Kaleidoscope

[Dave Bagwill]

Thanks Jay - looks like fun! And real pretty.

[ken cierp]

At one time I got all the woodworker special project flyers I am sure there are a few with kaleidoscope designs. WeE did the art show for a while and they were quite popular - but I never made one.

[Daniel P]

I'll try to post some photos of the one's I've made before.

In college my grandfather taught me lamp working (working glass over a torch) we would make marbles, as well I worked at a stained glass studio teaching and designing custom windows. When orders were slow, sometimes we'd make kaleidoscopes to sell in the shop.

Thin front face mirror was the key to making a really nice kaleidoscope - ours were done with copper tape and soldred much like stained glass windows - a front faced triangular section tube inside a triangular section tube of decorative glass. On the end opposite the eye-hole, we'd coil a loop of stuff copper wire that would hold a transparent/semi-transparent marble at the end of the mirrored tube. Turn the marble and enjoy the visual effects.

I'm sure they sell kits for this style kaleidoscope. And if you can build instruments, and solder you've got all the skill necessary to compelte one successfully.

They looked very much like this - but ours had custom made marbles




I still have a torch set up in the shop for making marbles.

[Dave Bagwill]

I like 'em, Dan'l, thanks.
I've always liked marbles, too, I never thought about people actually making them.

[Eric_K]

I was digging through the Woodsmith Magazine archives and saw an article on making them. I can dig it out if you wish and give some hints.

Eric

[Dave Bagwill]

Eric, I just came into possession of that article! Thanks anyway...:-)

[Eric_K]

Great minds....
or weak bladders....


Eric