Re: Brass Corona Rings

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

If you're plating the thing, why not get regular old thinwall steel pipe
bent.  At a muffler shop, where they have the equipment to do this quite
nicely, for a variety of diameters of pipe, etc., they'll even weld the ends
together and probably grind the weld nice and smooth.  If you find somewhere
that specializes in custom headers you'll be even farther ahead.   Then, you
hie thee on down to the plating shop where they'll put whatever metal
coating you want on it (Gold?)

Another source would be a company that makes Brass beds, headboards, etc.
Oddly, one of the dominant mfrs of aftermarket brush guards and the like for
SUVs here in Los Angeles (WAAG) was originally (and still is) in the
business of making brass and chrome (plated) furniture.  They had the
bending equipment, the skilled operators, the welders, the powder coaters,
etc.


Steel might be heavy, but probably lighter than brass or copper, especially
considering you can use a much thinner wall.

Masochists could try to hand form aluminum tubing or stainless steel.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 6:55 AM
Subject: Re: Brass Corona Rings


 > Original poster: Chris Arnold <xiterion-at-xedoloh-dot-com>
 >
 > David,
 >
 > <snip>
 > >possible to anneal it.  I know you can soften copper by heating it to a
 > >red heat and quenching it on water (works the opposite of tempering
 > >steel).  I'm not sure the same works for brass, it being an alloy, but a
 > >metalworking reference might be able to help you out there.
 > </snip>
 >
 > Quenching is not necessary to anneal copper or brass, although it does
 > hasten the cooling time so you can get back to working on whatever you're
 > making at the moment.  It's the heating to a specified temperature that's
 > important.  In my experience it is extremely difficult to form soft brass
 > or copper into something resembling a nice shape, but then again with the
 > proper tools and a little patience that can be accomplished.  Oh, and yes
 > hard drawn brass can be annealed quite easily in the same fashion as
copper.
 >
 > Chris Arnold
 >
 >
 >