Introduction: Mobile - Floating Stars Inside a Galaxy
This MOBILE artwork was inspired by the thought of floating stars inside a galaxy .
With spiraling arms - spherical components - colossal halo and an off center nucleus.
The light mixed colors let you in deeper to the artwork.
The mobile magically floats and slowly spins taking you away.
Using and manipulating material that can represent the different aspects of a galaxy
Bending PVC wood
Different size beads
Fishing line
Supplies
Supplies used to make Mobile
- PVC screen door trim - 8 feet by 1/4 inch by 3/4 inch
- Fishing line PE Braided line 8 plys 10 lb 100 meters long - yellow color
- Paint pen - orange
- Swivel small 5/8 long 2X
- Beads
- 1/8 inch diameter 32 pieces various colors
- 1/4 inch diameter 13 pieces various colors
- 1/2 inch diameter 2 pieces various colors
- 5/8 inch diameter 1 pieces (from keychain - had hoop already installed)
- CA glue gel
- Stainless steel wire 0.51 inch diameter
- wooden tooth picks
- cotton swabs plastic sticks = various colors
- craft string cotton 6 feet (do not use CA glue on cotton)
Step 1: TOOLS and EQUIPMENT
Tools and Equipment
- Table saw used - hand saw will work
- Japanese back saw and miter box
- Heat gun
- Yard stick
- Caliper 6 inch
- small ruler
- small spring clips - 6 or more
- Medium wood clamp
- Ratchet clamps
- Leather or heat resistant gloves
- Hose clamp
- Metal pipes (for mandrel to bend pvc) approximately 4 feet long each
- 3/4 inch diameter
- 2 1/2 inch diameter
- Small ring mandrel
- Leather mallet
- small toothless pliers 2X
- scissors various types
- craft razor knife
- craft grinder with 1/16 inch drill bit
- razor cutter
- standard screw driver
- wire cutter
Step 2: Spiraling Arms
Spiraling arms
Cutting PVC screen door trim - 8 feet by 1/4 inch by 3/4 inch
Cut to 4 foot length produces two pieces
Saw or rip down the 4 foot length
- Table saw used - hand saw will work
- Japanese back saw and miter box
Produces 4 foot long 1/4 inch by 5/16 inch pvc
Create spirals
Clamp one end of the 4 foot long 1/4 inch by 5/16 inch pvc.
with cloves and heat gun (on Low) apply heat and wrap PVC around pipes
Let cool to shape
Cut to desired shape
with razor cutters, cut PVC so that the spirals seem to fit to your eye
Step 3: Cut Cotton Swabs for Tubes
Cut cotton swabs for tubes
- Using razor cutters
- cut of cotton tips to leave the plastic hollow tubes
Step 4: Hanger Ring
Create Hanger Ring this is the ring used to actually hang the mobile from the ceiling
- Pull some stainless steel wire out
- start the loop
- Cut the loop with wire cutters
- put on ring mandrel
- using the leather mallet hit the wire to form a ring
Step 5: Make Ceiling Hanger String
Make Ceiling Hanger String
- add swivel to stainless steel ring
- Add fishing line
Step 6: Make the Nebulas
Make the Nebulas
- using a key ring with ball on the end
- using paint pen - coat the ball
- let dry and remove chain and save the swivel
- run fishing line thru the swivel
- add stars (beads) and shooting star tails (tubes)
Step 7: String the Spirals With Stars
String the spirals with stars
Think of these as two separate spirals - I made mine with tension like a bow
- Drill location of holes for string in both spirals
- Add beads to prevent the string pulling thru the holes
- 1/4 beads then 1/8 beads in that order add glue
- 1/2 beads were put in the center of each string so that I could run tension string thru (double string)
- spring clamps can help hold the spirals to let the glue dry
- Add beads in the between the two ends and add glue
You can add swab tubes to embellish - I look at them like shooting stars
Please note: I used a temporary string (craft string) to hold the tension ( like a bow). when the glue dries you can remove the temporary string
Step 8: Find the Hanging Points of Spirals
Find the hanging points of spirals
- using spring clamps hang from ceiling at different points to see
- balance points
- how it will look the best
Step 9: Combine Spirals
Combine the spirals together
- Drill location of holes for string in both spirals
- Add beads to prevent the string pulling thru the holes
- spring clamps can help hold the spirals to let the glue dry
- add swivel between the spirals
Step 10: Find Hanging Points of Combined Spirals
Find hanging points of combined spirals
- Using the ceiling hanger
- using the spring clips
- Find some good point to hang the combine spirals
- drill a hole
- add the Hanging string
Step 11: Add the Nebulas
Add the nebulas
- Drill and connect the hanging nebulas from the long spiral
- remember to use the beads and glue to prevent from pulling thru the holes
- I used beads and swab tubes to embellish of starts and star tails
- the nebulas is not glued to the fishing line
- slide nebulas to fine tune your spirals for swing and looks
Step 12: Trim the Excess Fishing Line
Trim the Excess Fishing Line
- Clean up the extra fishing line
Step 13: Thank You for Viewing My Instructable
Thank you for viewing my instructable
This turned out to my liking
swings slowly and pleasantly