Re: Tungsten gap erosion

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <m.j.watts-at-massey.ac.nz>

Hi Terry,
          I consistently use 1/2" diameter tungsten carbide tips in 
my gaps and find them to be very good as far as erosion goes. I admit 
to not having compared them with tungsten-only electrodes. They can 
indeed be brazed - I get mine brazed onto 1/2" brass stock.

Regards,
malcolm

On 10 Aug 2001, at 16:42, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> In a triggered spark gap.  There is no spinning rotor or bunch of copper
> sections to help cool the gap.  So I was thinking of just two water cooled
> 1/8 inch tungsten electrodes.  No fan or anything else.  Just the tungsten
> tips thermally linked to a water jacket with heavy copper mounting.
> Although no tungsten tips yet, sort of along the lines of:
> 
> http://hot-streamer-dot-com/temp/ProtoSTSG.jpg
> 
> I was wondering how fast the tungsten tips may erode or wear out with say a
> 900 watt coil.  They would stay cool (if 300C is cool :-)) but 120 times
> per second, they would be firing without too much air circulation.
> 
> Just in idea I am working on and searching for tips ;-))
> 
> I like to avoid fans since they tend to be battery powered to avoid
> worrying with another AC line going to the coil area...
> 
> Also, can tungsten and/or tungsten carbide be soldered or brazed?  I note
> tool bits and blades have tungsten tips that look brazed but I did not know
> if that was something a regular guy could do with a torch?
> 
> I hope to get some testing done with Marc's electrodes and some of this
> triggered gap stuff this weekend :-))  Also thinking along the lines of a
> really reliable long life gap for Ted's coil.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> 	Terry
> 
> 
>