RE: [TCML] keeping primary copper tubing nice and shiny

["Chris Boden" <cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Frank, I'd love a recipe and details on that if you would be so kind. It
would make for a really good video. If you're *really* motivated, you're
welcome to come to the studio and do an instructional video on
electroplating with me if you like. 



The Geek Group 
National Science Center
Christopher A. Boden
President / Founder
www.thegeekgroup.org
Because the Geek shall inherit the Earth!






-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Frank
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 6:54 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] keeping primary copper tubing nice and shiny

LOTS of elbow grease to polish.
I use only Brasso, I have found this to be the best polish, and 
follow it with Flitz to give a final  shine. You will be amazed how 
much it makes a difference.
BUT and this is a big BUT, I have also found Flitz will tarnish 
quicker! The copper will tarnish faster on a coil than elsewhere due 
to the corona and ozone. Additional factors that will accelerate 
tarnish are cigarette smoke, pollution and wood smoke from stoves to 
name a few.
Then use Zinger spray shellac and spray the tubing.

Pretty much once you have the coil tuned you should not need to keep 
changing the tap, however, if you are always wanting to adjust the 
tap then put a good quality car wax on the tubing. This will keep the 
oxidation down for a good amount of time but you will have to repeat 
the process on a routine basis. The time between polishing and waxing 
strictly depends on your local area and how much you run the coil.

A more long term solution is to nickle plate the copper. This is 
actually easier than you think and can be done at home, you just need 
the plating chemicals, an adjustable low voltage current source (an 
old time battery eliminator works great) and a small paint brush.

I can send anyone my plating formula I found in an antique plating 
book. It works great! The chemicals are still available but very 
expensive now. I got mine many years ago as a fluke and cheap!

Frank

At 02:14 PM 1/14/2010 -0600, you wrote:
>Sure, Flitz will clean it up nice, but it never stays that way.  Anyway i
>prefer this cheap stuff called "bar-keepers friend" or something like that,
>i think i get it at home depot or menards.  Its a powder and is extremely
>effective at ripping the oxide right off the copper, and as noted, its
>really cheap.
>
>I found that putting a lexan plate over my primaries tends to increase the
>"lifetime" before it looks like crap, but i suspect thats mostly due to
>handling (you dont get your oils all over it).  Even still, give it enough
>time and it will start turning darker.
>
>Steve
>
>On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 7:59 PM, DC Cox <resonance@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Flitz works great.      Get at boat marinas.
> >
> > DC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 2:49 PM, Thomas Ryckmans <
> > thomas.ryckmans@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Any ideas of how I could keep my primary copper tubing nice and shiny?
I
> > > need it conductive so I can tap it at different points - but would
like
> > to
> > > have a protective layer on it to keep the nice sheen. New copper is so
> > much
> > > prettier than the oxidized one
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Many thanks
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Thomas
> > >
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