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Re: Searching for Electode Material
Or copper pipe sideways would be my choice... A standard tubing cutter
makes a nice curved inwards end to reduce end effects. A bit of sanding
takes the corners off. You can arrange the pipes at 90 degrees to each
other (axis of symmetry at 90 degrees) if you want a more defined sparking
point.
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> From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: Searching for Electode Material
> Date: Saturday, May 06, 2000 1:16 AM
>
> Original Poster: HomerLea-at-aol-dot-com
>
> There are all kinds of brass and many formulations contain lead which is
not
> so good because some can end up in the air you are breathing. Brass does
not
> conduct as well as copper. There are a variety of copper nails and bolts
used
> in the plumbing trade so check the hardware store. 1/2 inch copper pipe
end
> caps fitted over a bolt or ?? should make great electrodes.
> Jim Heagy
>
> > Subj: RE: Searching for Electode Material
> > Date: 05/05/2000 1:14:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time
> > From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com (Tesla List)
> > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> >
> > Original Poster: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau-at-compaq-dot-com>
> >
> > Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It shouldn't be difficult to
find
> > 3/8" brass bolts in a good hardware store, but it probably has to be
better
> > than your corner hardware store. The important thing is to buy it or
make
> > it such that the arcing surface of the electrodes has a large, smooth
> > radius, like carriage bolts, though I've never seen those in brass.
If you
> > use hex head bolts, you should put the threads in a lathe or drill and
file
> > the sharp corners off of the hex head.
> >
> > I would avoid zinc and aluminum as electrode materials. Zinc has a
low
> > melting point and both oxidizes readily, which will result in rapid
> > electrode wear.
> >
> > Regards, Gary Lau
> > Waltham, MA USA
> >
> > >Original Poster: "Ryan Ries" <spud-at-wf-dot-net>
> > >
> > > Hello, I'm looking for some better conductor for my air-blast gap
> > than
> > >what I'm currently using. I have 1/4" steel bolts for electrodes
right
> > >now, and I realize that steel is not good, but I can't find any
copper or
> > >brass or aluminum bolts. (Isn't brass just copper with a sodium
hydroxide
> > >shell?) Also, does anyone have any info on the conductivity/heat
> > >dissipation of zinc?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ryan Ries
> > > http://spud.pureinsanity-dot-net
> >
> >
>
>