[TowerTalk] Winding A New Linear Loading Coil for a Cushcraft 402-CD

[Charlie Gallo]

On 10/26/2011 Bill Jackson wrote:

> My question is directed to those of you who build your own antennas.  Is there
> any technique or home brew aide(s) that will assist in getting this coil wound
> tightly with no spacing between the turns?  I seem to recall seeing an article
> many moons ago that talked about using a paint stirring stick with a hole
> drilled in the end to hold the wire while you wind it around the core.  #12 AWG
> is pretty stiff for a 3/4" form and I want to make it look as good as the
> factory original.

A place I worked did a LOT of toroidal core winding.  One of the ways of keeping the wire neat was they had a spring loaded clamp, that was lined with what was basically a rough, deep synthetic velvet like pad - soft enough NOT to scratch the wire being pulled through, it - it was firmly attached to the machine, and the wire was drawn through it, effectively keeping tension on the wire, as the form was turned (we also did straight forms, I cores etc, not just torroids (which require a special machine, kinda nifty)

One nifty way of guiding the wire once you make the clamp is with a lathe - put the form "between centers", and run the lathe slowly, with the proper feed on the carriage, and it advances the wire for you 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-1f8ni7-0E
http://www.logwell.com/tech/servtips/mini_lathe_coil_winder.html

Atlas even sold a coil winding attachment for their lathes *never actually SEEN one, despite owning most attachments you can get for an Atlas lathe)



-- 
73 de KG2V - Charles Gallo
Quality Custom Machine-shop work for the radio amateur (sm)