[TCML] comment about new coilers

[Neal Namowicz]

If I may, I'd like to give everyone the flip-side of that coin. In my own 
defense, I just started playing around with  "a little" high voltage. In my 
youth I was a mechanic, and I always wanted to make a continuous arc with an 
ignition coil. I just couldn't find a substitute for the "points" and 
distributor.  I never came up with anything, so it kind of went to the 
wayside. Fast forward a couple/few decades, and while on the 'net I start 
exploring stuff and discovered something about getting sparks from an 
ignition coil, and the rest, sort of, is history. Except for the fact about 
me discovering the "joy and convenience" of the power of "plastic" and ebay. 
I have got a half a basement full of high voltage "stuff"; vacuum tubes, big 
ham radio caps, doorknob caps, laser tube, laser power supply, big coils, 
little coils, ad nauseum. The tubes? Not any good ones for our purposes. 
Probably tv vac tubes from a 1960 zenith.
POINT BEING :)
I wasted a lot of time and money because I don't really recall knowing about 
tesla coils in my "younger" days. I just knew that I wanted to make big 
sparks. So, by the time I discovered plans on the internet, as well as 
people like all of you on the tcml, I accumulated a lot of stuff. Now, 
however, with a little bit of knowledge of the principles behind them, I'm 
attempting to put some of that "stuff" to good use. Yeah, I know, there are 
those who would say
"A little learning is a dangerous thing;
drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring"
Alexander Pope
But, at what point, do we consider something dangerous to "play" with? I, 
personally, don't think firearms are dangerous. There are certain people, 
however, who ARE dangerous and should not be in possession of firearms. Or 
cars. Or knives,  or chemicals of ANY kind. Or nst transformers. Anyway, 
assuming that someone is of age and are able to care for themselves, they 
should be allowed to "play" with potentially dangerous stuff. And, if they 
are going to do so and ask for help, we should be willing to share what 
knowledge we can. Let me emphasize, if they "ask for help". Ask, and you'll 
get the knowledge, don't ask and understand that the tuition for that 
knowledge is going to get more expensive, and possibly more dangerous. Thank 
you all for attending The Packratter's High Voltage Philosophy 101.    :)

Neal.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "bartb" <bartb at classictesla.com>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla at pupman.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 5:24 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] comment about new coilers


> Listen guys, if a coiler has an issue it will usually unfold "after" the 
> purchase when the coil isn't working. We will all attempt to derive the 
> reason. I personally don't want new coilers to purchase junk TC items 
> (ever). I would rather they ask before they buy, but this is a step 
> completely in the hands of the coiler. As soon as they ask, they will get 
> the info needed.
>
> I personally have not made purchase mistakes in my coiling and the reason 
> why is because I consulted the TCML first. I've been coiling for a while 
> now, but I still am green on many things. Should I purchase something 
> (even after several years of coiling) which I feel I don't have a good 
> handle on, I will consult the TCML first. Experience or time with coiling 
> is certainly valuable, but none of us knows everything. This is just one 
> major reason why the TCML is so valuable.
>
> Take care,
> Bart