Re: Touching/Sitting on your coil

["Metlicka Marc" <mystuffs-at-orwell-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

hello coilers,
it seems that the urge to get as close to or touch a streamer is very
prevalent in first time observers also. when my early systems were going
strong it seemed like every one of my friends tried the "lets get close
to the streamers" thing, most of the time before i could scream no! they
got hit. one friend said that he thought that since the streamers were
only 3 foot long, he could get 4 feet away. well the streamer length
shot out 4 foot plus to hit him hard, i felt awful. another friend stuck
his foot up thinking that his work boot would insulate him, well that
streamer found his shoelace hole and a nice burn resulted. this is when
i decided to make sure everyone was well back while firing my coil.
i had never got hit by a streamer myself but the sight of these
incidences thought me that even though the early readings about standing
or sitting on the discharge platforms to let the sparks fly, that was
totally nuts. i think back to my first system, built on the coffee
table, 10- gallon jug swc's, primary/secondary/ toroid and all with me
leaning over to turn on the surge suppresser with a stick (got shocked
using my finger )streamers 2 feet above my head, man was i lucky! it was
a learning curve that maybe all have gone through, but maybe not.
i have to mention the worst case of ignorance that we experienced, a
friend brought over his "drinking" brother to see my coil, i was showing
him how he could hold a florescent tube and it would light. well he got
silly and held it from his privates, swinging it back and forth, i
yelled no just as a streamer leaped to the end of the tube. not a good
thing at all, about a week later he told me that my coil would beat
viagra hands down? weather he can have kids remains to be seen?
well nowadays everyone listens to my safety lecture with deep regard and
respect for the power is passed from friend to friend without my
intervention.
just some thoughts of the early days..............marc