I was going to post my prototype #3 that I made. The problem is that it looks almost exactly like prototype#1. The key difference is that I assembled it in stages. The wye pieces were soldered on and then a drill was used to re-drill the holes to make sure they were clear. It did go faster than the first, but it's way too time consuming unless I can modify the methods. The plastic is easier and faster to work with but doesn't have the clean sharp look of the thinner brass pieces. I tried hot melt to reinforce the joints and that's not ideal to work with. The solder can mimic a weld and is more workable.
In the meantime I am also trying to cast a custom plastic wye of my own to see if that will help utilize the plastic version. I just glued up a master to cast from.
It is good to know that I can power all the lights I produce with one board rig. At least, I'll save some time and effort there.
I have decided on the wiring and the method so that's done. What's the saving of two pieces of magnet wire instead of four? You still would have to connect a wire to the stand pipe so I may as well run them the whole length.
I have been sawing the brass tube for cleaner cuts. I will swap to my Dremel for speed and see if I can make the pieces with less damage than my sample cuts were with it. I'd need a mini pipe cutter (micro?) as my smallest plumbing version would just deform the pipe I believe. More results to come I hope.
