Re: Hello from The Newbie

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "colin heath" <colin.heath4@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

hi chris,
            for a cheap coilformer look at things like shampoo bottles and
the like as most are made from polyprop or polyethylene which will be alot
better than cardboard. however cardboard works fine if you treat it properly
with varnish before winding. also steer away from formers with any kind of
paint or print(you would be surprised what becomes conductive at these
voltages.
also any polycarbonate tubes from things like aquariums and such work fine
also.
cheers
colin

----- Original Message -----
From: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 3:27 PM
Subject: Hello from The Newbie


> Original poster: "Chris Watkins" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hi all!
>
>     Chris here, with my first post. Location: 35 miles west of Atlanta,
GA.
> I've been scouring websites, reading articles and posts about Tesla Coils,
> for a few weeks now. The list kept popping up, so of course I subscribed
:-)
>
> I've been in awe of Tesla coils since seeing a demo in school, too many
> years ago... but I never considered actually building my own. After seeing
> that it doesn't appear to be "rocket science",  I've decided to "Just Do
> It".
> (With assistance from you who have "been there and done that", hopefully!)
>
> I haven't decided all specs... but my first will surely be a bit on the
> small-ish side,
> especially compared to some monster coils seen here and elsewhere on the
> net.
> I'm not greedy, yet!  If it's capable of  ~4-6" sparks, after tweaking and
> tuning,
> I'll declare success. Anything more is gravy. I'll set higher goals for my
> next coil.
> Maybe I'll venture more than $25, to build that next one. This one will be
> junk.
>
> I'll be scrounging for most items, whenever practical. As a packrat, I
> expect to find
> enough "junk" laying around to come up with most of the ingredients for
the
> project.
> If I happen to mention a thing you *know* does not work, by all means clue
> me in!
> If something is "not optimal, but may work", I'd appreciate that knowledge
> as well.
>
>
> OK...
> For starters, I think I'll wind the secondary. I'm not expecting it to be
> gorgeous
> or perfect, but I'll do the best I can. Scrounging around, I'm not finding
> much
> in the way of coil forms. The first two possibilities are: A paper towel
> tube, or
> a Pringle's chip can. Using partial specs below, which one would you
> choose...
> if you were forced to wind a functional Tesla secondary using one or the
> other?
>
> (Note: I'm not opposed to butting two items together if necessary. ie...
on
> first
>   thought, I'm guessing 2 Pringle's cans, 6:1 with ~1000 turns might work
> well.
>   I'd rather use only one item, but will use two if it's felt that one
just
> won't work)
>
>
> Pringle's Can (with aluminized liner & steel end cap removed)
> 2 15/16" Diameter
> 3:1 Aspect ratio
> ~500 turns of 26 gauge wire
>
> Paper Towel Tube
> 1 3/4"  Diameter
> 6.2:1 Aspect ratio
> ~625 turns of 26 gauge wire
>
>
>
> I'm sure I'll have a couple dozen more questions before the year(week?) is
> over :-)
> Thanks in advance for any response.
>
> --
> Chris
>
>