Re: Thanks/Bottle cap?/newbie starting out

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

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

Your scheme will work just fine... Find those beer bottles... I wouldn't
worry about exploding bottles.  The container for the outer electrode of
the capacitors (i.e. your 5 gal bottle) isn't particularly critical,
although, stringing some rope through/around it to allow easier moving when
full.. It's going to weigh a BUNCH (technical term) when loaded with
bottles and saltwater... and will make a terrible mess if you drop it/spill
it/etc, leading to potential marital strife (She probably won't appreciate
how much money you are saving by scrounging when you pour saltwater, broken
glass, and oil over the floor)

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Dan_Gallagher%PULSARNOTES-at-pulsartech-dot-com>
> 
> Terry and everyone else,
> I've thought about tesla coils for years. But I had no idea there would be
> such a cool group like this to share it with. I appreciate learning from
> you all.
> 
> Thanks for getting back to me about my secondary. I'll look for #22 wire to
> rewind it with.
> 
> Now the thought about a capacitor comes to mind. I really can't afford to
> buy all the MMCs from the geek group though, my wife would kill me if I
> spent $100 for this.
> 
> I was thinking last night in my garage (uh-oh) as I was standing there
> looking at the empty 5 gal. plastic (recycle number #7) water bottles in
> the corner. Plus earlier I'd been researching salt water and beer bottle
> cap designs. "poof" like in the cartoons an idea pops into my head.
> 
> Couldn't I cut a 5 gal. "Crystal Water" bottle in half, fill it with
> appropriately prepared beer bottles, then put the water bottle's cut-off
> top half back on and tape it around the center (clear 2" packing or duct
> tape maybe), and have the wire come out the hole in the top? I could make
> one or two of these for capacitors. It seems taping the cut halves together
> will not only help keep the liquid from spilling out but protect from
> exploding glass bottles too. Are plastic 1 litre bottles maybe better than
> glass beer bottles? I'm seeing why you all scrounge parts now. Some of you
> are probably married like me with not much spare cash and a burning desire
> for lightning.
> 
> I also had the idea that if I cut out a cross-section from the center of
> the water bottle and made a ring, say 3" tall or so, that could be my
> primary form. Since my secondary is about 8.5" in diam. the 11" diameter
> water bottle seems about right. So this water bottle will serve two
> purposes then. I can be quite resourceful when pressed.
> 
> I am so glad I joined this list and am grateful for your guidance. Thank
> you very much.
> 
> Dan
> Ft. Lauderdale