Re: Help

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

Original poster: Bart Anderson <classi6-at-classictesla-dot-com> 

Hi Emmett,

Here is my preferred method. Ty-wraps. I've used them on all my primary's 
and it's always worked out fine for me. Here's picture of a primary on 
runners. I showed this quite a while back regarding a clamp method I use, 
but will also work here. Also, I don't always use wood nor do I always use 
runners. Sometimes I'll use a plastic spacer as a standoff.

http://www.classictesla-dot-com/temp/clamp.jpg

Note, all I do is mark the holes for drilling down through runner or board. 
Because the coil grows as it spans around the coil, the first inner hole 
should be marked accordingly to allow a smooth transition, then the 
remaining holes can be marked at set distances (whatever distance you want 
between turns). After marking, just drill 1/4" holes strait down through 
runner or board.

Next, begin winding copper tubing. I start with the inner turn. Lay out the 
pre-coiled tubing. I simply insert a ty-wrap from the bottom, up through 
the hole. I maneuver the ty-wrap up and around the tubing, then back down 
the same hole and zip it tight. On to the next hole, etc.. etc.. Although 
this picture doesn't show it, these days I like to insert a small plastic 
spacer before I go up and around the tube with the ty-wrap.

I'm not sure why I like this, but I do. If I ever need to straiten out an 
area I may have dented, or damaged in some way, all I have to do is snip of 
the ty-wrap in the area to do the work and put a new one on after the work 
is done.

I should also note that I've been polishing the tubing about once a year. I 
use Brasso on the tubing and it retains a brilliant shine for quite a 
while. The picture above shows the dingy look copper tube primary's will 
develop after a short period of time. This same primary looks brand new 
these days. Usually as I polish up a primary, I'll replace ty-wraps one at 
a time. Again, I don't do this often, but once a year is about right to 
keep it looking "pretty". I haven't noticed any corrosive effects from 
using the Brasso polish.

Take care,
Bart


Tesla list wrote:

>Original poster: "Emmett Secrest" <secrest2032-at-msn-dot-com>
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>Okay, I've always thought of myself as a capable do it yourselfer. Years 
>of experience with woodworking, metal fabrication, etc.  But tonight when 
>I tried to place the .25" copper tubing in my form, for my primary coil, 
>all my previous experience went out the window and I turned into some kind 
>of greenhorn with two hands that were all thumbs. GOD there has to be an 
>easy way to accomplish this task.
>Would someone be so kind as to tell me how this can be accomplished 
>without totally screwing up the roll of copper or without the use of drugs. LOL
>All advice and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  I started out 
>trying to feed the tubing through the holes in my supports but quickly 
>found out that wouldn't work.  I then cut the support in half along the 
>centerline of the holes thinking this would ease the problem and that then 
>I could fasten the upper half back down to hold everything in place. This 
>isn't working either since you cant keep the individual turns in place 
>while you try and place the other turns.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Emmett Secrest
>
>
>