I had several years ago seen an electric pounce made out of neon transformer. Does anyone have specifics as to how this is done? Thanks for any help!.......Joe
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Hahahahaaaa...I built one like that many years ago! Didn't take me long to smash it onto the floor! Most are way too powerful to use for an electric pounce.
If they aren't setting the paper on fire, burning much too big holes, then they are zapping you!
Forewarned.....all you need to do is attach one lead to the metal backer, and the other to your stylus. If you must cut down on the power, then a rheostat must be attached on the input side...thus bringing the cost up to the price of a professionally built one.
...... Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
Buy a Pounce Master. In fact, get the Senior with a rheostat switch. I've worked in several shops with those home brews and they are deadly! I bought a used one from a very nice fella right here on the BB -
Posted by Arklie Hooten (Member # 1520) on :
Hi John, Don't let those crusty old smart guys pee in your corn flakes. Truth is, they once were do-it-yourself type guys. Now that they are rich and famous driving Lexus 450s, they forgot what is was like to save a buck.
I'll tell you how to build your own. I've got one of these and also a real king daddy size, bought "Electo-Pounce". My home made one works just as well.
1. Get a pull chain window neon window transformer (5000 volts or so) from your junk pile. Old beer sign transformers work good. Or buy a new one for $35. Don't use a electronic (new style) it won't work. 2. Mount on side of your easel 3. Run a ground wire from the transformer to the sheet metal surface on your easel. 4. Cut off one secondary GTO lead short, and screw on a red wire nut to protect it from shocking you. This lead will not be used. 5. Extend the other lead to a length that will allow you to reach to the far end of your easel with some additional slack. 6. Get a cheap stick BIC pen and slide the guts out of it and discard the guts. 7. Stop by the welding store, or by your welder friend and steal a couple pieces of tungsten that any heli-arcer would have laying around. Probably a couple of bucks each. 8. Shove tungsten into one end of BIC pen, and the GTO from the transformer in the other end. Make sure gto and tungsten are touching inside. 9. Let the tungsten protrude a little from the business end. Maybe crush the end on the Bic body before inserting tungsten to help capture and hold 10. Use black tape on gto end to prevent gto from pulling out. 11. Turn on transformer and pounce like a mother. 12. Oh yeah, Always use a metal yard stick for a straight edge wilst pouncing.
Arklie Hooten Pioneer Sign Company Up in the Mountains of East Tennessee
Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
Arklie, are you for real? A metal yardstick? Thats a shocking idea.
OK now if your serious, what or where can i get the proper transformer. what would i ask for?
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
Forgot one = #11 1/2 = train video camera toward easel.
Posted by Joe Sciury (Member # 4653) on :
Thanks Gentleman for all your advise!
Posted by Bill Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
Summertime sweat rollin' down your hand whilst holding an electro-pounce set on "Hi" with a bladder full of morning coffee -- Sweet Jesus!!! Fond memories!!
Posted by Alan Johnson (Member # 2513) on :
Hey! a friend Gary Berg showed me how to hook-up the transformer from the electric cow fence to make one. I'm still afraid to go near that fence! Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
I've been using one similar to what Arklie is describing for years. My only suggestion is to buy a foot operated switch for the on/off. That way, you can coordinate on/off with the end of the lines you're pouncing and prevent setting the pattern on fire when drawing the stylus away from the paper.
Posted by Jean-Claude Theriault (Member # 966) on :
The beer sign or any 5000 V neon transformer idea works fine. A neon transformer is really 2 transformers inside the metal case (ie. 5000 = 2 x 2500V coils) so if shorting one lead to the casing you are only getting 50% of whatever the rated output it.
I've also used oil burner transformers with success.
One additional idea is to add extra insulation to the Bic pen by using a piece of 10,11 or 12mm neon tubing or a length of GTO covering to wrap around it.
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