Tubes will not burst the way a halide bulb will burst from skin oil depositing on the tube. With halide bulbs, the oils are subjected to extreme heat which causes the oil to break down and carbonize. The black deposit that results will then absorb much more of the light being put out by the bulb than the rest of the glass on the bulb. The difference in temperature between the other part of the glass and the part with the black spot causes stress in the glass which can lead to failure. These bulbs are under extreme stress from the high pressure gas in them.
Tubes do not operate under similar conditions -- heat is lower, no significant light output to be absorbed by a spot on the glass, a vacuum instead of high pressure, etc.
Still, I don't see why caution would hurt, particularly with hotter tubes, like a 211 or 845.
Tubes do not operate under similar conditions -- heat is lower, no significant light output to be absorbed by a spot on the glass, a vacuum instead of high pressure, etc.
Still, I don't see why caution would hurt, particularly with hotter tubes, like a 211 or 845.