Re: EDM Plans

----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Elson <jmelson@...>
> > Will distilled water make a good dilectric solution?
>
> I doubt it. You just can't keep it clean enough. Even if it IS clean,
the electric field
> in the gap is strong enough to disassociate the water, producing H and O
gas. Enough
> of this can get dangerous, and at 4-5 Amps, you definitely would have a
hazard.

I was talking to a guy a while back who swears by a 50/50 mix of water with
auto antifreeze.

> > Is something else better?
>
> Very light oils with low vapor pressure seem to be the ideal. 'Odorless'
solvent
> or paint thinner is the sort of thing to use.

I tried this with the first little 'tap burner' I made and set the whole
workshop alight! I would definitely avoid flammable materials if at all
possible. OK, I know I was partly to blame and didn't have enough liquid
cover over the work but when I got that first spark and there was a sudden
explosive shower of burning droplets of paint thinner in every direction
followed by blind panic and frantic efforts to stamp out a hundred little
fires on the carpet and down the back of the workbench, I knew I would have
to find a better dielectric!!!

Ian

--
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK