spinny thing.....Re: first time builder questions, help please

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: dave pierson <davep@xxxxxxxx>


> hello, my name is Michael and I'm starting to build a tesla coil for 
> my senior high school project. I wanted to model my tesla coil after 
> the one shown here http://www.tb3.com/tesla/smallcoil/smallcoil.html
> however I had a few questions i was hopping you guys could answer first.
> 1: the toroid shown is a spun al 3.2" x 1.1" with a needle point. I 
> want to be able to put the spinning toy on top and have it spin like 
> shown on terry's site because I think it will impress the panel and 
> looked pretty cool. the question is does anyone know where to get 
> one. I found a spun copper 3.2" x 1.1" without a needle point for 
> sale. could i make my own needle point with a boil or nail?


     Sure.
      Took me about 5 minutes, tho i was not driving it with a coil.
       Built the spinny thing from about 8" of #14 copper wire bent 
into an s shape,
       hammered a flat in the 'middle', and pucnehd (nail ok, here) a dimple
      Balance by gently bednign the tiips in and out.

      I disrecall how i fasted the point (pivot) to the rig.  It was
      temporary and MAY have been black Electrical tape.  8)>>

      best
   dwp