How might I evacuate tube of my own? Keep in mind I don't have 700 dollars for a pump. Is there any way, using 'house hold' items, or shall I say those AND whatever might be in a typical radio shop. (I can always get things from the local hardware shop too) I don't need a hard vacuum, just enough to get some use out of it. (Just a diode. I thought it might be a fun project.) The fil needs to light up, and emit electrons that can flow to the plate with some amount of current, NTM, a low amount of air left over, so it would function for more than an hour. I have a few getters from broken tubes. I am quite aware that this is hard to do... But any ideas?

Don't say it's not possible. An old friend of mine has done it twice before, but he left state, and I've been out of contact.

This reminds me back in the early '60's we used to make a light bulb by using a bell jar with a candle wax seal against a board. We used magnet wire to make a filament and then lit a candle inside the jar just before sealing the jar to the board to use up the oxygen so the "filament" would not burn out due to the oxygen in the air. It did work after a fashion, but I doubt this will work for a tube! Maybe you can borrow a vaccum pump from a AC guy?

Well, I don't yet have the elements fixed to anything... So I could do a similar thing, perhaps a more permanent sealant, and I'll give it a try! Thanks for the tip!

Well, I used a 9v flashlight fil, and once sealed, I applied 6v. Perhaps too many amps or something, because it lit VERY bright, and commenced to burn up. I'm going to go get another bulb and try a lower voltage, but so far so good!

John (badrestorer) just this week posted a video of a project one of his grandson's was doing where he was making light bulbs. The kit had a large clear plastic sleeve, rubber stopper at the bottom, rubber stopper at the top, connection for a manual vacuum pump and various wires that could be used as filaments.

You assembled the parts you were going to test, hand pumped a vacuum (probably not all that good) and then applied power to test various types of filament wires.

The same basic approach could be made to produce a tube.

Having said all of that, did you realize you can make an electron tube that works without any vacuum?

Yep, I've seen it done. The trick is that you can't use a filament for the heat source, but you can use a candle.

Remember the heater really is just a heater, and the vacuum is mostly there to keep that filament from oxidizing and buring out.

Curtis Eickerman

There are actual vacuum pumps for under $20. Also if you have one of those cheap little auto tire inflaters they can be converted to vacuum pumps.

http://www.instructables.com/id/convert ... or-into-a/

Curtis Eickerman

But, besides keeping the fil. from burning up, it is also much easier for electrons to move about, i.e. less plate plate voltage needed. But i actually had no idea... Nice fact! I also just remembered that I recently broke a 6X4, and cut out the elements for some odd little project down the road... That project just came. I could probably use the heater and cathode instead of a flashlight filament. Anyways, I'm out to try again!

(I'll look into those pumps.)

Keep in mind that these are not super wiz-bang pumps so the filaments may not last very long, but it could be worth a try.

Curtis Eickerman

The candle technique works, but not for too long. On to the pump!

You should check out H. P. Friedrich's book "Instruments of Amplification". He has some pictures of his home-made tubes in his photo gallery.

Here's the Amazon page on his book.

Has anyone ever canned or shall I say jarred foods? It creates a preserving vacuum... If I did a similar process with electrodes and wax instead of goods, would the vacuum be strong enough to get any operation?

You sure could make a decent vacuum, with the same principle, but at a MUCH higher temperature... like, maybe 1000F.
All you're doing is trapping expanded air and allowing it to cool, so the hotter the better.

I doubt it. The vacuum in canning is to make a perfect seal around the lid. It's not much of a vacuum actually. A bicycle pump can be altered to make a vacuum instead of pressure and can pull a very good vacuum. Some compressors can be re-plumbed to pull a vacuum. I'll bet you could make a pretty good vacuum pump from a car a/c compressor and electric motor.

Electric compressor: Cannot be re-designed as a vacuum. Bike pump: Same problem. I can always go and buy another... but I am really lazy right now so for now I'll try the canning idea.

Google converting a refrigerator compressor into a vacuum pump.

Pete

Here we go--a flame triode

http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/flame-amp/flameamp.htm

How might I create 1000 degrees or so Fahrenheit?

Cool flame triode.

A lot of fun simple stuff on that website for those who like to make things that can amuse and potentially deliver a lethal zap!

Hmm... For some reason I can't seem to create a pump that can be pumped multiple times, keeping the vacuum. It's a one pump deal... Any ideas why, or what to do now?