Re: Tungsten

["Finn Hammer" <f-hammer-at-xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-xxxxxxxxxx>)]

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Ted Rosenberg" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>
> 
> 

snip
> Once you get the rods you'll have to look into a method of
> cutting to the desired length. I have a Dremel Diamond Cutting Wheel
> ($21.00) on order.

I have said it before, and I will say it again:

It doesn`t take more than a couple of minutes, to cut a 5/16" rod of
2%thorium/tungsten with an ordinary hacksaw, equipped with an (around)
30 teeth per inch High Speed Steel (HSS) blade.

There are fancier methods around, but this is the one I resort to every
time still.

Once cut, mount the bits in an electric drill, and rotate them with it,
while you press the end of the electrode-to -be against a grinding
wheel, or a belt sander. Be garefull if you use a grinding wheel, it
tends to knock the electrode/drilllingmachine back untill a nice true
surface is obtained.

Hemispherical ends are rather easy to make this way too, and for static
gaps, my favourite, the Rukowski lookalike profile (big radius across
most of the surface, progressing into a nice small radius blending into
the shaft) -Not too hard to make.

Cheers, Finn Hammer