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Re: Just starting out



Original poster: "Steve White by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <slwhite-at-zeus.ia-dot-net>

I would also add that if there are any 2 tools that I have found to be
invaluable, it is a drill press and a bandsaw. Fortunately, my company has
several machine shops which employees are allowed to use after hours. I
needed the drill press so much though that I finally bought my own. But the
company machine shop bandsaw I still use because it has spoiled me. It is a
huge unit about 7 feet tall running off of 3-phase power. It will cut
anything. If you have to make a choice, go with the drill press.

Steve: Coiling in Iowa

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 9:55 AM
Subject: RE: Just starting out


> Original poster: "Vanderputten, Gary by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <gvp-at-pvaintl-dot-com>
>
> What make's a good coiler?
>
> Degree in EEE? - nope?
>
> I believe you need the following:
>
> 1. Passionate fascination -  Interest bordering on obsession.
> 2. Dexterity - being handy is a must as you'd be hard pressed to contract
> this stuff out. Primary coils are an interesting challenge.
> 3. Prudence - this hobby can kill, although I believe only one
professional
> collier has met his demise this way. Follow any and all safety advice you
> can find.
> 4. Resourcefulness - the ability to hunt down parts at dumps, ebay,
> electronic parts houses - the great scavenger hunt.
> 5. Commitment to process - most coilers do not just rush to get over the
> finish line; you must look forward to each step in the build process and
> savor all the hours spent on each component. I spent three months building
a
> gorgeous plexiglass 1000 watter based entirely upon the collective advice
of
> this list. It worked the first time - While I remember that moment the
most,
> each step of the build was just as rewarding.
> 6. Patience with these threads - there is so much valuable data and
opinion
> in the list. It must be mined carefully. Just read all the articles on NST
> and RF protection - there is no finite answer, only persuasive arguments.
> 7. Humility - do not hesitate to ask the dumb question; there are no dumb
> questions here.
> 8. Money - this can be an expensive hobby if you want it to be, say, if
you
> want to get one of those really neat professional caps, but
resourcefulness
> and sweat equity will get you by. Keep in mind that the result of your
> efforts will have little material value beyond that of  garage sculpture.
> With rare exception, coils are a poor investment vehicle, nor do they
> qualify for IRA disbursements.
> 9. Appreciation for the aesthetics - Check out all the web photos of
> coiler's work - great geek sculpture.
>
> Enjoy
>
> Gary
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 3:02 PM
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: Just starting out
>
> Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>
>
>
>
> Tesla list wrote:
> >
> > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <Dan_Gallagher%PULSARNOTES-at-pulsartech-dot-com>
> >
> > Hi guys,
> > I may not be worthy of this group because you all sound like highly
> > intelligent engineers to me. But I've been involved with electronics all
> my
> > life. I've been a repair lab tech for years.
>
> I'm not entirely sure that "intelligent" and "tesla coil" are totally
> compatible.  It's a sick addiction, but fortunately, not entirely socially
> reprehensible.
>
> Certainly, one does not need to be an engineer to build a decent coil.  If
> one wants to understand the gory details of the fine points of the theory,
> perhaps some background is useful, but I daresay that the vast majority
> (>90%) of coil builders do not come from a "electrical/electronic
> engineering" background. (Perhaps I should change "understand" to "argue
> about"? <grin>)
>
>
> >
> > My question is I am interested in building my own tesla coil. I'm not
> > talking about a huge one with 10 foot arcs, maybe 12" or so arcs.
>
> A great size... fits on a table top, relatively inexpensive, won't require
> a truck to move it.
>
> >
> > Would you guys have any recommendations for where to start. I work for
an
> > electric utility communications company dealing with communications via
> > power-line carrier and fiber optics. I am the technical writer here.
This
> > seems to me like it could be a valuable resource for this interest of
> mine.
>
>
> Scrounge parts!  The two hardest things to come by will be the high
voltage
> transformer (typically, a neon sign transformer) and the primary
capacitors
> (MMC is highly recommended).  Everything else is easy "Home Depot" kinds
of
> stuff.   Bear in mind that if you bought everything you need brand new,
> full list price, no shopping around or scrounging, you could probably
build
> a decent coil that puts out 2 foot sparks for around $200-300.  With a
> substantial investment of your time (or, getting lucky), you could build a
> decent coil that puts out 2 foot sparks for free.
>
> >
> > Like right now I took from their discards a huge coil that looks like a
> > cigarette butt stand. You know those cigarette butt stands with the tray
> of
> > sand on the top. It seems to me I should be able to use this in some way
> in
> > making my tesla coil but without expert advice like from you guys I
don't
> > know.
> >
> > I'm very interested in starting and I am aware of the safety protocol of
> > working with high voltage.
> >
> > Thank you very much.
> >
> >   Daniel Gallagher -- Graphic designer/Technical writer
> >                        Pulsar Technologies, Inc.
> > "THE BRIGHT STAR IN UTILITY COMMUNICATIONS"
> >    4050 N.W. 121 Ave. Coral Springs, FL 33065 U.S.A.
> >        954-344-9822 ext. 243 (www.pulsartech-dot-com)
>
>
>
>
>