[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
RE: [TCML] keeping primary copper tubing nice and shiny
Caswell Plating
http://www.caswellplating.com/
They also have powder coating kits that are reasonably priced and look
interesting.
You can make your own power supply from a MOT -- you don't need many volts
but do need a lot of amps (depends on the square feet of surface).
If you just need the chemicals, Cynmar Scientific is great. You must have a
legitimate business license before they will ship to you but their prices
and service are excellent.
http://www.cynmar.com/
Dave
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Paul Brodie
> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 10:48 PM
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [TCML] keeping primary copper tubing nice and shiny
>
> I have another plating solution, no pun intended. All
> Electronics sells a
> plating powder that you mix and heat and simply place the
> part to be tin
> plated in the solution with no electric current required. The
> powder costs
> $9.50 part number ER-18. I can't remember how much solution
> one packet makes
> but it plates 600 sq. inches. It is actually made for plating circuit
> boards. It would probably be impossible to plate the coil and
> you would have
> to plate the tubing prior to making the primary coil. I don't
> believe you
> would want to disassemble the coil in order to plate the tubing.
> www.allelectronics.com
>
> Also, Micro-mark tools sells a plating kit that includes a
> small swab you
> use to apply the plating solution but it does use electric
> current and I
> think it is expensive. The way it looks in the catalog, you
> attach the
> cathode to the part to be plated and the swab is the anode
> that you dip in
> the solution and then "paint" the plating onto the part. I
> may have the
> anode and cathode backwards but you get the general idea.
> www.micromark.com
> I do not own stock in either company. :-)
> Paul
> Think Positive
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Frank" <fxrays@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 6:53 PM
> 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
> >> > >
> >> > > _______________________________________________
> >> > > Tesla mailing list
> >> > > Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> >> > > http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
> >> > >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Tesla mailing list
> >> > Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> >> > http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
> >> >
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Tesla mailing list
> >>Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> >>http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tesla mailing list
> > Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> > http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tesla mailing list
> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla