Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with tube

Help us keep the baby safe from pulling the g button out at night

Snoogylips — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:53:45 -0800

Very active one year old with G button (MIC-key low profile) During night feeds and traveling in car how do I keep her Button from being pulled? It has come out once before in the crib by her moving so much the slack in the feeding tube got caught in crib and pulled out. It was painful for her since the balloon was fully inflated. I want to keep this from happening again. How do other parents keep thier kids g buttons and tube feeding cord protected at night. She is a wiggly thing and often turns in her sleep many times from belly to back and forth. The feeding is necessary and cannot be missed. Have a very active 16 month old LJ (adjusted age is 13 months for preemie birth) who has a MIC-key gastrostomy button used for feeding. She is dependent on the button during the day and night feeds. At night she gets a continuous feed that lasts 9 hours, the problem is she is so wiggly and toss and turns all night. I have tried many things to cover her button and feeding tube cord so it doesnt get caught or pulled by something. We have tried tapes, ace bandages, tucking the tube under a onesie and snapping it closed. None have been sucessful. She is allergic to adhesives, Ace bandages put too much pressure on the button and left marks and left her Grumpy and sore the next morning. She has had the g button since she was 5 months old. She sleeps in a playpen next to our bed and usually ends up co-sleeping with us by the end of the night. Just wondering what other parents do to keep the g button and extension of tubing from being pulled out at night? I have seen this product called a summers life guard. I have considered trying to re create something similar but have no idea where to start. the only difference is i would make it for her belly and not her chest. I have a sewing machine but not sure how to get started making a wrap for LJs belly. Any ideas to keep the button and tube protected during feedings at nite? any patterns or ideas how to make a wrap similar to summers life guard but for a belly? Any suggestions or expierences that you have had with any of this would be helpful.

What malleable substance can be shaped like clay for craft projects but turns out lighter like styrofoam once hardened and dried?

kookoobirdz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:39:10 -0800

Does this substance exist? Arts & crafts people or hardware store people: for a craft project, I want a material that is malleable like clay but winds up lighter-weight like styrofoam/polystyrene once it has set and hardened. Maybe it it's dispensed from a tube or can? I want to make some creative and whimsical frames for some irregularly sized/shaped art, which is too fun for regular frames. I'm looking for a material that is malleable like clay that I can form into fun shapes, which then dries and hardens and is lightweight like something approaching styrofoam, or at least a lot lighter than clay.

Have you ever seen somebody make a frame out of clay spirals? They roll the clay into long thin tubes or strips and then roll those up in to sweetroll spirals. Then they glue those spirals to a backing and/or to each other so that a border of those spirals squished tightly side by side goes all the way around whatever they're framing. Often they paint them and glue on other stuff.

I want to do that, but I don't want something as heavy as clay. I want something that is maybe sprayed out of a can or probably something thicker that is squeezed out of a tube like toothpaste or like caulk from a caulk gun. I want to aim and twist and prod and shape that stuff into various shapes and designs, the spirals are one example, maybe with some wavy tentacles to go along with them, and then leave it to set or dry. At the end of it I want something that is rigid and lightweight and holds its shape. Ideally the finished product would be lightweight like styrofoam and have a smooth surface that accepts paint nicely. A bit heavier than styrofoam is fine, particularly if it's stronger than styrofoam.

I understand that thanks to silly old physics, I may have to give up one or more of those qualities to get the others, but just shoot for the closest thing you can think of. It doesn't have to squirt out of a can or tube, that's just how I was thinking I might get a material that's lightweight.

I've found Versi-Foam, but it's more like spray insulation and requires a framework and special equipment and then sculpting and sanding. I'm looking more for something that can be dispensed in a more limited and controlled way that will stay in its toothpaste-like tube shape if I do nothing else to it. It's hard to imagine, but if it could be not so sticky like caulk, that would allow me to do other things with it than leave it in the tube shape. Basically I want something with the malleable properties of clay that winds up very lightweight.

Arts and crafts people in the house, or even hardware store materials people, what substance am I looking for?

