[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
RE: [TCML] phillips question about wax and more
David, Gary, Adam,
One thing someone reminded me of, a major oversight - where shunts are removed, and overheating is possible wax will not be very friendly. Use it for coils/transformers that don't get too hot (less than 180 degrees) when operating. Otherwise you'll have molten wax or (even worse) smoking wax - which can turn disasterous!
I did mean get a new ($1.50) toilet ring as opposed to any other toilet ring (recycled?). They are completely nasty (in new condition as well), they are petroleum-based (they do look like beeswax, but manufactures informed me otherwise). What I should have said more clearly is to put a new ring (or a bit of oil, etc.) into the molten wax if you want to improve it a bit as far as cracking or bubbling when it cools, or massive contracting and collapsing of it if its cooled too fast. The ratio of wax:[ring][petroleum][paraffin oil][etc] is more a matter of preference. You can mix various ratios to get anything from something candle-like to a vaseline consistency. It depends on the container used how friendly you want it afterward. The final cost can be drastically different. 5 gallons of oil is cheap next to the equivalent of wax (Here paraffin wax is $25 for 11 pounds, which doesn't go far). Without a proper container, gaskets, etc. it just gets messy. Adding even 50% wax to oil will make it solidify enough to have something you can handle (granted with care, not nearly so much as if were liquid, if this makes sense).
The soy-based waxes are generally vegetable oil and stearic/palmitic acids. I agree its not the best idea for longevity, but I mention it just as a sidenote to say that it works, and 2 years later it isn't the moldy-mess that I would have imagined. (I did expect it to get nasty though, it hasn't, but maybe 2 years from now it will...?) It started off as a clearance-aisle raid in a fabric store, and ended up in a month of experimentation for the sake of experimentation.
As a pointless experiment, I set off to create a portable Pancake unit in the style of the early suitcase X-Ray machines. The idea was to build it from non-petroleum based materials just to see if its possible. The result were some unusual coils that performed fine. I don't like the texture of vegetable based waxes, (they tend to be softer, and more for container use, ie, container candles/etc) and on experimenting to make them harder (larger percentage stearic+palmitic acids) they eventually became something workable and more similar to Paraffin wax.
Beeswax and Rosin is still the best wax mix to use. The problem is finding either one in bulk and at a price that is affordable. I've mentioned too many times in the past that coils impregnated with this will last a century or more even if stored improperly, near moisture, (even buried in dirt-floor basement). We have proof of this!
Jeff
> From: drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [TCML] phillips question about wax and more> Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:51:11 -0500> CC: > > Hi Gary, Jeff, all,> > Also, don't most organic based oils tend to go rancid when exposed> to air over extended periods of time? Think about an open jar of pea-> nut butter and how it will eventually go stale. I'm not sure how staleness> would affect the insulation properties of organic based oils but I would> not think that it would be good. Besides, who wants a stinky transformer?> Maybe if the transformer or capacitor into which the oil is used was com-> pletely vacuumed down, the oil would not deturiate or take on moisture?> > Aside from the "grossness", a toilet ring is made from a petroleum> based compound and would probably make a good dielectric potting> mix. Of course a brand new ring from your friendly neighborhood> hardware/builder's supply store would not have quite the gross factor> of a "used" one, aside from its gooey stickiness. Cleanup would definitely> require a petroleum based solvent, though.> > David Rieben> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 10:05 PM> Subject: RE: [TCML] phillips question about wax and more> > > I would be concerned that adding Palmitic Acid or Stearic Acid to a potting > compound may be a bad thing. Acids are likely to hygroscopic, attracting > moisture and creating a conductive mix. Not what you want around a HV > transformer.> > As far as the toilet rings - after replacing a couple of toilets in my house > and scraping off the old wax rings, I find the stuff just gross! Never mind > where it's been, it's just sticky and messy and unpleasant to clean up. You > can't just scrape it or wipe it up like paraffin or Vaseline.> > Regards, Gary Lau> MA, USA> > -----Original Message-----> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf > Of Jeff Behary> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 9:59 PM> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List> Subject: RE: [TCML] phillips question about wax and more> > > Hey all,> I agree that oil would be best but its such a pain to work with, wax is so > much more convenient.> > You can always add some components to the wax too. Paraffin oil (mineral > oil, linseed oil, etc) will make a softer mix that won't crack as easy. > Another thing that works is to add a wax "toilet ring" seal to the mix. > The wax still hardens, and will still contract a bit. The toilet ring is a > waxy-vaseline consistency and seems to help the mixture a bit, esp. if being > poured into a container.> > I've even went the tree-hugger route and made vegetable-based waxes for > coils and transformers. Soybean oil and Stearic Acid or Palmitic Acid (both > are waxy flakes used in candle making) will form an unusual and cheap wax > that (against all odds in bug-infested Florida) have held up nearly 2 years > without any problems so far.> > An unforseen problem here is that a container of oil, of any kind, will be > completely filled with dead cockroaches and palmetto bugs if not monitored. > They love the stuff for some strange reason, and have ruined several of my > projects (and appetite)...> > Jeff> _______________________________________________> Tesla mailing list> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla > > _______________________________________________> Tesla mailing list> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_________________________________________________________________
Now you can invite friends from Facebook and other groups to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Add now.
https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_AddNow_Now_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla