Variable capacitor for tinkering with

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

Original poster: "Sundog by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <sundog-at-timeship-dot-net>

Hi All!
 
   It's been a hectic week for me (the attacks shut down all flights, and the
business I work for relies heavily on FedEx to fly our packages everywhere, so
we had a ton of irate customers), plus that bit of really nasty weather that
rolled through earlier this week.  
 
 I had an idea for a cheap, easy to make variable cap, but dismissed it as "Too
cheezy."  The idea kept rolling around in my head, and I finally gave in to it
and told my buddy Dave about it.  He really liked it, so I guess I'll give it a
whirl.
 
  I'm needing a variable cap for my VTTC.  I like the idea of a pre-made unit,
but I'm usually pretty limited on spendable funds.  My idea is to make a good
'ole SW bucket cap with a dozen beer bottles (in good supply here), and put
them in a basket in the 5 gal bucket.  To chance the capacitance, simply lift
the basket to raise the caps further out of the SW in the bucket.  Of course
using fishing line of something else non-conductive, so I can change it as it's
running.  
  
   I figured that I'd bust a few bottles, they'd get hot, be lossy, and so on,
but here's why I like the idea. 
  #1.  Cheap!   I have lots on hand.
 #2.   Easy to repair.  Bottle pops, oopsie, drop in a new one.  
 #3.  No PVC container full of HV oil to house a normal variable cap leaking
all over, and HV oil has *always* leaked out of my PVC containers.
  #4. It's just so rediculous it has to work! :))
 
  I'll do some measurements later on today and post my results, time
providing.  My VTTC is in shambles at the moment, so I probably won't be able
to give it a go on the coil.  Sure, this is no real replacement for a quality
component, but at least the only thing I'll have to buy is a new 5 gal bucket
($2-3 at Home depot).  The rest (bottles, salt, etc) I have on hand.  High
tech, no.  Lossy? yes. Silly-looking, you betcha!  But it should work, and let
me play more with my VTTC when I get it back up & running! :)
    
                                                                           
                        Caio!
                                                                           
    Shad 
 Comments?