Re: new to the hobby

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

Original poster: "rheidlebaugh by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <rheidlebaugh-at-zialink-dot-com>

Chris: I use 6"x10"Al flashing cut on the paper cutter , 10FT TOTAL,ROLED
WITH 12 LAYERS OP 4 MIL PE HEAT SEAL BAG STOCK. I ASSEMBLE IT WITH POP
RIVETS AND 1 IN STRIPS  AS STRAPS WITH AL WASHERS AS SPACERS. I PUNCH 1/4 IN
HOLES TO CONNECT PLATES WITH A PAPER PUNCH.MY PLATES ARE OFFSET 2 IN SO ONLY
6IN X 8IN ARE OVERLAPED.   EACH CAP IS 3.63 NF CAPACITANCE. I USE 3 EACH IN
PARALLEL TO GIVE 10.89 NF TOTAL. THIS IS IN A PLASTIC TRAY WITH A LID WITH 2
GAL OF MINERAL OIL FROM THE FEED STORE all sealed well with silicon calk.
I HOPE THIS GIVES YOU SOME IDEA TO compare with.
   Robert  H  

> From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 07:23:11 -0700
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: new to the hobby
> Resent-From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Resent-Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 07:33:01 -0700
> 
> Original poster: "Chris by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <chris-at-atomic-pc-dot-com>
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> My name is Christian Thorsten and I'm a computer consultant (graduated
> from college as a biochemist, though)- but I've long had an interest in
> electricity and electronics.  My first attempt at a Tesla coil was about
> 3-4 years ago, though I based most of it on reprinted 1916-1925 texts
> (try not to cringe!!).  It didn't work all that great, but it made some
> ozone and NO2..  I also blew out an electrical outlet on the "surge
> strip" the transformer was plugged into (due to kickback, I'd
> imagine?).  The spark gap was made of two, very large iron bolts mounted
> in equally large nuts and PC-7'ed onto a block of wood.
> 
> Anyway, a friend and I recently built a small coil that throws sparks up
> to 5" long.  Not spectacular by list standards, but considering it's
> probably _far_ from tuned and is made of half-a$$ed parts, it's not too
> bad either.  Nor have I destroyed any electrical outlets this time :->
> 
> I was wondering:  what is the typical variance range (i.e., +/- 5%, +/-
> 20%, etc) for homemade rolled capacitors?  I'm using 40 mil soft PVC
> sheet (gray, flexible; for shower liner), and of course, aluminum foil.
> I press it as tightly as I can with a wooden dowel while rolling it and
> then secure the whole thing with electrical tape.
> 
> Best regards,
> Chris
> 
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