16. ALIGN THE DISK AND COLLECTOR SUPPORTS
Cut two 11" lengths of fiberglass rod and press them into the holes
in the base. Loosen the screws that hold the 2 disk supports and
adjust them so the disks are perfectly in line with these charge-collector supports. Retighten the supports.
17. INSTALL LEYDEN JARS AND CHARGE COLLECTORS
17a. Slide the Leyden jar bases, then the charge collector assemblies, over the fiberglass charge
collector supports.
17b. Use about 6" of 14 AWG solid copper wire to form each inner
plate contact. Wrap it once around the brass tube and form
2 loops in the ends.
Using a scrap of the plastic tube as a guide, adjust the inner
plate contacts so they apply even, gentle pressure. You want
good contact with the foil but you don’t want to rip it when you
install the Leyden jars.
17c. Apply epoxy to the end of the fiberglass support rod, slide
the brass charge collector assembly down onto it, and set it aside
while the epoxy cures.
17d. Slide the Leyden jars onto their bases, being careful not
to tear the foil as you make contact.
17e. Line up the charge collector
combs, test-spin the disks to see if
there’s any wobble, then trim the
prongs to come as close as possible
to the disks without touching. Tighten
the charge collector assemblies to
hold the combs in place.
Make: 105
