Bad Ideas

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Original poster: "C.T. by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <ct451-at-yahoo-dot-com>

hi

I've recently finished my first coil and  decided to have a look on the net 
at what other people are creating. I came across this list and thought the 
coil gurus might save me some time (not that it's not fun to blow things up)

I've had my share of failures, mainly because I had no guidance and because 
I live in the middle on nowhere and try to use what i can get my hands on. 
I'm using a 4000v 20ma neon transformer (apparently using 4 110/220 
transformers in series is a bad idea) and 4 3300pf/10kv soviet made 
capacitors with unknown dielectric (home made ones didn't work - very bad 
smell). Two pieces of pipe for the gap. My creation stands 2 feet tall with 
guts and all. 5-6" sparks come out. Cost under $15.

Here's what I'm trying to change on my set up and need some input:

1) replace the two aluminum trays on top of the secondary coil with and 
inflated inner tire tube painted with heat resistant aluminum paint. Will 
this work?

2) I came across some capacitors that are marked 4kv 0.1uf for AC use made 
in the USSR. I think the dielectric is paper. They are 3"x2"x6" and they 
look that they can take some serious punishment for only $2 each. Any 
experience with similar types?

3) is it ok to use a capacitor with much higher capacitance without 
changing anything else on my coil? I figure the capacitor would just charge 
up 1/3 (or some other fraction) of the charge (probably faster if the power 
supply can keep up) before the static gap fires so there won't be a problem.

4) can i use a regular 1.5" carbon-steel pipe for a ground rod instead of 
copper? I have a bunch of those laying around.

5) how about just dropping a piece of metal tied to some wire into a 100' 
deep well (with some water in it - probably leaking in there from the 
sewage tanks) or even the sewage tank?

I'll save my homemade capacitor ideas for another time.

thanks,

Chris