How to Make an Hourglass From Two Lightbulbs

In my first Instructable wilI show you how I made a fancy hourglass.
Lightbulbs are becoming cheaper because they are been replaced by cold light lamps and LED´s .
So ,if you you have two fused lightbulbs ,reuse them into.. an hourglass!!!!

Step 1: The Materials

What you will need:

- Two lightbulbs of the same type
- Sand, preferably from the sea shore.
- A screw
- Some wood
- An empty can or any piece of thin metal,alluminun works great.
- Some paint for the base.
- Hidrochloric acid (you can avoid this if your sand is clean)

Step 2: The Tools

Tools you may need:

- A saw
- A pin
- A hammer
- A screwdriver
- Some sandpaper
- A pair of scisssors
- a diamond tool for rototool , one of those use for cutting glass and ceramics.

Step 3: Cutting the Metal Cap

Start cutting the metal screw cap , holding the glass part wrapped in a piece of tissue paper.
Or you can heat it so the cement will decompose and the cap fall off.

Step 4: Cutting the Neck

Now, use the diamond tool to cut the part that holds the filament

Step 5: Preparing the Sand (avoid If You Want)

As you may know, sand consist of silicon oxide, calcium carbonate, and organic matter.
The sand inside the hourglass will pass through a small orifice so it is better if is clean and with homogenous diameter.

Step 6: The Chem Lab!!!

Rinse with water three times the sand you want to use, removing all the floating stuff.

Slowly, add the acid, BE VERY CAREFUL, USE GLOVES AND A ROOM WITH CIRCULATING AIR,
Decomposing the shell is a quite safe process that only produces bubbling CO2 but the foam can overflow.

Once the bubbling ends , rinse and clean with water until all the mud is out.

Step 7: The Base

I cut a wood rectangle and partially emptied the bottom.
The passing hole is for holding the arm.
Then I fill it with melted lead. (again be careful because it is HOT¡)

Step 8: The Collar and the Sand

With a pin pierce the center of the metal disc. Not too small so the sand can´t pass, not too big so ... you run out of time!

Fill the bulb with the dry and clean sand

Place the disc over the hole and fix it with a bit of glue.

Now you can put it inside an oven to remove all partial humidity it can remind if you work in an humid area as I do.

Place the second bulb on top of the first one. NOW, THE NEXT STEP IS THE NO RETURN POINT SO YOU MUST BE COMPLETLY SURE OF ALL THE PREVIOUS STEPS .

Glue with with epoxi.

When dry , wrap some cotton thread or fabric., so it will look nice.

Step 9: Final Step

Mount every thing.

That´s it !

Questions and suggestions are welcome.