Individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were assembled onto tungsten tips in a transmission-electron microscope. Then they were transferred into a field-emission microscope for the measurement of field-emission properties. Stable field emission was established after repeated heat treatment and extraction of field-emission current, which are believed to have cleaned and blunted the MWCNT ends. Even under high voltages and large currents, most of the emitted electrons that hit the screen were found to be still restricted within an similar to 10(-2) solid angle, indicating the possible availability of a high brightness. (c) 2007 American Vacuum Society.