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Re: stuff at hamfests....
<<
>Subscriber: curtisma-at-engin.umich.edu Thu Jan 2 22:11:33 1997
>Date: Wed, 1 Jan 1997 23:10:41 -0500 (EST)
> From: Matthew Allen Curtis <curtisma-at-engin.umich.edu>
>To: Tesla List <tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
> Cc: Tesla-list-subscribers-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
>Subject: stuff at hamfests....
>There's a hamfest coming near me soon, I'm a new tc builder and know very
> little about the kind of parts I can get. Could some one let me know
>what I should look for at a hamfest? maybe a few hints or tips?
>Thanks
>--Matt
>>
Matt,
I don't think there's any Tesla coil stuff that CAN'T be found at a hamfest,
but it all depends on luck, persistance, "buying experience", and size of
hamfest,(although great items are sometimes found at small fests), Just
about anything needed for TCs can be found, but some things are much more
common than others. Common items: All types of wire and connectors,
hardware, tools, low frequency or DC capacitors, variacs (variable
autotransformers) for adjusting your input voltage, plate transformers of
various voltages, but lower voltages (~ 3000 volts) are more common; all
kinds of semiconductors, resistors, electronics books, construction materials
(metal, plastic, etc); heaters (for ballasts), equipment racks, ferrite rods
and rings, meters, signal generators and other test equipment, RF line
filters, switches, fuses, and many others things.
Less common items: Good, low loss, high frequency, pulse-type Tesla tank
capacitors, (e.g. mica caps, polypropylene caps), magnet wire, plastic
coil forms, neon sign transformers, oil burner transformers, potential
transformers, pole pigs,
Many new coilers, start out using a neon transformer, or oil burner
transformer.
Prices tend to be very good, and are negotiable, for example a variac that
might go for $140 new, may sell at the fest for $ 20 or less.
But the way to learn the fine art of "Hamfesting" is to begin snatchin' &
buyin'!
Time to go (parts) hunting! Good luck!!
John Freau