I just bought an old Ford Philco TV from the 70s, it hasn't worked for years or even been plugged in for years, so I'm not worried about the capacitors in it. I've already taken it apart and want to get rid of the guts to use the housing to make a retro back-lit picture frame, but I need the glass from the screen. I'm pretty sure the glass isn't part of the actual tube, but I still would like some info first, I know that I should be careful of the vacuum, but how exactly would I go about taking the glass out safely without damaging it so I can later recycle all of the guts and make my picture frame ? Using another kind of glass would not work as it needs to have the curvy feel of the TV's glass. The glass seems to be held to the tube by some thick steel tape, I'm worried that when cut this might fly and hit me in the face or something and the glass might brake. Also should I be worried about the radiation?
The glass screen and the tube are one and the same. It is one big, solid piece of glass at this point, from the screen to the small connector at the other end, there is no 'tape' holding it together. What you may be seeing is either tape that is protecting the glass from damage from the mounting hardware; or it's hiding/protecting the joint where the glass pieces were melted together; or maybe it's to reduce the electrical charge buildup at that section; or it may be part of the degaussing unit (unlikely).
Yes, it is a vacuum inside, so you're right to be careful. Usually a small, dull drill bit was used to pierce a small hole into the small section of the tube to equalize the pressure to replace the actual electronic section of the tube, but since you're not repairing it, then you could break the little nib or the small section off, but you could still get some glass shattering, so make sure to use gloves & protective goggles at least to protect yourself, or wrap it in cloth to prevent glass from flying everywhere.
Then you could potentially cut the front glass of the tube from the rest of the tube to use it if you wish, but that front section of the tube has a coating on the back side of it that will need to be removed as well if you wish to have it be clear and see-through. Cutting the glass will be tricky as well, as you will have to have the right cutting tools in order to keep from shattering the glass.
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