> > # Winding Coils

> > There was a time in my life when I had considerable fear of winding coils. I have dubbed this Helixaphobia. Most beginning builders suffer from this fear but there is no need to. I have developed methods which overcome the problems people normally experience when winding coils.

> > > Maybe you just don't want to wind coils. I won't hold that against you. If you would rather buy them ready made try Antique Electronics Supply. After the site comes up look in the frame on the left and scroll down to, and select "Radio Parts & Restoration". In the tree menu that comes up just to the right of where you were looking click on "Coils & Coil Forms". Scroll down to the 9th item. Items 9, 10, and 11, are the antenna, oscillator, and RF, coils for an AM Radio. Below are the data and pictures of the coils.

## Obtaining materials.

You need three items to wind the coils for the projects given here. They are;

1. Magnet wire.
2. A 2 inch mailing tube or PVC pipe.
3. Double Stick Scotch Tape (Stickem on both sides).

The magnet wire used to come from Radio Shack. In keeping with their policy of figuring out what the best products are and discontinuing them they no longer have it.

Fine gauge wire is available from many sources including Antique Electronic Supply. To help you figure out what to order here are the wire sizes.

> Wire Color | Wire Gauge
> Copper Colored | 22
> Green | 26
> Red | 30

It has come to my attention that short lengths of PVC pipe are available from home improvement stores. A plastic form would make a much mor durable coil than cardboard. You might want to look into it.

Next you need a 2 inch mailing tube. These are available from your local post office, Mail Boxes Etcetera, Container World, and many discount and variety stores. To repeat exactly what I have done you need a 2 inch not a 3 inch, not a 2 - 1/2 inch not a 1 - 1/2 inch. The length will be more than you are likely to use.

The third thing is Double Stick Scotch Tape. Once again the local discount or variety store should have it.

## Winding the coils

You will eventually need three coils; 1) an antenna coil, 2) an RF interstage coil, and 3) an oscillator coil. The antenna coil, #1, is used in the crystal set and all of the one-tube radio circuits. The RF interstage coil is needed for the two-tube TRF circuit and the deluxe superheterodyne radio. The oscillator coil is used in any of the superheterodyne circuits. The initial posting of this page may not include all three but as they are needed instructions for their construction will appear here. The instructions for each coil are written to stand alone so as you work your way through winding any one coil you won't have to refer back to the instructions for any of the other coils.

Keep reading on this page for the antenna coil.

RF Interstage Coil

The oscillator coil.

### The Antenna Coil

This coil can be used in the crystal set as well as all of the one-tube radio circuits. It has three separate windings and in some of the circuits only two will be used but that's no problem.

Here are the steps for winding the antenna coil.

1. Cut 2 - 1/2 inches of the mailing tube. A hacksaw is recommended
   but any fine toothed saw will do the job. Don't waste your time and
   effort on scissors or knives. You'll likely break the scissors and it's
   almost a certainty that you will cut yourself with a knife. The material
   is too tough for these tools and even if you do succeed in using them
   the cut end of the mailing tube will look extremely ragged and you will
   be ashamed to show it to friends.

2. Use a pencil or pen to mark off the cut piece of mailing tube as follows.

   1. Mark 1, 1/2 inch from one end.
   2. Mark 2, 1 - 1/4 inch from mark 1.
   3. Mark 3, 3/16 inch from mark 2.

3. Use a 1/16 inch drill bit to make holes in the mailing tube near each
   mark. The hole at mark 1 should be just a little to the end of the
   mailing tube so the edge of the hole is on the mark. The holes at
   mark 2 and mark 3 should also be on the outside end of the mark
   as shown in the drawing.

4. Now mark six points for drilling holes equally spaced around the
   tube half way between mark 3 and the end of the tube. Drill these
   holes with a 7/64 bit. Space them so the row of 1/16 holes
   is in between two of the 7/64 holes.

5. Now wrap the coil form (mailing tube) with Double Stick Scotch
   Tape. Be as careful as you can not to leave any wrinkles or bulges
   in the tape. If you don't do a perfect job it's not the end of the world.
   Don't cover up the 7/64 inch holes.

6. Use the drill or a small nail to punch through the
   tape at each 1/16 inch hole.

7. Now you are ready to start the first winding. Use the Green wire
   which is 26 gauge. There is enough to make two coils
   with 5 feet to spare.

8. Remove the plastic from the spool of green wire and place it over
   something that will allow it to turn while holding it in place. I used
   a small screwdriver clamped in a small vise.

9. Push one end of the wire through the hole at mark 2 from the outside.
   Pull 3 or 4 inches of wire through on the inside of the tube.

10. Hold the wire on the inside of the tube and begin the first turn.
    This winding will end at mark 1. The sticky tape will hold the wire
    in place and after about half a turn you won't need to hold the wire
    inside the tube any more. Tuck the end of the
    wire inside to keep it out of your way.

11. Wind the turns so each turn is touching the previous one. This will
    not cause a short circuit because the wire is coated with insulating enamel.

12. Wind 66 turns. This will give an inductance of 250 microhenrys.
    The picture below shows how to setup for winding the coil.

    DON'T WIND THE COIL BY HOLDING THE FORM STILL
    AND MOVING YOUR HAND AROUND AND AROUND THE
    COIL FORM. When you do this every turn puts a twist in the wire.
    After a while the wire will start to kink and then get into a hopeless
    tangle. Roll the cylinder (mailing tube) around in your hand like
    the take up spool on a real to real tape recorder. (Rotate the coil
    form [mailing tube] around its axis.)

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This page last updated November 20, 2005.