I can hear the ocean

uncleozzy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:48:01 -0800

You are not my amp tech, but maybe you can help me diagnose the source of a strange noise on a brand new guitar amp. Yesterday, I got a tiny tube amp in the mail. After letting it come up to room temperature, I plugged it into a cab (yes, with the right impedance) and played away. No problems at all; made some really nice sounds, by the way.

The next time I turned it on (an hour or two later), there was an awful static noise--sort of like rushing water, or waves crashing--even with the volume all the way down and no guitar attached. Playing through it produced pops and crackles and unpredictable volume changes, and the static continued.

It's got 2 12AX7 tubes (and a funky setup--V1 and one triode of V2 are the preamp, and the other triode on V2 is the power tube). Best I can tell (which is not saying much), they both look normal, glow a healthy orange, aren't microphonic.

Now, the head is brand new, so there's a really good chance it's going back to the vendor as defective, but out of curiosity (and future diagnostic needs), what could the problem be?

What's the best way to protect a poster at a concert?

gchucky — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:53:44 -0800

What's the best way to protect a poster at a (general admission) concert? So I'm going to a show tomorrow night and I'm planning on buying a poster. The thing is, the show is all general admission, so the chance of the poster getting mangled is somewhat high. I'm not going to be in the pit by any means, but I'm being paranoid.

Obviously bringing a poster tube is the best way of protecting it, but I'm not really sure that the venue is going to let me in with one. (I'm going to call tomorrow to ask, but...)

So aside from a poster tube, what would be the best way to protect my poster for the few hours I'm at the show?

Presta valve adapter pains.

47triple2 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:06:54 -0800

Is it a bad idea to ride my bicycle with my presta valves unscrewed and having a presta -> schrader valve adapter covering them? For me, it's a major inconvenience to unscrew the adapter, unscrew the presta valve (the little lock-nut thing), screw back on the adapter, inflate tires, unscrew adapter, tighten presta valve, then - finally - screw back on the adapter. Would it be safe to leave the lock-nut on the valve unscrewed with the adapter protecting the "pin"? (Yes, I could just leave the adapter in a pocket or something, but I'd be more likely to lose it that way.)

Thanks!

Is the London Pass worth getting?

jayder — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:38:51 -0800

Is the London Pass worth the price, for tourists who will be in London for six days? Two of my family members are going to London, and they tell me it's approximately $212 per person for a six-day pass. In addition to full access to the Tube, it covers the access fee to a list of ~50 attractions (and you get to bypass the lines at those attractions). The main attractions they are interested in are St Paul's, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Globe Theater, and Kew Gardens. They don't know whether they will visit enough attractions, or use the Tube enough to make it worthwhile --- the Tube is £4.00 for a single fare.

Do any of you have any advice, from your own experience, for whether the London Pass is worth getting? Any thoughts?

Looking for interesting London Underground Stations

still_wears_a_hat — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:58:04 -0800

I'm in the middle of my extended vacation in London, and am enjoying the Underground, especially how much personality some of the stations have. Which ones should I not miss while I'm here? I'm looking more for interesting design elements - things like all the Sherlock Holmeses at Baker Street, the lamps on the escalators at Swiss Cottage, the balloons at Finsbury Park, the elaborate mosaics at Tottenham Court Road, the series of alcove murals on some of the stations along the Victoria line - more than stations of particular historical or architectural interest, but those are OK too.

Top tube morphs into fender

brianogilvie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:22:23 -0800

Recently I saw an unusual bike, one with a curved top tube that extended beyond the seat tube to support a rack. It had trekking bars, too. Please help me identify it! I was going downhill opposite its rider, so I didn't want to stop and ask. Lemon yellow frame, which seemed mostly pretty normal--I think the down tube and seat tube were both straight, what looked like normal seatstays and chainstays. But that curved top tube extended maybe a foot and a half behind the seat tube, almost as if it were a fender, and it had a rack mounted on it. My google-fu has failed; please help! If you know of a similar bike, please link to a photo so I can figure out if it's what I saw.

