This Week's Video: Cataract removal
 

So I did a video showing my methods on RCA and Zenith style cataract removal with a surprise twist.
Just what we all need mid winter: something to make us look forward to our summer TV repair work. It will go live in 30 minutes from this post.

https://youtu.be/F8Wfg1I1Z8Y

Good content. I’m planning to deal with the 21FJP22 in my Admiral this summer after a few years of procrastination and being too busy with other stuff has kept me from getting around to it.

For an RCA type, is there any merit to soaking the tube for maybe a week or so then using the guitar string method?

The only merit I can see is the tube will be cleaner given my experience with the water method.

So I have had 2 CTC-25s come through my hands. The first one I soaked in water for 2 months, then radiator fluid for another 2 months because I heard etheline glycol (spelling?) was supposed to help...I didn't see any noticable change in the cataract. Then it became the tube where the face cracked because I tried mirrors with the sun method. I don't recall trying guitar string on it but if I did it didn't work. That set I was fixing for a friend so I had to get another CRT after my mistake...

The second CTC25 was the RCA in the video.

The only thing I have ever seen change in a water cataract removal under a year long was exposed metal rusting. I suspect the water method only works during winter freeze thaw cycles or on tubes with severe cataracts...The tubes I saw with the worst cataracts had all been stored in unclimate-controled spaces.

Nice place to work on videos there Tom! Mr. C. does cateracts is a great sideshow for any TV restoration, giving me confidence to do some rectangular Zeniths.:D You just need noisy air traffic, sirens and sauntering cats!

I liked most that 21" roundie you threw in there. My easiest 21" was the stored in barn RCA 'FJP using the hazy gray S.G. that fell off, but I'm all for worst case scenarios. An RCA 'FJP' in a 66 GE CB-21 was not good ju-ju, leaving a 5"x5"SG piece in the center that I had to coax off with an aquarium mat heater (30 watts for reptiles' radiant comfort). This was the ONLY way without using a heat gun or a targeted radiant heater, risking hot spots on the CRT envelope itself. It was also COLD in my barn when I did it.

The 23EGP22 I have to do is a C-M rebuilt ca. 1973, looks like RCA PVA. If it doesn't grenade itself and me with it, and I'm leaving mounting bands on, the video would be a good complement to yours.

P.S. I will schedule on a 90+ degree sunny day, make wedges of softer cedar and use safety gear. This last item to quiet protests of onlookers and make them stand back if they get too close:thumbsdn:. In SE PA, such a hot one arrives before memorial day, bet on it:thmbsp:.

Thanks for the kind words Dave.

I wish we had nice cats here. Back in Florida there were easily half a dozen normal friendly ones. Here there's only one a lone crazy one that saunters up, acts friendly, then bites after petting it a time or 3... I've learned to ignore it to avoid bites.
We get wild turkeys and deer occasionally though they aren't big on humans.

Definitely have lots of safety gear working on 23EGPs. I'm pretty sure the tube that popped on Doug and turned him off to heat gun work was an EGP. IIRC ohers have had those pop on them too.

Back in the ancient of days were thrilled when bonded tubes hit the aftermarket.

In 2 hours my next cataracting video will premere. Dealing with winter and non-standard removals.

https://youtu.be/ZD6sF3xATZ4