MAKE CRYSTAL RADIO COIL TAPS

[@TheBigmongrel]

Great advice and instruction. Many thanks from Australia.

[@dadkrl7707]

thx for your clarifying video. I myself being an old guy who is reliving that old radio hobby from my younger days. Luckily I still have old radio parts, some of them almost a century old. For making coils I prefer using pieces of surplus plastic pipe that is normally used for draining sinks

[@postualin6551]

Thanks for this sharing this method, found it very useful when i wind tapped coils!

[@dansmith6909]

Thanks for putting this information out. Crystal radios have fascinated me since i was knee high to a grasshopper, and i've recently (the last 10 years) been hand winding heater element coils. it has rekindled my interest. Now to find out how to build tuning caps! lol

[@squarewave2]

Hi Dan There is at least one video up on KZbin showing how to make a tuning capacitor out of two cardboard tubes, each covered with aluminum foil. One fits inside the other and the capacity is changed by sliding the inside one in and out of the outer one. This actually works! Thanks for your comment.

[@dansmith6909]

@@squarewave2 Yeah, it would make sense that that would work. In fact, I can see a whole science built up of people trying different foil shapes, etc to get different results. In fact, it seems to me with my zero knowledge of radio but some of electronics and mechanical engineering that such a design would allow for extremely fine tuning if the "rail" that the inner tube moved on was a length of threaded rod....

[@adriancressy8363]

Very nice video. I am winding a loading coil for a part 15 AM transmitter antenna, and needed to see how to make taps

[@theslightlytiltedcat]

As a DIY project to do during this time, this is really nice. I hope that I can do well on it.

[@martincvitkovich724]

jOLLY GOOD SHOW, THIS TECH SHOULD NEVER GET LOST

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Nicely done, nicely explained and love the gentle humour. Thaks.

[@johnpokrzywa3688]

Very good! I put my form between two fender washers on a threaded rod that I have a handle on. Basically I crank the assembly the number of turns I want and the coils wind tightly and smoothly.

[@cooker4409]

that MIKROWAVE guy has some good videos as well......cool demo on the winding....

[@raymondhay1526]

The one I remember consisted of an oatmeal box wound with wire. And a crystal detector. Using the cats whisker to move to different spots to get stations. In conjunction with earphones.

[@jerryuhte1284]

Great video ! Thanks !

[@RayZ7834]

How I wind fishing line using required tension: Put a hole on each side of a box then run a dowel from one hole, into the box, place the dowel thru spool and run dowel out the other hole in the box. Then I throw towels on top of the spool and also you can add more weight by placing books or other weight on top of the towel. The line comes up thru the towels.

[@gumbykevbo]

Putting the taps all in one line may look nice, but it makes them more difficult to strip and solder to. Staggering them into two rows with adjacent taps alternating is a compromise toward aesthetics...it looks intentional without crowding the taps into a single line.

[@lochinvar00465]

That makes loops very easy. Up to now I just used separate windings instead of trying to make loops. I found that removing the varnish to be easy if I use a small torch to "toast" the varnish then use steel wool to polish it up works well. Of course on a coil like the "Boy Scout" radio sandpaper is about the only good way of doing the side strip for the slider. But the torch method works well on the ends with little to no damage of the wire.

[@lazyhanger6027]

Thanks, this was very helpful

[@zepplinc20]

That book idea is pretty great.

[@UpcomingJedi]

Scraping the loops is easier by cutting the loops, heating the ends then wipe with 220 grit sandpaper and finish with solder to keep them from unwinding.

[@RyanBissell]

Or don't cut, but instead carefully dip the tap loops in a saucer of acetone.

[@johndoe-bq1xt]

YOU'RE A GENIUS, SIR !!!!!!

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

Jokes on you, some of the toilet paper rolls I picked from the trash are fairly firm! /s

[@rosshollinger8097]

Is the "varnish" a shellac? If shellac, it will come off quit easy with a q-tip and alcohol. If not, maybe some acetone or varnish remover.

[@glen3898]

Hi there, I was wondering if the diameter of the coil matters?. I just picked up a few old air spaced variable capacitors and am looking forward to giving this a try. :)

[@squarewave2]

The coil should be two inches in diameter by about five inches long. Use 60 feet of 20 gauge enamel wire. You should try to find "Radios That Work For Free" by K.E. Edwards. Great info on making crystal radios. Good luck!!

[@glen3898]

@@squarewave2 Excellent information, and thank you for the fast response. Cheers!.

[@markjulius2006]

I don't know much about crystal radios or coils, though I'm now interested in making radios. Here's a few dumb questions: What are the taps for and is it really important for a certain gauge wire and the number of turns? Would more turns be better? Thanks for your great videos.

[@VelikiFeniks]

Will crystal radio work with copper wire coil instead magnetic copper wire Here magnetic copper wire is VERY expensive

[@squarewave2]

whatever you call the wire it has to be insulated. Magnetic copper wire has a varnish coating so it is insulated.

[@kingshukroy4779]

What is the diameter of the coil former

[@tribulationcoming]

Very good method, thanks.

[@arnikumbh1]

Dear Sir please tell me what gauge of wire is to be used for antenna coil SWG/AWG,( DIA OF WIRE), NO OF TURNS, PIPE DIA REQUIRED FOR WINDING COIL. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE

[@CFBeacham]

I’m just starting to venture into this DIY project. Is it necessary to always use a form that is 5cm? Could a coil be created on a 2.5cm form and double the loop count? Cheers.

[@ludost5178]

yes,and it will make your tuning more precies,double the precision,to be exact!

[@muash7901]

Wonderful

[@BillyNoon]

Fishing stores have that tool ready made forcspooling up a new reel with line.

[@TheMcWolle]

Love your videos!

[@squarewave2]

Thanks a lot! I do love to get positive feedback!

[@newwavepressure6478]

What size coil wire

[@P4NC4_hakim546]

Im from indonesia 🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩💖

[@stanburdick9708]

thiers lota was to keep tension on the wire just use your imagination, thats the easy part hard part are the tapps

[@KB4QAA]

Fantastic, Thanks. b.

[@EnriqueSantiagofly]

Why this radio is named "crystal"?

[@tubeDude48]

What size wire?

[@squarewave2]

20 gauge enamel wire is OK for most projects.

[@SergiuCosminViorel]

What is wrong in amusing your neighbours? They need funny things to see.

[@c678thefirstandonly]

I tried looking it up online, but what are taps used for in a coil?

[@squarewave2]

The taps are an easy way to lengthen or shorten the coil thus changing its electrical value i.e., inductance. Changing this value helps to tune in the station you want.The old "Boy Scout" crystal radios used a coil slider to do the same thing.

[@tonywright8294]

Just Incase the coil gets dirty ,you turn on a suitable tap and wash it ! 🤣

[@morpher44]

Tate Ambient Power module.... It works.

[@michaelmacdonald3408]

I disagree free energy is for every body but the powers to be will always indoctrinate believers it is a sad world.

[@Alex-nv7cf]

+1 but too much talking. This video should last about 2-3 minutes to be not so boring

[@patmb2011]

Alex . . . what do u want for nothing? ur money back?