Do I need a Zone 1-3 Travelcard for this journey?

generichuman — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:24:55 -0800

Transport for LondonFilter - Am I on the hook for a Zone 1-3 Travelcard if I travel from a Zone 3 station to a Zone 2 station via an unavoidable hop into Zone 1? Here's one of those tricky questions about the London zone-system and travelcards. If I have a regular commute from Southfields (in Zone 3) to Holland Park (in Zone 2), do I need the full £100-and-change Zone 1-3 Travelcard? The problem is that this route, on the District Line's Edgware Road branch, goes through High Street Kensington in Zone 1. There's no interchange, but I'd technically travel through Zone 1 for one station.

Can I use a £60 Zone 2-3 pass for that journey, or will the system automatically charge my Pay-as-you-Go credit for passing through a station in Zone 1? (Or, would I be on the hook if a fare inspector were to ask to see a ticket? I never mess with my transit karma.)

I'd like to save myself £40 per month on this one, but I suspect I'm SOL.

DLR at Bank. Best way in?

sydney54 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:36:31 -0800

Getting on the DLR at Bank. Where to go in? I am getting the DLR at Bank going out to City Airport. Whenever I go to Bank it always seems like a rabbit warren. I know there is a lot of redevelopment of the lifts/escs and so I am looking for the expert communters' guide to which entrance to use. In exchange I promise not to ever have a backpack on during the rush hour.

Looking for a tube map... Not a map tube, thanks Google

iivix — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:17:57 -0800

Does anyone know where I can buy a poster sized vintage London Underground map (AKA tube map)? Preferably a Harry Beck version (i.e. one from between 1933 and 1960). A good reproduction will do at a push. Basically I'm a map geek and a tube geek, have a great big space on my wall to fill, and Google has failed me. I can't even seem to find somewhere that sells tube memorabilia apart from the London Transport museum, and their selection is pretty small... Perhaps these things just aren't that easy to come by?

Large fluorescent tube broken. How do I ensure I don't die of mercury poisoning?

rainygrl716 — Sun, 04 May 2008 23:07:13 -0800

Fluorescent tube (large one) broke in kitchen. I am freaking out now and didn't follow proper procedures to clean it up. Am I going to get sick and die of mercury poisoning? I read on here recently of a woman who broke a compact fluorescent tube in her bedroom. Well tonight I ended up breaking one of the large fluorescent tubes in my kitchen. This light hadn't been working (it had burned out) and I was trying to replace it.

It shattered everywhere: in my sink, in my cats bowls, some went on the carpet. Most ended up on the hard kitchen floor. I freaked out and didn't follow proper procedures (vent area, use gloves, etc). I just started cleaning it up with a hand-held broom. Also, when attempting to leave the area, I stepped on some of the glass (it was unavoidable) and small shards went into my foot.

I opened the windows but my apartment gets poor ventilation and there are no windows directly in the kitchen.

I ended up sweeping up all the large glass pieces and removing them from the house. I threw away the cats dishes, all the dirty dishes that had been in the sink at the time, mopped the floor, and took tape to the carpet that is immediately in front of the kitchen. I threw away the broom I used to sweep up the glass as well. I also took some tape to the floor after I was done mopping to help ensure I removed all glass.

This was a Sylvania Fluorescent 40W tube. I am incredibly worried about the mercury exposure and if I did an adequate job of cleaning. Some of the glass fell down the garbage disposal (little pieces of it). Also, I am worried that I may have gotten little shards of the glass in my foot. Should I go to the emergency room? I don't know if I am making too big of a deal out of this.

I did not notice any powdery substance from the broken tube or glass, nor did I see any visible signs of solid mercury. This light hadn't been operational in weeks, so it hadn't been on recently so I don't think the mercury would be in a gaseous state.

I am freaking out here and don't know what else to do to ensure my pets are okay and I am okay. Any advice? Have I created a hazardous living environment?

SF Peninsula tube amp repair

UlfMagnet — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:19:32 -0800

Tube amp repair tech on the San Francisco Peninsula? I've got a vintage Ampeg B-15N "fliptop" bass amp that needs fixing. Can anyone recommend a reliable amp repair person in the Palo Alto area?

