Horrible XRay Transformer Story...

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Original poster: "Daniel Koll" <dk_spl_audio@xxxxxxxxxxx>

I was taking apart my xray transformer to take out the rectifiers.  I 
didn't drain the oil (I think we found to be no PCBs) and started to lift 
up on it.  I just wanted to see around the enclosure a little bit so I knew 
what I was up against.  It started to come out and then I cut myself pretty 
bad on a lamination.  I dropped one end and oil splashed out!  I was on my 
work bench in the garage.  Of course oil got all over me and in my cut.  I 
didn't know what to do.  I started by getting a jug and scrapping oil of 
the bench and into the jug.  I then drained what was left from the 
enclosure.  The core was finally out and one of the wires of the HV 
terminal snapped!  The primary side was screwed down (4 wires total) 
underneath the core.  How I am going to get that back together I don't 
know.  The oil got tons of pieces and particles of the gasket in it.  Is it 
still ok?  I lost quite a bit of oil and it won't be full anymore, what 
should I do?  Also, I have to resolder the HV wire to the HV 
terminal.  Will it be safe to solder on?  The oil was so flammable that I 
am very hesitant.  Now, an hour after it happened, my cut is still gushing 
blood and I feel like an idiot.  I should have never even touched opened 
the thing.  Oh yeah, want to hear the worst part?  There was NO diodes 
inside!!!  The whole thing was a waste of time, money (new gasket, oil, 
clothes, etc) and possibly a Xray transformer.  I am very upset.