31 Jan
2011
31 Jan
'11
4:26 p.m.
Though that said -- don't most CRTs have an
anti-implosion band, which is
intended to stop the glass from spreading out? Or are these CRTs too old (or
small?) for that?
Nearly all CRTs built past the late 1950s really are not all that
dangerous, unlike the thin walled CRTs of the World War 2 vintage. The
glass in the bell is really tough stuff, and is far thicker than it
needs to be. Even if you drop a good sized CRT, it will generally
break where the bell and neck join first, and the neck will get sucked
into the bell. If and when the glass in the bell cracks, the vacuum is
already well on its way to atmospheric pressure.
As a kid, I tried to abuse many CRTs found in old TV sets, and was
always disappointed at how unspectacularly they break.
Really, use caution when handling the things, but don't go overboard.
--
Will