FYI I've tried contacting the folks at Vacuum Tube Valley (http://www.vacuumtube.com) and haven't gotten any response yet.

Why, oh why, now and this way..

tmcw — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:15:12 -0800

Cursing bad luck: One of the preamp tubes in my Peavey Classic 30 seemed to peter out during practice yesterday. Two hours before my first concert of the year. An awesome friend came in in the clutch, but now I'm puzzled as to what to do. (and have another show on Thursday) So, playing. It was turned fairly high up (Pre at 6-7, Post at 6-7) (note that the scale is 1 to 12). I'm playing fairly loud (with a drummer, and a loop being sent to it), and within a few seconds I lose volume. We all stop, I look at the back of the amp, and one of the three preamp tubes is not showing its beautiful glow. Playing yields a barely audible, really sad sounding chime.

So, I live with it. The weird part is that today, I remembered that perhaps the other channel on the amp is usable (I think I'm incorrect in thinking this, because it isn't a 'true' two-channel amp) Anyway, the amp seems to work, although that tube still isn't glowing. I'm afraid to test it thoroughly, because I keep reading horror stories of this sort of thing (and I've seem some scary stuff happen with vacuum tubes in a photography setting).

So, wtf do I do? I'm thinking I should retube it, and Eurotubes is insanely hyped. At $61 for a retube of 7 tubes (my amp has 4 post, 3 pre), average price seems to be pretty good relative to other shops. And they can deliver in three days.

Or should I just buy one tube? Or am I set to go with this weirdly-working setup?

I'm disregarding bias for the time being because the C30 uses EL84s which supposedly don't need to be biased. But the thing is, I only have had the amp for about 6 months, and it was brand new. So, WTF? Tubes are supposedly usable for years on end, and these only lasted a half. Am I running the preamp too high? is there anything else that could have caused this (fuses?) that I'm not looking at?

Thanks for any guidance.

What kind of cheap Chinese tube amp should I get?

Etaoin Shrdlu — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 05:51:19 -0800

What kind of cheap Chinese tube amp should I get? In the last few weeks, I've become obsessed with vacuum tubes, and would like to buy a tube amp and speakers. I'm currently in Hong Kong, and there is quite a variety of Chinese-made tube-based audio equipment available here. The sad truth is that I'll probably only listen to fairly low-quality AAC and MP3 files piped through an Airport Express, so the appearance of the amp is likely at least as important as the quality. I figure eight to thirteen watts per channel should be sufficient power. There are a dizzying variety of power tubes to choose from: EL34, EL84, 6V6, KT88, 6BX7, FU50. Most of the tubes are Chinese made, but a few are Russian. The amps I've gravitated to are the Image Audio SE8 (which is expensive and low-powered, but appears very well made), the Audio Space AS-3i (twice the tubes and 50% more power), and the Music Curve D-2020A (very impressive looking with lots of interestingly-shaped tubes, but but appears to be very cheaply made). Most of these amps are available with a choice of power tubes, and are all within the same price range (between USD 400-500). What should my main considerations be, and what should I be looking for?

Looking for London Underground Diagram Resources

Sevenupcan — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 06:00:08 -0800

I'm looking to create a variation of the London Underground Map/Diagram. Are there any resources ie, tutorials or .ai templates that I can use to give me a head start?

'cause I sleep with 'lectric guitars...

tmcw — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:06:52 -0800

Is a Fender Hot Rod (1x12) the best (tube) amp I can get for the amount of money I want to spend (~$400) and the power I want (>15 watts)? Right now I have a Princeton 112+, which is 'all right,' but has a few problems, especially with the input jacks (which are, thanks to modern technology, very tough to fix), and the sound isn't really much to talk about. I've really liked the sound of a Blues Jr. (which I had in my dorm room almost all the time this year, but I didn't own), and would like something really solid. I have an American Tele which I will never part with, and I'd like sort of the same thing, as far as quality.

