Debris in a tube / valve

[Rober Medvesek]

Hi

Yesterday I was making some measurements on my tube amp head and for that I needed the head to be up side down. I noticed some debris inside one of the power tubes (Electro hamonix 6L6). Can someone tell me if the debris is metallic (and tube replacement is in order) or is it glass (no need for changing).

Kind regards,
Robert
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[Firestorm]

Looks like mica to me.

[The New Steve H]

Be quiet or everyone will want some.

[rp]

Looks likes mica to me too. Can't blame the Ruskies too much I have a few NOS with little chips of glass rattling inside.

Could be worse, could have had a bug, a band-aid or a cigarette butt in it

[Rober Medvesek]

Thanks for your input everybody.

I was just afraid the parts would be conductive and could/would cause a short. But looks like it's safe to use.

Kind regards,
Robert

[Phil_S]

These guys are pulling your leg, probably because they think you already knew the answer. Listen to your gut.

Mica may or may not be conductive depending on it's actual content. I don't know much about tube manufacturing, but that looks like a clear defect to me. If I bought that as a new tube, I'd be looking for an exchange, with the seller absorbing postage. Just my 2¢.

[Reeltarded]

Does the tube work?

Ok.

[cbass]

IVe got a jj tube that has a metal blob rattling around inside it . I don't know if that's what caused it to fail or if it came off something when it failed

[Rober Medvesek]

I've had the tube for a while so I cannot return it.

I didn't notice it until the other day but I've had the amp up side down a lot. I'm not saying that the debris wasn't there before tho.

Yes, the tube does work normally.

[JerryFJA]

That's cathode material.

[David Root]

I have a couple of vintage tubes with bits of loose mica floating around in them, but what you have sure looks like metal.

If it stays where it is in tube down operation, it should be OK but it can always shift unexpectedly.

Personally I would only use it in an emergency, if at all.

[Reeltarded]

If they are hanging (the tubes) and you watch them when you tune the amp on you can decide right there if they are going to be trouble. If the trash is conductive it will move to conform in the field.

If they have been run standing and you haven't seen any flashing I doubt they are anything but a little pingy. 6L6 is a noisy sob when it's being shaken like a 100w amp will do.

[Rober Medvesek]

The tube in the amp is right side up so the debris sits between the tubes connector lugs and if conductive it would cause a problem.

If it is cathode material would it come of during operation or during manufacturing? And same for mica - manufacturing or operation?