Can you touch the tubes?

I was talking to someone at the tube store about replacing some KT 150 tubes and he said it was perfectly fine to touch the tubes.

I've always thought you're supposed to handle these things very carefully with white gloves or a microfiber cloth.

Handling them with my fingers makes it easier to pull them out , insert them more securely.

Does it really matter if my fingerprints get on the glass or should I clean them off with a microfiber cloth after I touch them?

emergingsoul11-05-2023 5:41pm

emergingsoul OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 947 posts 11-05-2023 at 07:49pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Maybe power tubes no big deal. Maybe it's the signal radar tubes that pick up modem a radio wave interference that shouldn't be touched. I had a tube on a preamp that was very sensitive to network equipment.
emergingsoul OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 947 posts 11-06-2023 at 01:07am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete For some amps it's difficult to use the base of a tube to push and pull into socket. I found if I just grip it comfortably around the upper portion of the tube and rock it back-and-forth while applying pressure as it slides in. Of course there's always a fear the glass will shatter but I spread the distribution of my fingers which I think reduces the risk. If you try to squeeze an egg in your hand with a lot of pressure it won't break but if you start angling your fingers into the egg it will break. I'm not gonna try this with a tube. if The tube shatters who knows what happens at that point aside from losing 50 to 100 bucks on the tube and debris field.