Subject: Re: [TCML] Lacquer
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thursday, April 8, 2010, 2:20 PM
if it just so happens that you have a
container you can seal that will hold the coil and the
mechanism to rotate it while the epoxy cures, and that it so
happens that you have a vacuum pump, and you use grease with
a low vapor point on the bearings of the motor, then you
could get rid of the bubbles by drawing a vacuum - not a
high vacuum - 20 to 25 inches would be fine
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Phillip Slawinski" <pslawinski@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 10:18 AM
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [TCML] Lacquer
> Rob,
>
> Well, it took me a lot of practice to get results like
that (and believe it
> or not, I'm still not entirely satisfied with
it). I use a plastic spreader
> to apply the epoxy. On the first few coils I did
I tried using a foam brush
> (that's a BAD idea). I have a DC gear motor to
spin the form. I have that
> hooked to a variable DC supply and I can adjust the
speed down to about four
> RPM. It's important to apply the epoxy at a
slightly higher speed than you
> let it cure at. This ensures minimal
dripping. After you ensure that the
> epoxy is spread evenly over the form you can slow the
speed down. I use a
> heat gun to remove small bubbles from the
finish. You have to experiment
> with this, because if you heat up one spot too much it
will bubble, or it
> will become so runny that it drips off the form.
One more important note:
> you should do this in a low or preferably no traffic
room. Be careful not
> to move too quickly and stir up dust. If dust
lands on the form during the
> initial phase of curing it will make a dimple in the
finish.
>
> -Phillip Slawinski
>
> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 10:43, Rob Byron <mustang_5l87@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
>
>> Phillip,
>> How do you get your epoxy so crystal clear? I use
a two-part epoxy ( not
>> cheap stuff) and it allways ends up foggy looking
because of microsopic
>> bubbles. I use a 24h cure and have it set up on a
rotating assembly with a
>> microwave turntable motor. Is it how you mix it
that matters? Or how you
>> apply it? Your coils look amazing by the
way!
>>
>> Rob.
>>
>> ________________________
>>
>> On 2010-04-08 09:33:32 -0600 Phillip Slawinski
<pslawinski@xxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Hi All,
>> >
>> > I too use the two-part epoxy coating on all
my coils. I built a coil
>> from
>> > the ground up to produce a long spark length
compared to the secondary
>> > length. It has taken a lot of work, but
I think the results were worth
>> it.
>> > http://www.flickr.com/photos/pslawinski/4354745760/
During the process
>> of
>> > developing this coil I have had multiple
flash overs.
>> > http://www.flickr.com/photos/pslawinski/4309814799/
I haven't lost a
>> > secondary to a flash over or spark related
event. My secondary is > wound
>> > with 34 AWG on a 12" x 3.5" form. Not
coating a form with such fine > wire
>> is
>> > simply not an option. The wire is very
fragile, and will break with > only
>> a
>> > mild amount of force, also with wire this
fine expansion and > contraction
>> of
>> > the form due to temperature change will cause
the windings to loosen up
>> and
>> > fall down. Sadly, I know this from
experience.
>> >
>> > -Phillip Slawinski
>> >
>> > On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 08:22, Peter Terren
<pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Firstly, the experiment with the
conventional coil is not conclusive,
>> >> sorry. Power was "about 20%" in the
pre shot with racing sparks. No
>> >> mention
>> >> of actual values for the post shot and
the sparks look very different >> on
>> >> the
>> >> pics.
>> >> I am not saying the result is wrong, but
it is highly likely the
>> original
>> >> power level was not reproduced.
>> >>
>> >> Secondly, DRSSTC's are different beasts
in terms of coupling. >> Obtaining
>> >> better Watt's ratios (spark length/sec
length) seems a lot easier. >> 13:4
>> =
>> >> 3.25 does not seem remarkably efficient
in this regard.
>> >> On the other hand using an SGTC coil with
no special insulation, I >> have
>> >> Watt's ratios of 3.0
(96inches/32in). Others have claimed larger >>
ratios
>> >> for
>> >> SGTC's but I have not seen clear photos
to show this. If you want to
>> >> follow
>> >> this link copy and paste it into your
browser.
>> >> http://tesladownunder.com/tesla_coil_sparks.htm#6 inch
coil (the best
>> >> ones)
>> >>
>> >> Nevertheless, the previous discussion of
using ?Envirotex as a very
>> thick
>> >> layer does really seem to provide a lot
of protection.
>> >> Some years ago I started a TC project to
dramatically outperform this
>> 3.0
>> >> Watts number. A lot of special
fabrication was done and I still have
>> >> everything ready to start some final
plans and construction. One day
>> when I
>> >> have a few moments........
>> >>
>> >> Peter
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On 8/04/2010 1:16 PM, Dr.Hankenstein
wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Greetings,
>> >>>
>> >>> If you're not too sure on the effects
of a good coating (or two or
>> >>> three) of varnish; please refer to a
scientific evaluation on the
>> >>> following link:
>> >>>
>> >>> http://www.audiotesla.org/corona%20experiment.htm
>> >>>
>> >>> This should remove all doubt that
varnish does more than just hold >>> the
>> >>> winding in place and end the
hypothetical armchair speculation. Dr.
>> >>> Spark has at least 80 coats of
varnish on "Fatboy"---13+ footers out >>> of
>> >>> a 4 foot secondary proves it:
>> http://www.drspark.org/fatboy1_rebuild.htm
>> >>>
>> >>> Regards,
>> >>> Hank
>> >>>
>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>> >> Tesla mailing list
>> >> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>
>> >
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