Jacob's Ladder Project

How to build a Jacob's Ladder! 

My helpful source!

A complete Jacob's Ladder!

We are getting our Neon Sign Transformer (Non-GFI) from a local shop in Fort Walton Beach. Besides they transformer, we will need...

How to:

1. High voltage power source. Other examples of high voltage power supplies might be: a furnace ignition transformer, or a flyback transformer from an old TV. You can pretty much use anything you can get your hands on as long as it generates more than five thousand volts (5 kV). 
2. A pair of electrodes. Thin copper tubing works superbly for this, as it is very conductive and easy to bend. You can go the cheap route and use a wire hanger, but be aware that most coat hangers have some type of paint or plastic coating that will have to be removed. (Use a sander to make sure the coating is gone.)
3. A non-conductive base must be used to mount the electrodes. A non flammable base is also a good thing to have if you are worried about setting something on fire. (Note that at excessive voltages, wood no longer stays an insulator, and starts to conduct electricity. If this does happen, you can count on that wood to ignite.)
4. Some high-voltage wire is also recommended. If none is available, it is possible to use some 12 gauge hook-up wire. The thicker the gauge and the insulation the better.

5. If you are using a coat hanger, first untwist the top, and straighten the whole thing out. This can be very difficult, as trying to bend it usually ends with it twisting out of your grip. To solve this problem, stick it in a vice grip! This makes the whole process much easier.

6. When it is more or less straight, you need to clean the coating off of the wire hanger. Here is where the sandpaper becomes useful! Sand the whole thing down with some medium grit paper and wipe it down with some acetone or MEK. Then cut them in half. If you didn't measure the wire hanger before cutting it with result in uneven electrodes. (For special effects, it's perfect!)
7. Drill a pair of holes in either side of your base, and stick the ends of the electrodes in. In order for the electrodes to be close enough, you need to bend them again. Once you get the bottoms close enough, bend them up and flare them out. How far you can flare them depends on your power supply and size of electrodes. 
8. Finally! You should be ready to turn your Jacob's Ladder on... LET THE SPARKS FLY!

Step 6

Finished Jacob's Ladder

12-Gauge hook-up wire