Re: How to make a "good" copper tubing clamp

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

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-twfpowerelectronics-dot-com>

Hi Dan,

You might just want to make a "real" clamp out of brass...  Brass will 
conduct big RF currents fine.  I don't know if you have a mill available or 
not.  Might have to get brass stock from McMaster, and hack saw/drill or 
find a machine shop (should be real easy).  But it might be worth the 
effort just to get the clamp "right".  A foot long 1 inch square bar of 360 
brass is like $22...  Enough to make 6 clamps...

There is a small chance you could find a brass clamp for expensive brass 
boat railing that would fit, but It might still be cheaper to machine 
something that is perfectly what you want.

If you want "cheap", just get a common stainless steel hose clamp of 
automotive fame and clamp the wire right against the pipe ;-)  That is how 
I do all my big current ground connections...  You can always solder it 
once you are sure it will not change.  But the finely machined brass clamp 
will be real pretty ;-)))

Cheers,

         Terry


At 12:03 PM 8/4/2004, you wrote:
>Just curious if anyone had a good way to make a wire clamp that would
>fit over refrigeration copper tubing (primary coil) of about 1/2" to
>3/4" in diameter.
>
>I've tried a variety of different ways, but am having trouble getting a
>clamp that puts positive clamping force on the
>copper tubing.
>
>Any help appreciated.
>Thanks
>
>Dan