I got more work done on the Jacob's Ladder today also.
I'm going to add some brass painted aluminum angle on the corners to cover the raw
plywood edges. The back of the box will be removable for access to the working parts.
I'm going to use a dark red mahogany stain on the wood.
The posts are converted lamp shade finials. I'm hoping that I can use the finials themselves
to carry the current to the electrodes. I like the way it looks without extra wires on the top.
The 'insulators' are made from Corian ( the countertop stuff ) glued up, then turned round and
polished on my ( now not working ) lathe. I drilled through the finials for the electrodes and I
have a set screw on the back for adjusting the gap between the electrodes. You can see
the black dots on the top photo. I had them set in place backwards and didn't notice before
I took the picture.
I've inset the knife switch. It will use a 12vDC transformer to lower the current to safer
levels and the relay will control the neon sign transformer powering the electrodes. Insetting
the switch makes it look less... ummm.... bulky on top of the box. The ceramic base is about
1/2" thick.
I've got a ceramic lamp socket to install and I need to find a 'collar' to put around it to dress it
up. It will be set into a hole in the box top.
I find myself thinking I need a large voltmeter for the front, something in the 6" neighborhood.
Right in the center. Also wondering if the meter will.... umm... jump around as the plasma
arc climbs up the electrodes and breaks and starts over at the bottom.... ( the movement
would be cool it it occur... ) The meter would probably be in the circuit before the high
voltage transformer.
Anyone have any other suggestions for the front? I can't help but think I need more on the
front of the box.
