Hello all!

Sad I'll miss the meetup, but curious where others are getting electrodes right now. I know Eve posted on insta a while back but now that FMS is still out of 12s, 13s, 14s, and even some 15s, I'm running low on options! EGL seem to be all over the place with quality. I know Dani can hook me up, but where are people purchasing these days? I have a grant I can use and can save the taxes for a lot of places, so it would be great to get a connection that's not under the table.

Thanks!

Hmmm, FMS Brillite is my go to for sure, but when I went to replace the box I just used, they were out. Luckily I have 3 more boxes of that size. I guess when they have them back in stock in December I will just buy three more boxes. 

Ablon and some of the other neon nerds frown upon my love of Brillites because of the asian shells. Apparently their masonlite electrodes use "brazillian irons" and EGL uses "swedish irons". I suppose if I had to I would buy a box from Ablon- they sure are pricey compared to Brillite, but I do like their glass and most other things they sell, an hey is EGL expensive too- and I seem to have many more problems with their electrodes. They sure are the shiniest- and the loudest- like little maracas on the ends of the tubes.

I would go Ablon if you can- and then just buy up the brillites when you can get em. I have been loving their 13mm "shawties" lately.

I am glad you mentioned the noise from the ceramics striking the inside of the envelope.  People do not really appreciate this potential issue, but I have seen instances of completed units being damaged in transport because the shell supports had enough flex to allow the ceramic to hammer on the inside of the glass envelope.  I have even seen this happen with brand new electrodes right out of the box.....a nice tidy little crack right there at the ceramic.  (I'm looking at you, SVP)  

In the early days, the problem of a shell contacting an envelope and causing damage due to localized heating during operation was well understood and many early patents deal with the internal supporting structure.  (Some examples in my collection have internal glass jackets and bead rings or other contrivances to deal with this.)

Years ago, I had a group of EGL electrodes that almost always failed during process, right at the ceramic.  I documented my process, and sent a few failed examples back to them.  They replied with a letter detailing a manufacturing defect they found in their production line (part of the centering pin, if I recall) and gave me two new boxes of electrodes with which I had no further trouble.  (Ah, the days of real customer service!)

Today, I am using some non-ceramic EGL electrodes on smaller work (7 to 10mm) ....for 12mm and bigger stuff, I've been using the Neon Products short shell ones and some long shell Masonlites.  In both cases I am finding them to be satisfactory.    I do also have access to a variety of older electrodes and in spite of their shelf age, they seem to work fine as well and in some cases perhaps even a bit better than what we get now.  

FYI--  Earlier in the week I had a former student who now runs a shop come by who needed some 15mm electrodes and was unable to obtain them from his usual options, I sold him a couple of dozen and threw in some extras for good measure.  Then yesterday, I received an email from West Coast saying that they now have electrodes in stock again.  I suspect that others do as well, or will have soon, so you may be able to get whatever types you prefer from your usual avenues.  But I also suspect that there may be some pent up demand too, so they may go quickly.