Oh, and it's for 'indie rock,' and will also probably be used for my other instruments (ukulele, synth, 'laptop')

I've heard good things about the Peavey Classic series? I could go a bit above 400 if I love something, but that's the artificial price limit I've set in my mind.

Does anyone know of an audiophile/hi-fi club in the St. Louis area?

Bengston — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:31:07 -0800

Does anyone know of an audiophile/hi-fi club in the St. Louis area? I have recently become interested in DIY Hi-Fi and being a college student with little electronics experience I am looking for a way to get myself better acquainted with everything before I start to spend too much money. The internet has been a great resource, but having some real people around me who know what they are doing and would be willing to provide me with some direction would be very helpful.

Why do Central Line trains sometimes jolt as they're leaving the station?

chrismear — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:16:01 -0800

On the London Underground, on the Central line, why does the train sometimes jolt as if it's lost power for a second as it's leaving the station? Sometimes it happens just once, sometimes it happens two or three times. It doesn't seem to happen consistently at particular stations, and it feels like it's more likely to happen when the train is crowded (although that might just be my own confirmation bias). My hunch is that it's a safety feature of some kind, but if so I can't figure out what might be triggering it. Anybody in the know?

Sick kitty needs nose to work again.

Scram — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:29:55 -0800

Tips for getting a sick pussycat on a feeding tube to eat by mouth again (and a cautionary tale)? Lots of information below before I get to the question, because this situation took us terribly by surprise and I hope anyone in a similar situation will see the warning signs we missed. It could save your kitty's life.

In late December, our cat Jason got a cortisone shot for his feline acne. He soon developed the sniffles, and passed whatever he picked up at the vet to the other two indoor cats. The vet denied that anything viral or bacterial could have been picked up at the office, but did admit that cortisone might have lowered Jason's immunity, causing a flare up of something he already was carrying. If that's so, it's unfortunate he didn't suggest quarentining Jason when we brought him home to make sure he stayed healthy. The vet said to keep an eye on the cats and bring them in a few days if they seemed to be getting worse. For the moment they seemed to just have bad colds, though Jason was almost over his.

A couple days later, we came home in the evening to find the smallest cat, 11-year-old Talullah, hunkered down on the kitchen floor panting. Her nose was caked with hard snot and her white chin was dark with stuff that had run down her face. We cleaned her nostrils out with wet Q-Tips, squirted some water in her mouth and warmed her up, and she seemed to perk up a little. My husband wrapped her in a towel and let her sleep on his chest, and we planned to take her to the vet in the morning. Before dawn he got up to give her more water, and she gasped and died.

So in the morning it was Evel, the 16-year-old, who was rushed to the vet, along with his sister's body. The vet was shocked Talullah had become so sick so fast. Evel was immediately put on a drip with antibiotics, and after a few days the vet wanted to put him under and insert a feeding tube. He was extremely listless and congested, and I was very concerned he would not survive anesthesia. I asked if I could try to feed him by syringe rather than put him under, and I was able to get a couple of small syringes of semi-liquid A/D food into him by working very slowly. The next day he had more energy, but no one else had been able to feed him orally. Told that if he did not eat soon he would die, we agreed to having the feeding tube inserted, and he took the surgery well.

The vet failed to diagnose the illness, and the antibiotics given did not seem to help. He showed an elevated white count that remained constant after more than a week of antibiotics. He became anemic, which the vet thought was due to too much drip hydration, and that was scaled back. Herpes was suggested as a possibility, as was Calicivirus. After talking with a friend whose cat had showed similar symptons and survived, I asked about it perhaps being Feline Chlamydia and the efficacy of trying Zithromax as a one-dose treatment, but the vet blew the suggestion off. Since Evel seemed to be getting better, I didn't press the matter.

After nine days in critical condition Evel began showing signs of his personality and energy returning, and after twelve days we brought him home with the tube still in his esophogus. The vet said he could be tube fed for a month or more without problems, but that the aim is to transition him back to oral eating. After two days home, he seems to be feeling reasonably well, but shows no interest in eating or drinking and spends most of his time lying in the sun. Tube feeding is quite difficult--the tube frequently gets clogged and requires great hand-strength to flush a little water in and then pull back to loosen and suck up the stuck food. With me holding Evel and my husband working the syringe it can be done, but it's messy and frustrating and hard on the cat. The sooner he starts eating, the better!

