RE: spark gap (working copper)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Dave Halliday" <dh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Couple more things:

Copper work-hardens but if you heat it with a propane torch and let it
air cool, it will soften back up again.

WD-40 is a good cutting fluid for non-ferrous metals.  Particularly good
for milling aluminum but also fine for copper.

The ferrous metals blades need to be run at pretty low RPMs - Makita
makes one that runs at 4K RPM but it also costs about $50 and is really
only for steel sheet and thin soft iron.  Abrasive cutoff wheel is still
the best there.

Dave

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 6:25 PM
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: spark gap (working copper)
>
>
> Original poster: "Harold Weiss" <hweiss@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hi Ian,
>
> To do that, it is better to spend the money for the right
> blade.  DeWalt has a nonferrous metals blade that has a -5 degree
> rake.  I think they also put out a ferrous metals blade now, but I
> don't know if that has to be used at low RPM.  For use on a tablesaw,
> the blade may need a stabilizer.  Mine will wander on some cuts, and
> not give square cuts all the time.  It may also be a good idea to
> lube the blade with some A9 aluminium cutting fluid every so often.
>
> David E Weiss
>
> >Original poster: Ian Macky <ian@xxxxxxxxx>
> >
> >Introducing the Joy of Carbide: Woodworking tools with
> carbide bits can
> >work aluminum and copper!  A woodworking chop saw with a
> carbide blade
> >zips through aluminum and makes beautiful cuts.  And, it does hard or
> >coft copper too, but more slowly.  With a handheld router
> and carbide bit,
> >you can hand "mill" aluminum!  (This is best with guides tho).
> >
> >--ian
> >
> >P.S. But, be warned, copper is a b**** to machine in an
> traditional engine
> >lathe or mill (especially older, slopperier) since it's soft
> and grabby
> >and the bit just kind of dives in and the whole thing wedges
> up in a flash,
> >quite ugly (was showed some examples of ruined copper parts).
> >
> >
>
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