Clogged tube adapter

[maarten]

Hi,

I just reached page 44 which tests the tubes.
I noticed one of my tube holders has two clogged holes. There seems to be some resin/plastic inside.
The tube hasn't really seen any "action" so I don't think this is an accident through soldering -- the bottom also looks intact.
I guess I'll just find the tiniest drill I can and try and drill the resin out. It's quite hard!

[Paul Birkeland]

I would get a set of small metal punches and a really small hammer, then gently tap on that with a small metal punch until it breaks away.  I suspect this is glaze for the ceramic socket, and it should break away about like glass would.

[maarten]

In the end used a small philips screwdriver and drilled through the glass -- it is indeed a glass substance. I was working at night and wanted to avoid sound

Thanks - was mostly sharing so that people who run into the same know how to find this -- I bent one of the lamp legs before I figured out what was happening - but no harm done they're all glowing brightly now.

[Paul Birkeland]

Yes, that is really an unusual problem.  I've probably handled over 1000 of these little 9 pin sockets over the years, and I can't ever remember running into that!