Re: Advice on Primary

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Yurtle Turtle <yurtle_t@xxxxxxxxx>

I wound over fifty feet through eight lexan supports,
and it was a pain. But it looked real pretty!

http://www.hot-streamer.com/adam/primary.htm

I couldn't have done it myself though. My wife helped
me. I wound from the outside inward. I got all fifty
feet threaded through before soldering the next
section on. To solder it, I found a piece of solid
copper wire that fit tightly inside, then soldered it
and wiped it smooth. The first time through, I had
glued the supports to the base. As my spiral got
smaller, and tighter, it broke my glue loose. I then
unwound the tubing slightly and screwed my supports to
the base. I've heard of some folks who tried to wind
the tubing onto the supports loose, but I haven't
tried this. Given how tough 1/4" was, I think it would
be nearly impossible to do this with larger tubing.

Don't worry about the "double wound" package. It winds
off smoothly with no problem. I wouldn't try to unwind
it then rewind it. You will end up work hardening the
tubing.

Good luck
Adam


--- Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Original poster: "Medina, Benjamin (UMR-Student)"
> <bamxbb@xxxxxxx>
>
> Hello,
>
> I know this topic has already been discussed but I
> am still having doubts
> when it comes to the winding of the copper tubing
> through the holes or
> notches of the supports. So if someone could clear
> this up for me that
> would be very much appreciated.
>
> As of now this is what I plan on using:
>
> 1. A 50ft roll of 1/4" OD refrigeration copper
> tubing.
> 2. A 3/4" thick sheet of plywood as the base.
> 3. 5 supports in an L shape cut out from a cutting
> board I got at WAL-MART
> fixed to the plywood base with screws (similar to
> the image below).
>
>
> http://hot-streamer.com/temp/Medinaimage001.jpg
>
>
> At first I thought of fixing the supports to the
> base and winding the
> tubing through the holes, but now I am realizing it
> will be a PAIN!!
> Therefore, should I slide in the supports, starting
> at the center and work
> my way outside, through the entire roll of tubing?
> Or should I start at the
> ends and work my way inside?
>
> Some people prefer holes in the supports; others
> prefer notches. I am not
> sure about this. I am thinking that the notches
> might bend the tubing if
> one is not careful when doing this. Any suggestions?
>
> Say I want 15 turns. While winding the tubing, let's
> say I run out of
> tubing on the 11th turn. Is it okay to solder
> another continuous piece of
> tubing to the original, to complete the 15 turns or
> not? I guess, what I am
> asking is if I need a continuous roll of tubing or
> not? Will this affect
> the coupling and/or the overall performance of the
> TC?
>
> Another thing I noticed is the fact that the tubing
> is double wounded,
> making it even more tedious to work with it. A guy
> at Home Depot suggested
> to unroll the tubing on the floor and then wind it
> on/through the supports.
> Any suggestions?
>
> I appreciate your time. Thanks for the help.
>
> Regards,
>
> Benjamin Medina
> Rolla, Missouri.
>
>