Attempted Non-Destructive Cleanup of a Sputtered Brewster Window

[Sigurthr]

Just a lil something I've been up to.

Brewster Tube Internal Sputter Cleanup Attempt - YouTube


It didn't work, but was worth a shot. Got the tube for the cost of shipping.

 

[ultimatekaiser]

Interesting. I can't think of a good way to clean the window without removing it...but it would indeed make a nice lamp most MG brewsters run at 1400-1600V-ish, at 6.5mA depending on ballast.... probably someone who ran it reverse polarity or it has a bad connection to the cathode as you mentioned. Baking the tube is just going to kill it fast though....I wonder if there's a way to repel the aluminum off the surface? doubt it though, it looks like alot and its caked on pretty good.

 

[Sigurthr]

I'm not sure it is aluminium from the can either. I think it is from the brass/bronze lead-in cathode connection. It looks bronze in color on the window as well.

 

[ultimatekaiser]

might be zinc. and if that's the case, it's not coming off short of acid.

 

[Sigurthr]

Yep. 'Tis a lamp now (or will be when I get a spare hv supply - might make one if I feel like it) since the faulty cathode connection is a death sentence.

FWIW, -some- of the sputter had lightened in intensity from the RF torture. Blasting a tube meant for 12W with 300W will do that though.

 

[ultimatekaiser]

Yeah, it's probably done a number on the cathode as a whole.