Besides the manual method of rejuvinating the CRT, you could
use something like a Sencore CR70 or the more expensive CR7000
which automate the rejuvinating process and tend to be a
bit kinder to the tube. Still have the possibility of killing
the tube though, but they offer multiple levels of rejuvination
so you can optimize the harm/benefit choice. You used to be
able to find CR70s for $50 more or less, but they seem to be
pricier now.
Rejuvination seem to get you somewhere between a few hundred and
a thousand hours or so before it fades again. But that's quite
a lot of usage for a hobbiest.
Full disclosure: I have a CR70 and a double peaking Tek 576 that
I plan to use it on, but it's a ways down the queue. I'll get to
it someday.
On the bright side, 141s are pretty common so it shouldn't be
too hard to find a parts unit or grab a usable CRT if you aren't
successful at rejuvination.
If you ever saw the video from Tektronix on how they built their
scope tubes, it would seem possible to rebuild them. Given
the investment in equipment and skill though along with the
size of the potential market, I can't see how you could break
even, let alone make any money doing that.
Paul
--
Paul Amaranth, GCIH | Manchester MI, USA
Aurora Group of Michigan, LLC | Security, Systems & Software
paul@... | Unix/Linux - We don't do windows
