Kaleidoscopes

i haven’t yet. could you post a picture or a link. I’m not really sure what that is.

Kaleidoscopes can be simple. Basically is is just a tube with two mirrors and an object case that holds the bits you look at. Even simpler is a Teleidoscope. It is just a kaleidoscope without the object case. You just use it like a telescope to look at the world.

The tube can be any shape. I used staves to make mine with 12 sides. Might be a little much for eight grade.
A square or triangular tube would be easier. You’ll need two front surface mirrors about a inch wide and as long as you want for your scope. You can buy these ready cut to size but you can save quite a bit if you are up to cutting your own from larger sheets.

You need to mount the mirrors with one edge touching and a 60 degree angle between them. Actually other angles that divide evenly into 360 also work. You could experiment with 15, 30, 60, etc. You need a way to fix this mirror set into the center of your tube. I created some offset blocks that attach to the mirrors and the inside of the tube.

You need something to cover the end you look in with about a 1/2 hole in the center. Don’t really need a lens or even glass or plastic. Just a hole will do but plain plastic would keep the dust out. You also need to cover the other end. Usually the object case covers that end. If it is a teleidoscope or the object case is separate you will need a cover on this end. Just like the end you look at with a larger hole. Should probably cover this end with plastic to keep the dust out and to keep little fingers out. The glass could cut.

The hard part is the object case. Needs to be transparent and to hold the bits you will look at. Also need a way to turn the object case or the kaleidoscope. If the kaleidoscope and the object case are connected together this can get complex. Simpler to mount the kaleidoscope at a 45 degree angle looking down then just put the bits in a dish on a pivot so you can turn it by hand while you look at it. If you want to get fancy, you could use a music box movement to turn the dish for you.

I’ve recently learned to use SketchUp and I might be able to throw something together for you.

My kaleidoscope. Strangely enough, made WITHOUT a lathe.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "

Leon, that would be COOL if you could post a Sketchup pic(s)... Possible?

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

Here is a very simple kaleidoscope plan I just put together. The blue slices are glass or plastic. The object case is made from a triangular piece of wood with glass/plastic on each side. The eye piece is just a hole in a triangle of wood. Each of the long tubes has two mirrors along the insides and since it is a triangle you already have the mirrors at 60 degrees.

Just glue the pieces together in order. Mix and match the wood for some variety. Should be pretty easy.

Here is the SketchUp file It is pretty crude so check all the dimensions and angles.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "

Leon,

Triangular tubes have 3 sides… 2 of mirrors and 1 of glass?
Where do the glass scraps, etc. go (that make the random designs)? In the case at the end?
What is the case up front used for?

Are you showing two of them side by side with different colors?

I guess you rotate the whole unit?

Sure looks simple…

Thank you…

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

Only two of the sides have mirrors. The third side is blank and you should probably paint it black.

Yes, the bits you look at go in the case at the end. Need to experiment to get a resonable amount. You want it pretty full but with enough space to allow for movement when you turn it. I used beads like they use for jewlery.

Don’t know about the “case up front”. On one end is the object case with the bits to look at. On the other end is a solid piece of wood with a hole in it to look through.

Yes, there are two just to show how you might mix and match woods for different effects.

Yes, you rotate the whole unit. Much simpler construction.
If the object case moves relative to the tube, you need a sliding joint.

The other simple way is what I described earlier. Mount the kaleidoscope at a 45 degree angle looking down then just put the bits in a dish under it on a pivot so you can turn the dish by hand while you look at it. If you want to get fancy, you could use a music box movement to turn the dish for you.

You should probably add an additional piece of wood like you use for the object case on the object case end to protect the glass on the end and your fingers. Doesn’t need to be as thick as the object case piece. Just enough to protect the glass. If it gets too thick you may hav trouble getting enough light into the object case.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "

Hi Bob,

Building a kaleidoscope can be a fun project that will combine art, mathematics and industrial arts.

Here are a few links to get you started. The links are to plans, instructions, parts and supplies.

http://www.jfarnsworth.com/
http://kaleidoscopeheaven.org/
http://www.kaleidoscopes.co.nz/
http://www.kaleidoscopesusa.com/Direct02.html
http://www.kaleido.com/resource.htm
http://home.vicnet.net.au/%7Epwguild/
http://www.kaleidoscopesusa.com/Direct02.html
http://kaleidoscopeheaven.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaleidoscopecollector/links
http://www.brewstersociety.com/mirror_config.html
http://my.pclink.com/%7Ejhaug/howto.html
http://www.jfarnsworth.com/
http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/advanced%20kaleidoscope%20designs.htm
http://www.brewstersociety.com/mirror_config.html
http://www.kaleido.com/mirrors.htm
http://www.brewstersociety.com/
http://polymerclayprojects.com/
http://polymerclayprojects.com/chambers.htm
http://www.starmagic.com/store.cgi?0+3D2A1D10
http://www.highreflectivemirrors.com/
http://www.kaleido.com/systemgd.htm
http://www.kaleido.com/resource.htm
http://www.kaleido.com/
http://www.laymar-crafts.co.uk/linkq.htm
http://home.vicnet.net.au/%7Epwguild/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaleidoscopecollector/links
http://my.pclink.com/%7Ejhaug/howto.html
http://webpages.charter.net/signwriter/
http://polymerclayprojects.com/chambers.htm

Hi Folks…..

Thanks for ALL the great resourses for these kaleidoscopes….THIS IS GREAT STUFF !!!!

Bob

-- SAWDUST...Source of Fiber......Bob