Here is our current care schedule:

3 times a day:
1) flush each nostril with 6cc saline solution
2) a little later, attempt to get him to eat moist canned salmon
3) when he refuses, flush 2-3 60cc tubes of watery, hand-blended A/D prescription diet food through his feeding tube, with frequent stops to unclog the tube, flushing it with water and papaya juice to break up clogs

morning and night: .9cc Clavamox antiobiotic by mouth, powder contents of lysine pill included in tube feeding, 1/4 tube each tincture of Osha and Goldenseal/Echinacea mixed with water in his feeding tube (recommended by herbalist friend to kickstart his immunity)

Although he is much less snotty than he was (there's some nostril caking in the mornings, but the saline flush seems to go right up into his sinuses, and he doesn't sneeze or blow much mucus out at all afterwards) and his eyes are only a little runny, Evel shows no interest in the salmon. He sometimes seems to be trying to smell it, sniffing and moving his face around the bowl, but there's none of the usual reaction to a fishy treat and he won't taste it.

I'm wondering if there are any tricks to get him smelling and eating again. Are there better foods to be trying? Should the food be heated? Is there anything beyond the saline flush that can be done to help the nose to regain its function? Maybe it's just a matter of time and shaking off this illness, whatever it is, but any suggestions from people who have had similar experiences with their cats would be most welcome.

Evel's a world class pussycat, very personable, affectionate and tough. We've got high hopes he'll make it through this tough time, and he welcomes your prayers, good wishes and bright ideas.

Guitar Amp- Tube Change

InfidelZombie — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:33:36 -0800

Replacing power tubes in a guitar amp I’ve been considering swapping out the power tubes in my amp. I have a 100 watt Carvin 3212 2x12 combo with Groove Tube 5881s, and I’m wondering if I could get a more Marshall-like sound by using EL34s instead. Spent some time on Google but the information I’m getting is pretty technical; I really need some more straightforward answers to the following:

1. Has anyone here done a similar change? Did it make a significant difference in the sound you got from your amp? Any unforeseen problems?

2. The amp has a bias switch to go from 6L6s or 5881s to the EL34s. A lot of what I have read talks about bias adjustments that would need to be done by a professional, but I’m not sure whether the switch would take care of that or if further adjustments would be needed. Can I just flip the switch and install the tubes myself, or should I take it to a pro? What’s a normal price for that service?

3. The amp is switchable down to 50 watts, which is how I usually play. Right now the switch is broken and I’m locked in at 100. Can I just pull out two of the tubes to get to 50, or should I get that switch fixed? What do you think it would cost?

4. Does anyone know a reliable amp repair shop in the LA area, preferably somewhere between Redlands/San Bernardino (where I live) and Whittier (where we practice)?

Defcon

DieHipsterDie — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:44:15 -0800

Please name this music... Anyone recognize the music used for this trailer? Or is it likely written for the game itself? If so, please recommend similar music or artists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgSGekp9kvE

What is a "starving plate" design?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 14:55:34 -0800

In tube ciruitry, what is a "starving plate" design?

Where to view London tube posters online

gfrobe — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 11:42:40 -0800

On the London tube there are posters called "Above Ground" that show an above ground view of the route of the train you're riding in relation to various landmarks, museums, major streets, etc. Does anyone know if these posters can be viewed online somewhere? Also, are there separate posters for every train line or just the ones that pass through central London? Here is a link to a small jpg of one of them.

coffee sellers at the tube

reklaw — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 07:34:23 -0800

Who licenses those coffee-sellers who stand outside London tube stations? Is it the council, Transport for London, or someone else entirely? And who in the organisation is responsible? I always thought it was the council, but recently heard of a complaint being made to the tube station about my local one, which made me wonder if they even have anything to do with it.

And yeah, as a last resort I could just go up and ask them, but I'm worried it might give them a bit of a fright.