Aventurine Green Kaleidoscope

[Scope Builder]

Here is a kaleidoscope I finished today.  It is Aventurine Green full fused with a clear cap then draped over a 2" stainless steel pipe in three sections.  It is a two mirror system using a grade front surface mirror with the third side being Photo Star light absorbing felt.  The wheel is a dry tumble wheel filled with fused glass pieces and faceted glass jewels.  The body is 9" long and 2 1/4" in diameter.

[Scope Builder]

More interior shots.

[Scope Builder]

One more.  8^)

[Alan]

Better hide this one from Rebecca - - - oh that's right - tooooooooo late! 

[Elizabeth]

Ooooohhhh!  That is stunning!   I have always loved kaleidoscopes.   Maybe one day I will have time to try and work out how to make one.   The glass patterns must be soooo much better than the bits of plastic (or whatever) from my childhood.   I have seen pictures of 'stained glass' ones,  but never a 'fused' one before - if you know what i mean!   
I think I have said the same thing about Kev's wire wrap jewelery - maybe it's a good thing I'm the other side of the world and can't just order stuff like this easily!!

[Lou Ann]

Jim, as usual beautifully done!!

What is the name of the glass you used and who makes it? I had a small scrap that looks very similar that I just used in a small suncatcher and would love to be able to get some more.

[Tina]

Nice job -- love the interior shots!!!!

[AglassAct]

Beautiful scope..

[Scope Builder]

Jim, as usual beautifully done!!

What is the name of the glass you used and who makes it? I had a small scrap that looks very similar that I just used in a small suncatcher and would love to be able to get some more.

Lou Ann, It is Spectrum's Aventurine Green.  They also make Aventurine Blue and Black. They are 96 COE.

[Joe]

Wow! just beautiful!

[Kev]

Wow is right! This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!! Brings back childhood memories. Great job!!!!!!!!!!

[Tre V]

Very nice!

[ct4mom]

 

[Anne]

Oh Jim, this is awesome and you've done such a great job with the adventurine. The only time I've ever used it I found it so brittle to cut. I actually bought an adventurine  cut-up last time I went to my suppliers because I knew I wouldn't have to deal with cutting it.

You really are the Kaleidoscope King!

[Scope Builder]

Thanks everyone I do enjoy building kaleidoscopes.  I can actually make a profit on them.

[Lou Ann]

Jim, as usual beautifully done!!

What is the name of the glass you used and who makes it? I had a small scrap that looks very similar that I just used in a small suncatcher and would love to be able to get some more.

Jim, as usual beautifully done!!

What is the name of the glass you used and who makes it? I had a small scrap that looks very similar that I just used in a small suncatcher and would love to be able to get some more.

Lou Ann, It is Spectrum's Aventurine Green.  They also make Aventurine Blue and Black. They are 96 COE.

thanks Jim, I'm going to have to get some of that...

[JoanFrances]

love it.  I have never done one.  Have always thought I'd like to but frankly they scare me off from doing one

[Tre V]

Me too Joan

[Barbara]

It's beautiful!

[Scope Builder]

love it.  I have never done one.  Have always thought I'd like to but frankly they scare me off from doing one

This is kaleidoscope #215.  Joan and/or Tre V, if either of you decide to try one I will offer to help any way I can.

[Audrey]

Wow! That is gorgeous.

[Rebecca]

215!  That's a lotta kaleidoscope!

Rebecca

[Evelyn]

Jim,
Your scope is absolutely beautiful!  Matches all the other scopes you have done and glad to hear that you are actually making a profit on them.  I've made three so far - and I used the premade domes and filled them with my glass scraps.  Got lots of comments at craft shows - adults showing their children - and then watching their reactions - really neat. 
And I love how you post pictures of the insides - fascinating!

[glasisfun]

This is a very pretty piece.  I too love the shots of the inside.  I have made one that works with a tube of material that flows past the mirrored piece, but I can't tell from your pictures and you photos.... does the part with the glass display move? Is it attached?  I can't tell from the picture for sure if this is two pieces or one?  Would really like to hear more about how this is made.  Great Job!

[Scope Builder]

@glasisfun

It is a dry tumblewheel.  I cut two glass disks with my circle cutter, find the center and drill a hole for the axle.  I put a long piece of the axle tube the glass disk and through a hole in my grinder top and grind  it while turning the disk around the tube to true it up.  I can usually find a hole in the grinder surface that allows me to do this.  I have made a couple of jigs to make sure the axle hub is straight in the two glass disks and to keep the disks parallel to each other. I buy 3/8" wide brass strips at Ace Hardware that is soldered around the outside edge until there is about an inch left, I then fill the wheel with glass chips faceted glass jewels and fired glass pieces close the last of the brass strip and seal it up. 

The wheel does turn on the axle and if the wheel doesn't have too much glass inside the pieces tumble.  You should never get a repeat pattern.  I am not much of a fan of tubescopes or wet wheels because when I see an image I like I can stop and look at it, with the wet devices the image moves until the pieces settle in the liquid.  They are hard to photograph with still shots.

Hope this explains what you were looking for.

[glasisfun]

Just the info I was looking for!  Your kaleidoscope is quite remarkable! You are right about not being able to stop the action on a liquid model.  Your description of how you built this is very good and thanks for letting me know.  Sometimes I look at all the great things I see on this forum and wonder how did they do that....

Thanks for filling me in!