Construction of a Steampunk Light Tube

Hello everybody
Some days ago I presented my first project to you. The first incomming comments asked me to be more detailed in my next projects.
I thought a little bit and now I want to present you a very detailed description of constructing of a nice and universal usable Steampunk Light Tube.
Are you ready to follow me?
Yes?
OK!
Let´s start:
We now build a Steampunk Light Tube with E14 brass sockets, acrylic tubes and copper fittings.
Later on we also create a tricky light using a drinking straw with two LED inside;-))

Step 1: First preparations

Here you see what you need first:

Brass sockets from broken down bulbs and tubes.
 
To protect your eyes and your hands when working with glass please use leather gloves and eye protection.
The next step is to break the glass bulbs. All parts of the bulbs have to be put away.  

Comments

[tvan nunen]

Great instructable! This got me thinking about a 'fusebox' for my steampunk project. My idea was to put 4 glass fuses next to each other and point some LEDs to them, for a nice effect. But now i started thinking about filling them with some liquid and actually making them glow!

One thing about safety when braking the glass: I would reccomend you to wrap all the glass parts in ducktape first. That way, the glass won't 'explode' and cleaning will be easier.

Keep up the good work!

[longwinters]

I love this project, I'm going to try a florescent fluid and a UV Led, that will make the fluid glow, if you played with the hardware you might be able to make it look like a tube of radioactive goo.
Add some kind of warning sticker to make it complete

I have seen several of your projects they are top notch, thank's for the great ideas!

[Junophor]

Hi longwinters

Thanks for your comment. It is really funny that you got the same idea like me. The UV-LED´s are already there I got a very good result with tighten the tube by using superglue, fix the UV-LED eith it at each side of the tube.
I was testing a lot of such UV active stuff and here are my results:

For the fluorescent colour I use an water solution and with a spot of glycerine and 3-5% "Uranin". Don´t use more because otherwise the effect runs down. You can als use washing powder because there are also UV active substances in (white/blue). But then you have to do some hot melting glue around the tube and LEDs. The most difficulty is to get the last drop of air out of the tube;-)))

Please mention that the best result of shining is when the fluorescent minerals in the fluid reflect the light. So I also tested to place one UV-LED´above the filled tube and this looks very awsome. Try it in this way with different angles to find the best position.

Let me see your result

Yours Aeon Junophor

[longwinters]

Here are some test results using Automotive Anti-Freeze, the UV light is a high out put UV Flashlight equal to about 6, 5mm leds

one shot is with the light above another is from the side and the third is one of a tube with the phosporus left in the tube.

The tube is 8 inches long and would need leds at both ends, to look even,
it is surprizingly bright.

The second pic shows the true green glow.

[domdanial]

I did something similar, however later. Instead of antifreeze, I went for the less toxic highlighter and water solution. I also only used 1 uv led on each side.

I also liked the bulb bases, so that went into the design, and this is going onto a box, so the battery is just temporary.

And the idea of adding elbows and mounting it should be credited to Evinfire's steampipe lamp.

[Junophor]

Absolutely crazy

Great!!!!!

[Norikaeru]

I was wondering where people were getting the tubing, acrylic or glass. I can't seem to find anything similar to what is used in this project.

[maxwelltub]

I ended up taking a much different root, but was inspired by your creation here. For my lamp I used glass. The outer tube is about 1.25" and the inner rod is about 1/4". I say about because they are not always 100% consistent. I attached surface mount LEDs to either end of the rod.

[Junophor]

Hi maxwelltub

This tube looks great!!!
Well done;-)))

Yours Aeon Junophor

[monkeys98]

how do you make the pulsing effect from the heart-beat box project?

[maxwelltub]

I'm having trouble finding a good source for the clips used to hold the light. Any one have an ideas?

[Junophor]

Hi maxwelltub

Sorry but now I understand your question.

Well I just used some ordinary clips I´ve had in my toolbox. They aren`t special in a way just ordinary ones.

Aeon Junophor

[maxwelltub]

I see. I thought it would be cool to use a clip that holds a fuse in place. That way you could just snap the light in and out of the holder with ease. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find something suitable

[Junophor]

Cool idea!!

