RE: Bottle Capacitors

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau-at-compaq-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

While using the metal screw-on bottle caps won't have any effect on
capacitance or other electrical issues, you have to bear in mind that some
heating of the bottle is going to happen.  The contents will expand, and
unless you make provisions to allow for that expansion, you're going to have
a mess on your hands.

I would recommend using the caps with a small pin-hole beside the bolt to
allow air or oil to vent.  Don't attempt to make it leakproof.  You may be
able to minimize slosh-leakage by applying a blob of Vaseline jelly over the
inside of the pinhole.  No one ever said SW caps are neat!

Regards, Gary Lau
Waltham, MA USA

>Original poster: Irrelative-at-aol-dot-com 
>
>I'm making bottle capacitors out of Snapple bottles but I have a quick 
>question.  Snapple bottle caps are made of metal - will using them affect
the 
>capacitence or somehow make them not work?  I've read that you should find 
>plastic caps, but I just want to know if it will make a difference cause 
>finding something made of plastic to cap a snapple bottle is gonna take a
bit 
>of work.  Thanks in advance!    --Justin