How to Make a Copper Pipe Kaleidoscope

Hi, I'm Stale56; and I'm here to teach you how to make a kaleidoscope.
Last year, I had to make one for a school, project, and I just decided to post how to make one.

I made mine out of copper pipe (you can use PVC if you choose), to stick out above everybody elses.

It works pretty well, and I'm happy with mine. If you have any questions or don't understand something, please ask me. I'd be happy to post pictures of other people's kaleidoscopes if you post this.

If you see any typographical or grammatical errors, please PM me.

Step 1 Gather Materials

• Copper pipe (2” diameter by about a foot long)
             This can be PVC if you choose, and you can make it as long as you desire
• Copper pipe end cap (still 2")
             This can also be PVC, but I recommend using PVC only if the pipe is PVC.
• Pipe cutter and gloves (if the pipe isn't the right length)
• Copper pipe coupling (again, 2")
              Again, this can be PVC
• Reamer (for smoothing the sharp edges of the pipe)
• Sand paper (for cleaning the pipe)
• 3 pieces of mirror (1.732” by a quarter-half of an inch shorter than the pipe)
• 2 pieces of plastic circles (2” diameter)
            Can be from plastic packaging
• Tape (to hold the mirrors together)
• Beads
• Adhesive caulk (to hold the plastic in place)
• Drill and ½ inch drill bit (to drill an eyepiece)

Comments

[Butterface67]

Where did you get your mirrors from? Did you cut them yourself from an old mirror or did you buy them that way?

I like the kaleidoscopes with the glass ball and the end which gives you cool effects from the world around you (what you are pointing it at.) I believe it's called a teleidoscope.
Do you think this one could be adapted to that style?

[stale56]

I got the mirrors from a friend of mine's father, he works for something where he has to cut a lot of glass. Any type of mirror should work, but if the mirror is bent or curved, it may not fit inside the kaleidoscope. You may be able to buy some that size.

I never heard of a teleidoscope before, but I think that if you know what you're doing, you can adapt it to a teleidoscope. I don't know how to make a teleidoscope, here is a link to a teleidoscope Instructable. I think that this can be adapted to one, again, I never made one so I'm not entirely sure.

[kelseymh]

Great little project! Pretty well written, although there are some typos here and there (extra commas, a few misspellings). You might consider switching the order of the two images in the intro. The kaleidoscope view would make a much better thumbnail than the boring old copper pipe :-)

[stale56]

Thanks!