Re: Off topic Jacobs ladder qustion

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: David Speck <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Brad,
Acrylic tube would be a bad choice, 'cause if the arc were to get 
close to the tube, it could "catch" and set the acrylic on fire.  Not 
a good outcome.

Several options for opening the bottom of a glass vase (assuming it's 
nothing too precious).  Old technique was to score a deep groove 
where you want to separate it, and put a nichrome wire into the 
groove, heat it electrically, and the thermal shock should 
theoretically snap off the base along the line.  Unfortunately, it 
might take a few tries to make it work exactly as you want.

These days, you can buy a diamond coated wheel for cheap at Harbor 
Freight tools and very slowly and carefully cut off the base, 
preferably under a continuous stream of water for cooling.  They even 
make small wheels that you could use in a hand held Dremel tool, but 
you would have to keep the water out of the tool.
Dave

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "bmcpeak" <bmcpeak33@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hello, Group,
> While working on my Coil I am building a Jacobs ladder ( need a HV fix :)
> My question is ... I have located some large O.D. Glass Vases to use 
> for a tube for the electrodes. But I want to cut the bottom off of 
> the vase, can anyone give advice on doing this to a round object. As 
> last resort I could drill holes for the electrodes. Or use an 
> acrylic tube but how likely would this material be to melt?
> Brad McPeak