REPLACEMENT COIL

[Joanne]

Ok here's the dilemma. Had a coil disintegrate on me in a grande. Went to the hardware store and got a total look of confusion when I said I need a 'stainless steel' spring or coil . they couldn't tell me if the springs were stainless or not . I need help with making a replacement .  

[Rich C]

Quality stainless steel is not magnetic.  You can check the springs with a magnet to see if they are steel or stainless steel.

[Joanne]

ooo good idea !

[Rodrigo]

I purchased some from Home Depot for a gookit globe. Im not sure what theyre made Of but I. Haven't had problems with them. They're sold as springs for screen doors, I just stretched them to length and cut the looped ends off.

[Joanne]

i will check them out !

Rodrigo said:

I purchased some from Home Depot for a gookit globe. Im not sure what theyre made Of but I. Haven't had problems with them. They're sold as springs for screen doors, I just stretched them to length and cut the looped ends off.

[Chonzo]

I was wondering, with the goo kit: would it be advisable to get a coil from a hardware store or to use the material they provide?

[Joanne]

Okie dokie thanks Lala

lalalava said:

Jo, you should ask Loren where he gets his coils

[Dr. WHAT?!]

I've never tried it but it could be a option. But if you buy some stainless steel wire they use for making fashion braclets and then just wrap that around a pencil to make it a coil, that could possibly work.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2053587.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC...

[Jeff]

Thanks for the tip about the magnet...I wasn't sure how to tell if the ones I got at Lowes are stainless or not, I'm going to try it on the 2nd one from the pack....although this begs the question....IF stainless steel isn't magnetic...then what does lava use for their coils?  Since those are magnetic, and respond to a magnet through the globe.

[Joanne]

WOW  very good point Jeff !

[Rich C]

They could be aluminized steel or zinc plated steel for corrosion resistance, but I'm not sure you'd want to introduce either aluminum or zinc into the chemical mix but I'm no goo chemist.  In their raw form, the coils do kind of looks zinc plated to me.

[Joanne]

i think i  did read one post ( cant find it now :P ) about how the coil gives of tiny particles and that is what turns the wax opaque .

[Rich C]

It should be mentioned, that low grade stainless does retain some amount of magnetic characteristics.  They could still be stainless and still be somewhat responsive to magnets. 

Jeff said:

Thanks for the tip about the magnet...I wasn't sure how to tell if the ones I got at Lowes are stainless or not, I'm going to try it on the 2nd one from the pack....although this begs the question....IF stainless steel isn't magnetic...then what does lava use for their coils?  Since those are magnetic, and respond to a magnet through the globe.