(21) Pictures 21-24 demonstrate the electroding process as done by the Dutch. Once the unit is bent, cleaned, coated, baked/annealed, the ends are cleaned of their phosphor coating (center of the picture where blowhose is attached to unit). The glass is then 'cut' to the appropriate length using the hand torch and is pulled away forming a closed end. Notice the very tight right-angle bends on the left of the unit.[ View Picture ]
(22) Close-up of the extension of glass being cut and pulled away.
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(23) The closed end is then heated gently with the hand torch and blown out. The side are then rounded to form the appropriate diameter for the electrode with a tweezer.[View Picture ]
(24) In the final step the electrode is welded onto the unit with the hand torch.
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(25) Pictures 25-33 show the forming of a Dutch 'double-back.' Again, the excess glass is 'cut' off with the hand torch forming a rounded tip.
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(26) Approximately 1/2 inch from the tip, a bubble is blown where the electrode is to be welded. [ View Picture ]
(27) After the bubble is blown out, the glass is gently heated and rounded using a set of tweezers for the electrode. [ View Picture ]
(28) The electrode is preheated and... [ View Picture ]
(29) welded to the unit where the bubble had been blown. [ View Picture ]
(30) Once the electrode has been sealed onto the unit, the area to the left of the electrode in this picture is heated and, again, 'cut' with the hand torch to be removed. [ View Picture ]
(31) The excess portion of glass is heated and pulled, then... [ View Picture ]
(32) removed with the tweezers. [ View Picture ]
(33) The outside corner of the 'double-back' is then worked to form a slightly rounded right angle. [ View Picture ]