The field emission (FE) properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are measured using nanomanipulators fitted within a scanning electron microscope. We initially investigate a group of randomly arranged CNT at the apex of a carbon fiber. Second, we use a CNT polymer composite as a substrate and physically crack it to expose CNTs. We have developed a means of selectively picking up, moving, welding, and even "burning off" unwanted CNTs to leave a fully isolated CNT for FE testing. Using the nanomanipulators, we are able to achieve anode to CNT distances down to 1 mu m at a minimum step size of 40 nm. We show that the location of the anode plays an important role in understanding the emission process of CNTs, which ties in with previously reported work. Finally, we create a bespoke gate electrode by focussed ion beam milling of a tungsten probe and use this in investigating three terminal FE measurements of a single CNT. (c) 2008 American Vacuum Society.