Re: [TCML] Winding the primary

["Henry Hallam" <hallam@xxxxxxx>]

I've tried it not in the oven, but on a gas burner ring and separately
with a blowtorch.  Both worked pretty well, though it's still a pain.

Henry

On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 2:37 PM, Neal Namowicz <neal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I have a couple of lengths of  "salvaged" tubing myself with a few too many
> bends in it. I wouldn't have bothered in the past, but with the cost of
> copper... Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has managed to UN-work harden
> tubing? I was thinking of sticking it in the oven on high heat for a while
> and letting it slowly cool. Anyone ever try it? It's a pain in the neck,
> sure, but compared to unpotting an nst for example, it doesn't sound too
> bad.
>
> Neal.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Quarkster" <quarkster@xxxxxxx>
> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Winding the primary
>
>
>> Steve -
>>
>>  What is your primary conductor? If you're using copper tubing, here are a
>> few tips:
>>
>>  1. Use virgin refrigeration tubing, and leave it in the coiled shape that
>> it comes in. Don't try to re-use "salvaged" tubing if you want a nice
>> looking primary. Copper tubing "work-hardens" and stiffens very rapidly as
>> you deform it, so deform it as little as possible.
>>
>>  2. DO NOT try to straighten the tubing, then re-form it into a spiral.
>> The tubing will work-harden, then is likely to kink and become unmanagable.
>>
>>  3. Have an assistant hold the coil of tubing about a foot above your
>> primary forms, and just let one coil drop down at a time. The typical
>> diameter of a coil of rerfigeration tubing is around 18", so I start at the
>> end of the primary that is closest in diameter to the diameter of the coil
>> of tubing. For a small diameter primary this means starting at the OUTSIDE
>> of the primary form and wind inward. For a large diameter primary, this
>> means starting at the INSIDE of the primary form and winding outward. This
>> way the tubing requires minimum deformation initially, and then must be
>> gradually formed into a larger or smaller radius as you move outward or
>> inward.
>>
>>  Regards,
>>  Herr Zappp
>>
>
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