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Re: Poor Form? (fwd)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 00:25:48 -0500 (EST)
From: richard hull <rhull-at-richmond.infi-dot-net>
To: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: Poor Form? (fwd)


>Richard, All:
>
>Just as a tip for anyone looking for a source for a polyethylene storage
>drum.  I was able to obtain 7 drums made of high density polyethylene from
>by brother in-law, who manages a prison laundry (He is not a prisoner!).
>These containers held a liquid detergent and are perfect cylinders 22.75" in
>diameter by about 33" tall.  These are 55 gallon drums and 32 gallon were
>also apparently available, but I didn't get any measurements from these.  I
>would guess as many of us scrounge at neon sign shops for transformers, a
>stop at a hospital (or prison) laundry may also provide for some great
>materials.
>
>These HDPE drums can not be glued in any manner that I am aware of.  The top
>and bottom lids are inertia welded into place and I found that they can be
>"WELDED" together by using a 200 watt soldering iron.  After carefully
>aligning the drums, I simply dropped the big soldering iron through the drum
>bung hole, mounted on a long stick and melted the bottom of one to the top
>of the other, using 16-18 joints.  I then wacked the heck out of the
>assembly and nothing even came close to failing.  The assembly basically
>ends up with internal stiffening from the drum lids.  The lids do have to be
>trimmed and the joint filled in.  I trimmed mine with no trouble, but I
>won't be doing the "body work" until it warms up around here.  The wall
>thickness is about 5/16" on these units, in case anyone is wondering about
>that point.  I'll be posting more on this attempt later this spring.  The
>moral here is not to go to prison or the Hospital for Tesla materials, but
>some handy materials are available out there if you keep looking for them.
>That old saying about not what they are, but what they can be----
>
>Chuck
>
>

Chuck,

That is good advice for any coiler.  The rule is it ain't what you think it
is, it what what you imagine it can be turned into.  This has always been
our maxim here.  The thickness on the poly is unimportant due to the ultra
low dissapation factor of this material.  Good luck anbd keep us posted.

Richard Hull, TCBOR