Tungsol 6550 Deconstruct

[CJ]

ran out of transformers to take apart so the next logical choice is tubes

today is a vintage model that looks like it has seen better days,

 

[CJ]

those are called mica insulators for all you young folks out there,

 

[CJ]

looks like the supressor grid is one big chunk of steel,

you can see that the screen has been worked hard, that grid wire thing next in line,

 

[CJ]

i had to use the big dikes to cut thru the tungsten supports, pretty tough steel,

 

[CJ]

looks like the screen grid supports are coated with some type material that is made to withstand the glowing red screen wires when the tubes are really cranking,

that white thing is the cathode, made with poisonous chemicals which can not be used nowadays, which is one of the reasons why new tubes are not as great as the old ones,

 

[CJ]

and there are the heater wires,

no blueprint because these are not diy friendly,

 

[capacitor]

Love it. Great tube to disassemble.

 

[Rusan]

I know they don't/won't/can't last forever anyway, but ya hate to see the best 6550 ever made die by going gassy.

 

[CJ]

looks like they use gold plated grid wire,

the wire is wound into some grooves on the posts, then the posts are crimped, holding the wire in place,

0.004" wire

 

[AnalogPackrat]

looks like the supressor grid is one big chunk of steel,

you can see that the screen has been worked hard, that grid wire thing next in line,

Is the 6550 a beam pentode like the 6V6 and 6L6? That structure looks like beam forming plates.

Interesting.

And the filament is likely thoriated tungsten. Do not lick.

 

[Rusan]

Is the 6550 a beam pentode like the 6V6 and 6L6? That structure looks like beam forming plates.

Interesting.

And the filament is likely thoriated tungsten. Do not lick.

It's a beamie, pretty similar to KT88 but just a wee tad lil' bit less macho. The filament is pure tungsten, unlike the thoriated tungsten dust I've been occupationally exposed to for decades...