PSN-L Email List Message

Subject: Re: Portacorder RV-320
From: ChrisAtUpw@.......
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 12:54:56 EDT


In a message dated 26/09/2003 , ivey@.......... writes:

> Also, I seem to have the smoked-paper version, does anyone know how 
> horrible that 
> is to work with, and where might I get some appropriate paper (for 
> relatively low $)?
> Thanks,
> Jack

Hi there Jack,

       We regularly use smoked paper for barographs in gliding. We solder a 
1/4" copper tube about 3" long into the steel lid of a glass jar - something 
like a honey jar. We feed a wick through this and half fill the jar with 
paraffin. The wick projects maybe 1/2" from the top of the tube. Adjust to get a 
suitable size of flame. We find somewhere with still air which doesn't matter 
getting smoked and light up. We mount good quality typing paper tight on the drum 
and rotate it in the smoke several inches above the flame. The close thermal 
contact with the drum prevents it from burning. When it is suitably black all 
over, we use it.

       When it has recorded all that we want, we VERY CAREFULLY take the 
sheet of paper off the drum without jarring it and then spray THE WHITE BACK SIDE 
OF THE PAPER with HAIR LACQUER. This penetrates through the paper and fixes 
the trace. When it is ~dry, we give the black front of the trace another coat of 
lacquer. If you try spraying the black carbon side first, you blow most of 
the carbon off, which defeats the object and makes a mess. It is not difficult 
to do and gives an extremely fine trace.

       Have fun!

       Chris Chapman
In a message dated 26/09/2003 , ivey@.......... writes=
:

Also, I seem to have the smoked= -paper version, does anyone know how horrible that
is to work with, and where m= ight I get some appropriate paper (for relatively low $)?
Thanks,
Jack


Hi there Jack,

       We regularly use smoked paper for barog= raphs in gliding. We solder a 1/4" copper tube about 3" long into the steel=20= lid of a glass jar - something like a honey jar. We feed a wick through this= and half fill the jar with paraffin. The wick projects maybe 1/2" from the=20= top of the tube. Adjust to get a suitable size of flame. We find somewhere w= ith still air which doesn't matter getting smoked and light up. We mount goo= d quality typing paper tight on the drum and rotate it in the smoke several=20= inches above the flame. The close thermal contact with the drum prevents it=20= from burning. When it is suitably black all over, we use it.

       When it has recorded all that we want,=20= we VERY CAREFULLY take the sheet of paper off the drum without jarring it an= d then spray THE WHITE BACK SIDE OF THE PAPER with HAIR LACQUER. This penetr= ates through the paper and fixes the trace. When it is ~dry, we give the bla= ck front of the trace another coat of lacquer. If you try spraying the black= carbon side first, you blow most of the carbon off, which defeats the objec= t and makes a mess. It is not difficult to do and gives an extremely fine tr= ace.

       Have fun!

       Chris Chapman

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