RE: Dissolve Xfmr laminations

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

Original poster: "David Halliday by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dh-at-synthstuff-dot-com>

It's probably some kind of varnish - it has probably polymerized further
with age and would be a bear to dissolve - try some paint remover (
especially something with MEK which is toxic stuff to work with so be
careful - use gloves and work outside )  See if there is anyone in your area
who does furniture dipping.

Also, since it is brittle, my first reaction would be to use BFM  ( Brute
Force Method ) - wrap it in a newspaper and stuff it in the freezer for 48
hours.  Sandwich it between two boards and give it a loving tap with a 20
pound sledgehammer.  This should dislodge enough that you could go in and
start prying the laminations apart.  Soak them for a week or more in a jar
of diesel oil or kerosene to get rid of the varnish. ( not gasoline - too
low a flashpoint )

-> -----Original Message-----
-> From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
-> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 7:04 AM
-> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
-> Subject: Dissolve Xfmr laminations
->
->
-> Original poster: "Daniel Hess by way of Terry Fritz
-> <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dhess1-at-us.ibm-dot-com>
->
->
-> Forgive me if this has been discussed on the list previously but does
-> anyone know what will dissolve the stuff that they use to
-> glue transformer
-> laminations together with? I've recently come across two large power
-> transformers that I want to disassemble and rebuild as a
-> current limiting
-> inductor for my pig.
->
-> The transformers look as if they were literally dipped in
-> the stuff; Root
-> beer color and is brittle. Chips off easily. I've tried
-> acetone, lacquer
-> thinner and mineral spirits but this stuff just laughs at
-> these solvents.
-> I'm tempted to invest in a five gallon pail of Berryman's
-> B-12 Chemdip
-> (carburetor cleaner) but I'd hate to invest $90.00 just to
-> find that it
-> won't work either.
->
-> My goal is to reassemble the laminations in an 'E' config with an 'I'
-> plate, separated by a plastic shim to provide current adjustment.
->
-> Daniel
->
->
->
->