Re: Aaaaaaa!! My NST is toast! Salvage tips?

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

Original poster: "Mark Broker by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <mbroker-at-thegeekgroup-dot-org>

I forget the technical term, but "goo" would tend to imply something along 
the lines of warm caramel or chocolate,
and not the more epoxy-like substance described.

The chiselling technique works best if the compound is very cold.  If you 
live in a cold climate, place it outseid for
a couple days.  If not,  place it in a COLD freezer.  If you can turn the 
freezer down to the lowest setting, it will
work better.  I've heard of people taking a large hammer and just smashing 
the thing really hard.  The majority of
the resin then breaks into chunks, leaving only a little to be picked off 
the core and windings.

Good luck!

Mark Broker
Chief Engineer, The Geek Group

 >I removed the steel case but it made no difference, which suggests that
 >it's shorting to the core. I tested to see if I could melt the potting
 >compound, but it burns instead of melting. It is a very hard brittle amber
 >substance so I guess it must be some kind of thermosetting resin, not tar.
 >So that rules out the oven trick.
 >
 >My plan is to carefully chisel the resin off and see if I can find where
 >it's arcing. If I accidentally trash the windings while chiselling (more
 >than likely) plan 'B' is to just set fire to the whole lot in a trash can
 >in the yard. That way I should be able to salvage the core and I can try
 >winding my own transformer. I know it's easier to just get another NST, or
 >a couple of MOTs, but I fancy the challenge.
 >
 >Is this going to work? Does anyone know a better way? Can I salvage the
 >core like that or will the heat from the fire mess up its magnetic
 >properties? Your $.02 would be much appreciated. Merry Christmas!
 >
 >Steve C.
 >
 >
 >