Microwave

Reason:

Mostly I need the transformer. However, I will probably also take out the HV diode and its capacitor. Maybe even find a use for its capacitor.

Why I don't have it yet:

I see them thrown/give away all of the time...seems like sort of a waste to buy one...even if thats only $10 at a garage sale

Item:

HV rectifier

Reason:

To recify my 10.5kV transformer. Would be used in things such as my HeNe lasers(and maybe one day a CO2 laser!). I tried to make a recifier using 15 1kV diodes paired with 15 5M Ohm resistors on each of the four segments of a recitifier, but the lasers still died. I was told to put the resistors there by the people at HSC. They claimed that if you didn't have them there, it could put too much stress on the diodes. I didn't really think so since the voltage should have just gone through the other diode...but...oh well. Now I have two dead HeNe lasers. Well, they don't emit a laser anymore in any case. I think one might do it weakly

Why I don't have it yet:

Going to try to make a PCB. I saw a HV rectifier on E-bay, and it didn't have the resistors in parallel. So, I ordered some copper PCB and am going to try to make some small boards. I'll probably try to spray it with some sort of insulator. On my Jacob's ladder, the sparks still ate through several inches of epoxy. Ouch.

Item:

CO2 laser (tube)

Reason:

Always wanted something interesting to mount on my robot...think this might be it. For now, I think I'll mount a laser pointer in hopes that one day I can get a "real" laser on there. At least I could put a HeNe laser...a class IIIa laser is closer than a IIa in any case.

Why I don't have it:

Uh...$200 a tube on E-bay...a little beyond my budget, especially since I'll probably ruin it. Need to get more experience with the HeNe lasers first.