How do you dispose of defective tubes?

ken · « **on:** 1 Dec 2011, 08:28 pm »

I was just wondering if there was anything inside a vacuum tube that deems it as hazardous waste or can it just be disposed of with household trash

woodsyi · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Dec 2011, 08:46 pm »

Vacuum tube may mean lack of anything inside?

Wayner · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Dec 2011, 09:45 pm »

Pitch 'em. There's worse stuff in there right now. Call these "buffers".

bregez · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Dec 2011, 10:02 pm »

Tubes can be recycled.
You could always make a Chess set.
Or perhaps a Wreath for the holiday season.

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Dec 2011, 10:14 pm »

I believe that there are going to be some nasties in those tubes which would get them classified as hazardous waste ( mercury comes to mind ). A quick call to a disposal facility should get you the info you need provided that there's someone there old enough to know what a vacuum tube is...Good on ya for caring enough to ask.

D.D.

santacore · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Dec 2011, 11:27 pm »

I took a bunch to my local hazardous waste disposal. The guys had no idea what they were, but I figured it had to be better then going into the regular trash.

decal · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Dec 2011, 11:39 pm »

Sell them on e-bay as "rarities" !!!!!

Wayner · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 12:30 am »

Quote from: Diamond Dog on 1 Dec 2011, 10:14 pm

I believe that there are going to be some nasties in those tubes which would get them classified as hazardous waste ( mercury comes to mind ). A quick call to a disposal facility should get you the info you need provided that there's someone there old enough to know what a vacuum tube is...Good on ya for caring enough to ask.

D.D.

Ya, you might save the earth.

some young guy · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 12:38 am »

I make ornaments from them. They look cool on the tree.

Mike Nomad · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 01:05 am »

Assuming we are talking about small tubes (as artfully arranged in the picture from bregez), there are trace amounts of heavy metals that are not good for living things. However, the amounts are so small, the tubes are considered BRC (Below Regulatory Concern - don't know if that term is still used).

Big tubes (CRTs, for example) are supposed to be taken to a HazMat disposal facility.

Æ · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 01:19 am »

Lob them at passing cars!

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 01:20 am »

Quote from: Wayner on 2 Dec 2011, 12:30 am

Ya, you might save the earth.

Why don't you save your time and not bother with posts like that?

D.D.

bregez · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 01:26 am »

I also have heard stories that they make great BB gun practice if lined up along a picket fence. Perhaps another form of recycling.

SteveFord · « **Reply #13 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 02:30 am »

I don't, I keep them in a junk drawer. Why, I'm not quite sure.
I doubt if they're anything to worry about with chucking them into the garbage. though.

JerryM · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 02:36 am »

Like I did with old TV tubes when I was a kid; I drop them on the ground and listen to that cool "pop". Then, the carnage goes into the trash.

Have fun,

Jerry

DTB300 · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 06:25 pm »

Target practice with my .22

h00hbt · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 07:33 pm »

Chuck ´em in bin!

Wayner · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 08:53 pm »

Quote from: Diamond Dog on 2 Dec 2011, 01:20 am

Why don't you save your time and not bother with posts like that?

D.D.

Because I don't want people wasting time and money "properly" disposing of something that isn't a hazard. I'm sure my local hazardous waste site would love to charge a $1.50 for the damn things.

We need to concern ourselves about "real" problems, instead of "I think it's a problem" problems. That is of course, unless you have money to piss away.

Wayner

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 10:18 pm »

So Wayner, which of your two well-considered and thoughtful posts are you referring to here? Was it this one:

Quote from: Wayner on 2 Dec 2011, 12:30 am

Ya, you might save the earth.

Or was it the other equally helpful one advising the OP to " Pitch 'em. There's worse stuff in there right now. Call these "buffers"

" ?

I don't see how either of your posts have any relation to your sudden concern for our hard-earned money and how we spend it ( not that's any of your concern ). Neither offers the OP or the others reading this thread anything other than yet another example of your endless bellicosity and questionable logic. But hey. knock yourself out...

D.D.

Æ · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Dec 2011, 11:33 pm »

Quote from: Diamond Dog on 2 Dec 2011, 10:18 pm

So Wayner, which of your two well-considered and thoughtful posts are you referring to here? Was it this one:
Or was it the other equally helpful one advising the OP to " Pitch 'em. There's worse stuff in there right now. Call these "buffers" " ?

I don't see how either of your posts have any relation to your sudden concern for our hard-earned money and how we spend it ( not that's any of your concern ). Neither offers the OP or the others reading this thread anything other than yet another example of your endless bellicosity and questionable logic. But hey. knock yourself out...

D.D.

Hey, aren't you being kind of mean? Take a look at my reply, definitely worse than some of the others. However mine was certainly intended as tongue-in-cheek.