I have not tried firing up my 40W CO2 tube yet. I was thinking of testing it with something from my collection of neon sign transformers (per Sam's Laser FAQ)
:
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserco2.htm
Quote:
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A Variac may be used for voltage control. Even many commercial CO2 lasers have used a manual or motorized Variac and neon sign transformer or phase control of a neon sign transformer for this.
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Sadly, the variac I had since a young child has been shorted from copper vapor plating where not wanted, since I incorrectly hooked the input AC to the variable side some years back (which vaporized the winding on one end). 
The chocolate printer seems a lot safer though...
