Re: [TCML] Winding the primary

[bartb <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

What are you using for the primary? If like 0.25" or .375" copper 
tubing, I usually start at the inside turn and wind outward. If you are 
only using 4 runners, it can be difficult to shape the tubing into a 
nice curve. It's much easier if you use 8 runners. Nevertheless, you 
shape the tubing gently as you wind the primary. At each standoff or 
placement of hold-down, you tie down the tubing at that point before 
proceeding. However, try to shape a complete turn before putting a hold 
on the tubing. This prevents kinks and allows some "gentle leverage".

If the tubing is not good to begin with, it's difficult. But if it's 
already in a circular pattern, then it's actually pretty easy to shape 
it (by hand) to the shape you want. The smaller the primary, the more 
difficult is the radius of curvature, but that just goes with the hobby. 
It is an art of sorts and took me a couple primary windings to get it 
looking good. Of course, that was back in the day when copper didn't 
costs an arm and a leg.

Take care,
Bart

Stephen J. Hobley wrote:
> We just realized that we can't get the primary wound into the standoffs without some major kinking. 
>
> Is there a trick to winding the copper tubing into the standoffs with the minimum of distortion? 
> It's proving to be harder than we first thought.
>
> Steve
>   
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