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This is a projectt I started a few months ago, it's a work in progress and hope to have it done in about a week.
I have no idea where that reflector came from it's ceramic and hallow.
The case is made of an old oak pallet selected for it's personality, the bottom slides out for access to the
batteries, or what ever, still not sure if it's going to electric or a gas light.
I have no idea where that reflector came from it's ceramic and hallow.
The case is made of an old oak pallet selected for it's personality, the bottom slides out for access to the
batteries, or what ever, still not sure if it's going to electric or a gas light.
Maybe I'll spray some vinagar on them and make a little rust...
You've probably finished it by now, but if you are still considering
gas as a light source you could try acetylene. It would likely be historically
accurate and easy to make. Just add calcium carbide to water and
it generates acetylene.
Miners used this type of light back around the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. A friend of mine used to have one, quite bright and
lasted a long time as I recall.
OK, the required safety notice...acetylene is of course quite flammable and
as I recall from using in for welding, explosive at higher pressures (not likely
to be reached in an acetylene lamp...).
Keep creating!
a fun FYI is to fill a small balloon with a proper ox. and act. mix and light it, wear ear plugs it is LOUD, my welding instructor did the demo to show us to never let a mixed gas ratio from a torch fill a confined space unlit.
I'm really glad you liked this project it was just for fun, it still draws comments from visitors to my home, although the answer to the question what does it do is a rather boring, nothing it just looks good.
and never tried that with a balloon!
I'll have to combine that with another interest and see if I can set it off with a laser!
Ok kids, you know the drill "don't try this at home"...I'm a professional with years
of experience... ;-)
BTW, just looked on Ebay, you can still buy carbide lamps...a bit pricey as they
are considered collectibles these days though.
Just noticed where you live, aha, now the nick name makes perfect sense! I
have a brother in law in Fairbanks...
A very convincing work indeed. Well done. This gives me a new inspiring idea......
Thanks for the kind words.
My orginal intent was to make a fake old flashlight, and see if I could fool anyone, the lack of interest made me want to steampunk it.
All jokes aside... if you use the HO gas (what the combined Hydrogen and oxygen gasses are called) , it won't make a "small" flame- it will make a HOT flame- HO torches are the hottest torches... but efficiency is poor as it's hard to get a perfect balance of the hydrogen and oxygen, and also the amount of electrical energy you put in is often more than what you get out.... usually you need high amperage do get a decent amount... (esp. if you are directly using the gas, straight from the HO cell, and not storing it....)
ALSO HO gas and HO cells can be very dangerous as any stray spark could ignite any small leak.... I definitively wouldn't suggest trying to make a portable version... nor would I put it in a wooden box...
Anyways (sorry for the lecture, I didn't mean to lecture.... >
I would consider it a success if I could get a flame the size of a childs birthday cake candle, have you ever tried to seperate water, it is painfully slow.
I am aware of mixed gas explosions, all one need do is fill a small balloon with
ox acet mix and light it to get the cops on your door, plus ringing ears, and possibly a broken window.
I didn't say I was making an efficient light, I bet it will be about as big as a plumbers tool box and twice as heavy.
Anyways, you could take small HO cell and use it to either heat a camping mantle to incandescence (but it might burn it) or you could use it to heat a piece of quicklime to incandescence, which is your best bet.... not only could you use a different (and safer) fuel source to heat it... but "lime"light is very much in the time period in which steampunk emulates (i.e the 1800's)
Here is an article from the "Worlds Most Unreliable Encyclopedia"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limelight
And here is an article from one of my favorite source for chemistry info, Theodore Grey ....
http://theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/PopularScience/2007/09/1/index.html
period light sources.
I added a couple of progress pics
You inspired me (after I saw this last night) to take an old flood light bulb that was burned out and clean it out- I think it will be perfect, cause it almost looks like an old cathode-ray tube (CRT)... I am thinking of putting a few RGB LEDs inside so they light up the front (like a screen)... unless I can find a way to project text and info onto the the front of it... hmm... I just had an idea...too bad I don't haven the old projection clock I had anymore... but I might just be able to work something out... Anyways I would love to see this lit up! (Keep up the nice work!)