[TCML] Winding the primary

[Paul]

 To soften copper you need to heat it to dull red and dump it in to water. 
Just the opposite to steel.

Paul
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Henry Hallam" <hallam at mit.edu>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla at pupman.com>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] Winding the primary


> 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 at imagesbyneal.com> 
> 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 at att.net>
>> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla at pupman.com>
>> 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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