Risks from CRT Scratches?
A really deep long scratch or gouge on the CRT face should be considered a serious safety hazard as it may reduce the structural integrity and increase the risk of implosion. However, you would likely need a hammer and chissel or diamond tipped tool to make scratches that deep. It is very unlikely that such scratches could come from any reasonable normal use. Dropping it from a cliff, deliberate use of a glass cutter, the use of a really really BIG hammer, or 12 gauge shotgun, might perhaps be sufficient. This is more of a concern for modern CRTs that usually have ‘integral implosion protection’ – that steel rimband around the outside near the front. Older CRTs used either (1) a separate safety shield – that laminated glass plate in front of your grandmom’s TV – or (2) a second contoured glass panel bonded to the actual tube face. In both of these cases, the second panel is protective and cosmetic but is not part of the structure of the CRT. Therefore, any damage to it does not signifi
