
      Douglas
      
      Friend, I would not hurt thee for the world...but thou art standing where I am about to shoot.
      
      

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      • Does Kimber make spark plug leads? - Ray Moth 20:35:03 07/05/09 (1)
        In Reply to: RE: Spark plug leads posted by PakProtector on July 03, 2009 at 08:49:11

        Problem is, you'd need at least 3 in parallel :)
        

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        • RE: Does Kimber make spark plug leads? - PakProtector 17:37:59 07/06/09 (0)
          In Reply to: RE: Does Kimber make spark plug leads? posted by Ray Moth on July 05, 2009 at 20:35:03

          Kimber makes lots of money from off people who can't tell the difference. I'd love to see you guess at who said that...:)
          cheers,
          Douglas
          
          Friend, I would not hurt thee for the world...but thou art standing where I am about to shoot.
          
          

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• RE: Anode caps - Caucasian Blackplate 22:05:27 07/02/09 (3)
  In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by ironbut on July 02, 2009 at 17:57:31

  The best anode cap connection is to solder. The top of the terminal on the tube is actually solder. You can bend a loop in some wire and solder it in, then slide a slice of glass tubing or teflon over for insulation.
  
  Of course, doing this makes tube rolling a biatch!
  
  
  (Will you be at RMAF? I am 99 percent sure Dan is going)
  

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  • RE: Anode caps - ironbut 23:17:54 07/02/09 (2)
    In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by Caucasian Blackplate on July 02, 2009 at 22:05:27

    Hey Paul,
    
    I think once my rolling activities slow down I might just go with solder and a decorative insulator.
    
    I haven't even thought about RMAF yet. Now that you mention it, I might just go for it. I had a great time there two years ago (there was a great after hours party in the Guru speakers room,.. I just followed the platters of shellfish and Absolute).
    

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    • RE: Anode caps - Caucasian Blackplate 23:25:21 07/02/09 (1)
      In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by ironbut on July 02, 2009 at 23:17:54

      Lol, afterparties are fun.
      
      Hey, you were in the hotel bar Saturday night at VSAC weren't you?
      

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      • RE: Anode caps - ironbut 01:14:30 07/03/09 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by Caucasian Blackplate on July 02, 2009 at 23:25:21

        Yup,
        
        That was the night when Mikey kept asking "Where's Dan?"
        What a pack of characters!
        

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• RE: Anode caps - ironbut 18:53:48 07/02/09 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by ironbut on July 02, 2009 at 17:57:31

  
  
  

  
  Well a hot shower just jogged my memory. It was on Wavac amps that I saw them. Now that I look at the pictures, they look to be the size of small "dixie cups".
  

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• RE: Anode caps - benie 18:29:04 07/02/09 (2)
  In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by ironbut on July 02, 2009 at 17:57:31

  These ones are not Teflon, but I use these and they have a very, very tight grip and they have a Cool factor as well. :O)

  • http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK   (Open in New Window)

  
  

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  • RE: Anode caps - ironbut 18:40:18 07/02/09 (1)
    In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by benie on July 02, 2009 at 18:29:04

    Nice!
    
    If I can't come up with the ones I was thinking of, those look like a winner!
    
    Thanks a million. I'm sure you've saved me a few hand wounds.
    

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    • RE: Anode caps - Michael Koster 21:59:05 07/06/09 (0)
      In Reply to: RE: Anode caps posted by ironbut on July 02, 2009 at 18:40:18

      
      
      

      
      These are the ebay ones that fit 1/4" caps. They have a stamped contact
      made of some kind of soft spring bronze that can be shaped and soldered.
      They make a tight contact but I don't know how well they would hold up to
      a lot of tube rolling. I had one that was too tight which dented the top
      cap of a damper diode.
      
      
      
      

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