Copper VS Steel

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Jared Dwarshuis" <jdwarshuis@xxxxxxxxx>


(1) Copper is a better conductor of heat and electricity, steel does 
work however.


(2) Avoid having metal interacting with magnetic fields, use nylon 
when possible


(3) Taken directly from Wikipedia

"Quenching refers to the act of extinguishing a previously 
established arc in the spark gap. This is considerably more difficult 
than initiating spark breakdown in the gap. A cold, non-firing spark 
gap contains no <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionized>ionized gases. 
Once the voltage across the gap reaches its breakdown voltage, gas 
molecules in the gap are very quickly ionized along a path, creating 
a <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29>plasma that 
consists of ions and free electrons between the 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodes>electrodes. The hot plasma 
also heats part of the electrodes to 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent>incandescence. The 
incandescent regions contribute free electrons via 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_emission>thermionic 
emission, and (easily ionized) metal vapor. The mixture of ions and 
free electrons in the plasma is highly conductive, so that a sharp 
drop in the gap resistance results. Without this highly conductive 
channel in the gap, efficient 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_circuit>tank circuit oscillation 
would be impossible. However, the current discharge sustains the 
plasma and, until it is extinguished, the capacitors cannot recharge 
for the next pulse."