Re: top load smoothness (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:23:56 -0700
From: Barton B. Anderson <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: top load smoothness (fwd)

Hi Scott,

I agree with John and Gary. One can achieve good spark lengths with 
corrugated tubing. Nothing wrong with using it. It is nice however to 
have the ability to pull single spark channels off a toroid and watch it 
dance around the toroid which requires a relatively smooth surface.

For larger coils, I participated in one the bulk buys a long time ago 
and grabbed a 9" x 30" spun Al toroid. But, for a smaller coil, I used a 
corrugated tube 6" diameter and fastened it at the ends with Al tape. I 
then mixed plaster of paris and another patching compound (about 50/50) 
and covered the toroid (the idea of the mixture was to get the nice hard 
plaster look and feel yet have something easy to sand smooth). I placed 
a flat board on top and patched in the center and outer areas and let it 
dry. After that, the toroid stayed nice and flat. I then just finished 
off the upper and lower area. After I was satisfied, I then just sanded 
smooth. I covered with thick aluminum foil and rolled it down flat. 
Worked out real nice and performs well, but it is a lot of work and 
pretty messy. It's top on my 4.5" coil pics at classictesla.

Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:11:41 -0400
>From: Scott Bogard <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: top load smoothness
>
>Hey guys,
>     Concerning the surface of top loads, does it make any significant 
>difference in overall performance whether the surface is very smooth or not 
>(ex. spun aluminum toroid vs. dryer duct toroid).  If one is going for 
>absolute maximum spark length (for his budget) would it be worth his while 
>to cover his corrugated toroids with something like wood putty or paper 
>mache and cover it with aluminum tape, or just leave it alone.  Thanks.
>Scott Bogard.
>
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