Let me see a picture when it´s ready. This was my origin idea to create an universal tube which can be used in so much different ways
Yours
Aeon Junophor

[Junophor]

Hi maxwelltub

Here is another link to the clips

http://www.junie.de/SelectedGroup.aspx?groupNO=30

On the photo you also find the number of the artiicle

Yours Aeon Junophor

[Junophor]

Hi maxwelltub
Iinvestigated a little bit an found this contact


WOODCRAFT SUPPLY LLC

1177 ROSEMAR ROAD

P.O. BOX 1686

PARKERSBURG, WV 26102

from an Geman Factory which build this clips

http://www.junie.de/pdf/Katalog/Kapitel_Vorlauf.pdf

[maxwelltub]

Thanks, but i ment the clips that are holding the light to the stand. I'm looking to a fuse clip or something of the sort that will hold the light in place. Thank you for your help.

[Ace193]

Hi Junophor, I don't know if someone else already mentioned it or not, but in the US we would use the word acrylic tube instead of acryltube. I know it's really hard to try to translate everything, but you're doing a great job!

[tjames2]

Yeah, that one was a real skull scratcher, Ace...

[gvanghod]

hi Ace193, i dont know if someone else already mentioned it, but here in the REAL WORLD we call things what thewy're called and dont pander to ancient americans with their ancient imperial systems and made-up names for things

[Taranach]

Gee, it is a tube made out of acrylic... thus in the "Real World" it is properly called an acrylic tube as opposed to some specific brand name or appellation that might not be used everywhere.

I also find it funny that you call the Americans "ancient" when they are far exceeded in age by most European countries and yet were the forerunners in the plastics industry as well as leaders in many others... including the computer that you wrote your post upon...

Finally, people of every nation "make up" names for things that are new as well as "making up" slang terms to redefine old things, therefore the only observation that holds any truth is the reference to the old imperial measurement system... the rest is just pure uninformed and hateful "fluff" spouted by a typical internet troll.

[Junophor]

Hi Ace 193

Thank you so much. You hit the point. I really didn´tn knew the right term but I will change it in the description soon ;-))))

Yours Aeon Junophor

You want to vote for my objects in the contests?....

[soundmotor]

I like it! It is small, it is cool, it requires several different skills to complete. What a great project for anyone with an apartment table as their workbench! Nice job Junophor, take a bow!

[nibeck]

What are the tips on the end? They look like tops to spark plugs.

[Junophor]

Yes You´re right

These "spark plug connectors", you see I´ve learned this term;-))) are made of brass and it`s very difficult to get them. Today they are used in aluminium

[rjquiz]

I find it funny that there are so many people out there who were potty trained at gunpoint...:P

[Avatar-IT]

Nice creativity! The end terminals look like spark plug connectors, is that what they are? I will definitely be building variations of these for my mad science laboratory!

[Junophor]

Hi
You´re absolutely right I Used these spark plug connectors in Germany they are also named SAE-screw.

Let me see your variations when they are finished ;-)))

[JoshuaZimmerman]

I might just use this for my Halloween costume this year. This is exactly what I was looking for.

(You could also use some EL wire and a 3V inverter with a coin cell battery for a similar effect. Another idea I was toying with.)

[Junophor]

That´s absolutly right

I showed just a few of my meanwhile realized tube modifikations and there are a lot of new ideas left in my head ;-))))

[ForgerOfPie]

Then please do so!

Your instructables are pretty good to start with, but when I read Ace's comment, I thought, "WOW!!!" Excellent translations, and feel free to ask almost anybody on this website about grammar help. You could also try Webster.com for translation, and I believe it does a better job than Google Translate.

Great instructable, great ideas, great user!

[jamwaffles]

I'm not one for Steampunk much myself, but this looks great! Good job with the Instructable, too.

[inblack]

You're driving me crazy! So many good projects and i cant get the bulbs need for the effect

[T-Hawke]

Very Cool -Awesome. So simple yet so versatile. Well Done. You inspired me to build one as a continuity checker. Thank You.