I'm a Harbor Freight tools nut and own way too many of their tools,
including this hydraulic crimper. I caught it on sale a couple of
weeks ago and couldn't resist. If you buy it, I do not think you
will be at all disappointed. It isn't on sale now and I do think the
price is a bit high when not on sale. If you aren't in too big of a
hurry, though, they usually put the same things on sale periodically
and if you keep you eyes out, you will most likely see it go on sale again.
Paul
Think Positive
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Leddon" <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:48 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] Source for copper hardware
Jim,
You've got a couple of really good suggestions here. I have
everything needed to do silver brazing, except the bottles, which I
can retrieve the next time I'm in Las Vegas. So this would be a no
cost solution. However, there is one undesirable aspect of
soldering lugs that might also apply to brazing. Solder can wick
up the wire and inch or two resulting in an inflexible cable near
the termination. A small thing but it always bugged me. And then
there's the damage to the insulation which could be great at
brazing temperatures. Your other suggestion that I get the
connections crimped at my local welding store has great merit since
I usually buy my lugs there anyway. But maybe the best solution,
since I seem to be fabricating a lot of heavy-duty cables lately,
would be to buy one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66150
Dave
At 06:16 PM 3/30/2010, you wrote:
Dave Leddon wrote:
I've been trying to eliminate hot spots in the primary circuit of
a relatively high current (~3000 amp) drsstc by replacing high
resistance connection points with copper. Even a one-inch length
of 3/8-inch brass bolt can generate enough heat to melt the
solder right out of a terminal lug. Which raise another
interesting point, what about solder? It has ten times the
resistance of copper so maybe all lugs should be crimped.
I only soldered them because I don't own a crimper large enough
to deal with #2 welding cable. But I digress. I've not had any
success locating a source for copper nuts and bolts, probably
because copper isn't strong enough to be consider a fastener, and
so have been force to machine my own. I would much rather just
plunk down the credit card.
Does anybody know of a good source for copper hardware?
Crimping is common for applications like welding cables. Most
welding supply places can crimp connectors on your cable for you.
"hard solder" (aka silver solder) or brazing is another
alternative. Much higher melting point.. Hey, an excuse to use a
MAPP/Oxy or Acetylene/Oxy rig! I've used one of those inexpensive
MAPP/Oxy sets with the disposable bottles to do stuff.. It gets
expensive if you use much gas, but for a small project, it's not
too bad. MAPP/SolidOx is another possibility which is a bit less
expensive for supplies.
But if you're going to do more than a simple job, it's worth
getting (or renting?) a real oxy/acetylene rig, like refrigeration
guys use, with the small bottles. About $300 or so, including the
bottles and torch. And brazing/gas welding is actually pretty easy
(compared to, say, straight stick welding) with a very small
amount of practice. (as long as you stay away from aluminum.. it's
just hard, because it melts before it changes color)
Have you looked at "split bolts" used in electrical wiring? They
also use copper hardware for high current applications, so a
commercial electrical supplier might have them.
Copper hardware is also used in the marine industries.
And, of course, McMaster Carr might have them..
But.. what you really want is exothermic welding, aka Thermite.
Cad-Weld is one trade name.
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