Re: Is UHMW any good?

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

Original poster: "Scott Hanson" <huil888-at-surfside-dot-net> 

Joseph -

"UHMW" by itself does not identify any particular material. Most commonly,
"UHMW" refers to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. This material in
1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" thickness flat stock makes great supports for copper
tubing primary coils. Dull cutting tools will leave burrs, but they can be
very easily removed with a razor blade, Exacto knife, etc. Dead sharp
cutting tools run at relatively low speeds to reduce friction work best. It
can be slotted using a milling machine, table saw with dado blade, or by
drilling a series of holes for the tubing and then cutting across the holes
slightly off center so the tubing can be snapped into the holes. UHMW
polyethylene is a relatively low strength, low melting point plastic that is
not suitable for stressed structural parts like rotary spark gap disks, etc
but it does work very well for MMC mounting plates, HV insulators, etc.

Regards,
Scott Hanson


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 1:26 PM
Subject: Is UHMW any good?


 > Original poster: JOSEPH CACCIATORE <jocatch-at-us.ibm-dot-com>
 >
 >
 > I am now ready to built my primary using copper tubing (my tubing will be
 > standard 1/4" with 1/4" spacing and I need about 18 turns)
 >
 > I saw some UHMW on Ebay cheap which I am thinking would make a good
 > standoff/holder for the copper pipe. The only thing is I never heard of
 > UHMW. I assume it is a good insulator but how easy is it to work with? And
 > how do you guys get such nice cutouts in your standoffs?  Is it easy to
cut
 > and drill, do I need special tools?
 >
 > JC
 >
 >