fix magnet distortion on TV/CRT screen ?

You might recover the display just with a few on/off cycles. Many (most? all?) modern CRTs include a degauss cycle on power-up.

Sam Goldwasser's Repair FAQ is probably the best summary of the manual method if the set doesn't cure itself:

Bookmark the parent page. Lots of good dope.

Always an optimist, eh? ;-)

Google for "CRT degaussing".

If you're lucky, proper application of a degaussing coil will remove the residual magnetization which has been left in the CRT's shadow mask/lines by the small magnets, and will restore proper color on the screen.

If you are *un*lucky, the little magnets are so strong that they actually attracted and bent the shadow mask/wires when they were held up to the front of the CRT. If this has happened, degaussing probably won't eliminate the discoloration - I don't know of a remedy other than replacing the CRT itself.

There is a solution, which was discussed not long ago in this group.

My Sony WEGA had this problem, caused when I (deliberately) turned off a bulk tape eraser near the CRT. The splotch lasted for years, but disappeared "spontaneously" when the set was moved to my bedroom in March.

The solution is simple -- "bang" the set gently.

Silly sod. All you had to do to reverse it was place the bulk tape eraser >10' away from the tv, turn it on, approach the tv to the distance you had it before, wave it around then BACK AWAY TO 10' while waving it around before turning it off.

You obviously didn't see the discussion. I've been servicing electronic equipment for 50 years, and know how to use a degausser.

This was not a case of magnetization, but a case of tangled Trinitron grille wires. All the demagnetizing will not fix the problem. A mechanical jarring is needed.

One person told us of the man on the Trinitron production line who banged the CRTs with a rubber mallet as they passed.

If the problem is magnetic and not physical, you can (as was mentioned) use a bulk tape eraser as a makeshift degaussing coil. If you can't find one of those, you can use other electromagnetic devices that are powered by alternating current (AC, not DC). I've used 200 watt soldering pistols to good effect, engraving tools to less-but-still-workable effect, and a cheap aquarium air pump once that almost worked a little bit.

Activate the electromagnetic device, bring it close to the discolored spot, and hope it starts looking rather psychedelic - that means it's working... Then gradually draw the device away from the CRT until it no longer has any visible effect, and then turn the device off.

This process should demagnetize the part of the CRT that was affected by the magnet.

You might have to do it several times, especially with low-power electromagnetic devices... like aquarium pumps.

Don't turn the device off while it is near enough to affect the CRT. The result will be colorful, but you will have to do it all over again.

The discoloration may fade in time, as most CRT based TV's have a weak degaussing coil built in, (as was mentioned earlier) which activates for a few seconds each time the power is turned on.

Have fun with it...

Karl

ooops

yes, try to use the rubber mallet. It should work if the wires are not too messed up.

If you've not managed to mess the mask aperture up an external degaussing should work. Google it.

All sets have some kind of self degaussing built in. Over time and on/off cycles the set should fix itself.

TV/CRT

magnet,

Many (most?

manual

Yes. thanks Rich, for the info and help.

The color spots improved with the 20 minutes off/on but the bright flaring bar between the dots did not.

I started with weaker magnets. I tried moving them in front of the bar in/out every which way with only minor changes. I put the original offending magnet in a fist and waved it about the same way. While brushing fist by the screen diagonally/chaotically across the bar seemed to have the most desired result.

The spots are gone and slight remnant of the bar.

Thanks again, robb

TV/CRT

magnet,

remove

shadow

on the

they

were held

probably

other

AE6EO

I will

ads!

Thanks Dave,

That seems to be what possibly happened. The degausing part seemed to help some of the problem but the rest was remedied (? perhaps luckily ?) by waving the original magnet diagonally across the screen and problem area.

Thanks again. robb

TV/CRT

thanks to all that sent helpful replies. robb

grille

jarring

The only sure fix is a CRT replacement. This can be done most easily by going around town checking around dumpsters, curbsides, thrift stores and yard sales for perfectly good CRT type TVs discarded in favor of large HDTVs.