[stump4545]

is it ok to handle these tubes with bare hands or will that damage the life of these tubes?

[Big Red Machine]

Was there a Philly Cheese Steak or 5 cheese pizza involved before the roll?



No issues I know of handling them and life expectancy.  Gloves are nice when they're hot!

[markC]

I have and do. No problems to date. The only rectifier tubes I've handled are from my tube tester. Pre/signal tubes from preamp, amp and DAC have seen a lot of handling. No issues so far. The rectifier tube is seldom touched.

[srb]

Power tubes and rectifier tubes get hotter than small signal tubes, but I treat them the same way as I do halogen light bulbs.  Residual skin oils are not conducive to good heat dissipation, so just to be on the safe side I always give them a quick wipe with 90% isopropyl alcohol and dry with a soft cloth before reinserting.
 
Steve

[ltr317]

I've heard contrary opinions for a long time, but since I handle hundreds of tubes each year I use a latex glove or a paper towel just in case. 

[pjanda1]

I exclusively handle them by hand.  But, old tubes often have really fragile paint.  So, if you like/need to see it to identify the tube, or you are considering selling the tube, be careful!  The markings on new tubes are usually very tough.  FWIW, I've seen folks claim that the oils from your hands can leech through the glass and have some sort of ill effects.  I think that is ridiculous.

Paul

[jcoat007]

I heard that the oils from your hands are not good for the tubes so I always use a glove just to be safe. 

[rlee8394]

FWIW, I've seen folks claim that the oils from your hands can leech through the glass and have some sort of ill effects.  I think that is ridiculous.

Yes, that is ridiculous! If that were true, then the tube wouldn't be able to hold a vacuum! I've never had a problem handling tubes bare handed, but cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol, Windex, or other glass cleaner that doesn't leave any residue, certainly can't hurt.

Ron

[JakeJ]

I have had  enough correspondence with tube suppliers and vendors to have long since dismissed this BS.  Halogen bulbs are a completely different animal and it is clearly written on the packaging that they must not be touched by bare fingers.

That said,  do agree with BRM that it's nice to have some cotton gloves handy if you want to pull them while hot.  I don't, I let the tubes cool down as it is generally hard on a tube amp to switch power on and off in rapid succession.  Preamps not so much, as long as they have a mute switch.  My aural memory is good for at least five whole minutes.

YMMV,
Jakej

[macrojack]

Looks like a myth has been busted right here on AC. Our panel of experts seem to be unanimous in their dismissal of the tube handling myth.

[Wayner]

I do like to wipe the dust off of them occasionally, I may only slightly disagree with the "myth" part, as it is well known in the lighting industry that finger oils can contaminate glass (especially as has been said, in elevated temperature environments, like a halogen quartz lamp), and tubes come no where near the operating temperatures of these types of lamps. That said, I just like to keep the tubes clean. But not fanatical about it.

Wayner 

[ted_b]

I handle cold tubes with my bare hands, but when impatiently tube rolling I got this tube "condom" that I use for "safe rolling" very hot tubes.    The narrow end for small tubes, the large end for recitfiers.
http://www.tweakshop.com/TubeGlove.html

Amazon sells it too. 

[decal]

Don't sweat it.Just wipe them down after you handle them.