Recycled Parlor Kaleidoscope

Warning: This is not a child’s toy and should not be used by them without supervision as it contains lots of glass.

Caution should be used when handling and cutting glass.


Ingredients:

1 Metal tube. - I used an old copier photo drum. These are often changed by your work's copier repairman when they say they are doing a Preventive Maintenance. This is often signaled by a “wrench” icon and/or a message of PM Required. The faster the copier, the bigger the drum. Look for copiers with speeds of at least 35 or 40 copies per minute. These will be big enough most likely for use.
Brass tubing can be substituted and would look very classic.

2 Brass arm adjustable lamps. I bought mine at Goodwill for $5 a piece. Check your thrift store. This is where you may have to get creative. I lucked out and got two awesome lamps at one trip. I lucked out even more that they all used the same thread pitch on their parts.

1 Brass wall candle holder. - Another Goodwill find. It also used the same thread pitch so it is likely a very common occurrence to find compatible parts.

Several Brass vases,candle holders, goblets. - Goodwill. Look for pieces that match the size of your metal tube/copier drum

2 or 3 First surface mirrors. - A first surface mirror has its mirror on the top of the glass. They are used where optical quality is paramount. These also came from old copiers. The older copiers (mid 90's or before) had many more mirrors then newer digital copiers. These may be hard to find and expensive to buy. Regular mirrors will work but you won't end up with a first class kaleidoscope.

Glass – The glass I used came from....you guessed it, a copier. Any clear glass sheet will do. The thinner it is the easier it breaks in ways you don't want it to when cutting a shape.

Threaded rod or Metal rod with Tap & Die set. - The lamp arms were originally much closer together so I needed rod that matched the thread pitch of the current lamp pieces. It is easiest to take the parts with you to the store, and thread the part onto the rod to ensure compatible thread.

Packing Material. - This will be stuffed around your mirror section to protect the mirror and keep them from sliding out. I used old bags from several Lego sets.

Epoxy

Electrical tape

Brass Polishing compound. - I used the green stick of aluminum oxide from Harbor Freight

Isopropyl Alcohol – Used for cleaning the mirrors.

Tools:

Pipe cutter. - I used this constantly to adjust the brass tubing sizes.
Hack saw. - This is to cut the threaded rod and brass parts to size.
Fine sandpaper – This is used to remove rough areas from any cut brass or glass.
Scissors – to cut the tape.
Glass cutter – cutter of glass.
Vise grips – hold items.
Drill – drill holes in the copier drum/metal tube.

Step 1 Kaledoscopes

A kaleidoscope consists of four main components. The body, the mirror system, the object chamber and the objects.

The Body main function is to protect the mirrors. This is also where almost all of the aesthetics are seen. My scope's body is incorporated into a stand for adjustment for viewing of the object chamber.

The mirror system. This is where the magic happens. Depending on the number of mirrors and the relative position of them you will get different types of patterns.

The objects can be almost anything. They are the bright colorful items that make up the patterns of color from a scope.

The object chamber is the viewing area where the objects are stored.

Comments

[Lindie]

That's pretty cool! Good job!

[nevets_mcd]

Thanks! It was a lot of fun. I've got some more parts and plan on making another one...or two. Maybe not as complicated but still based on copier drums, mirrors and old lamp parts.