Re: Misssing my coil, and the biggest tesla coil ever?

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Misssing my coil, and the biggest tesla coil ever?
From: Ross <ross-o-at-mindspring-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 19:10:55 -0600
Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

Tesla List wrote:

> Original Poster: "Alex Crow" <user-at-alexcrow.clara-dot-net>
>
> I am writing slightly off-topic (ie design and construction here) but I
> have to ask if people on the list have an emotional attachment to their
> coil as well as a scientific interest - I know I do, as I have been away
> from my coil for some weeks now, and the strain is starting to show!

Hi Alex,

Your post brings about an interesting point for me.  I have always had a bit of
a yearning to do something artistic.  I have reasonable engineering skills but
very little (or maybe just undiscovered )artistic skills.  I can draw pretty
much anything on AutoCAD, but I could never sketch a tree or paint a picture of
a bird.  My only musical skill is the ability to install a decent car stereo.
I guess what I'm getting at is there is definitely an artistic side to building
things.  Usually this "art" is only recognized by the builder, his fellow
builders, and a few enlighten onlookers.

My coil is the 1st thing that I have built that has ever elicited an "Ohhh,
that's beautiful!" from the average joe.  (Well, the "ohhh, that's beautiful"
usually comes after the "what's it do" and "what's it for", but hey, I'll take
it anyway I can get it. )  I really love watching those purple 4 ft arcs dance
around.  Although the arcs don't care if I am there or not, I can't help but
feel like those are "my arcs" because I put them there!

I also really like the idea of the arcs being real time and never really being
the same twice.  Greg's Electrum project ranks a strong #1 on my list of cool
artsy things.

Another thing - I moved out to SoCal from Alabama about a year ago.  I REALLY
miss the thunderstorms in the south.  Watching storms and lightning was
practically a hobby for me.  Since SoCal doesn't have any dynamic weather, the
coil help to satisfy the void.

Making arcs in Huntington Beach,

Ross Overstreet
Huntington Beach, CA
ICQ 20762411