Thread: Vortex Tunnel light help

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I need some quick help. I'm attempting to build a stationary " vortex tunnel " . Basically the tunnel stays in place while the lights go around it the interior. Simple eh ? That's what I thought too. After trying 3 diff kinds of lights with mixed results ( a UFO ball light or disco light , a Discobeam light , and a Light Show Color beam , all found at Spencers and Spirit ) I'm at a bit of a loss.

The Disco ball made the colored circles I wanted but they are too pale and space too close together. The discobeam seemed perfect..but in use it only produces a small area of circling lights. The color beam light show that can be found at Spirit, walmart, target, ect.. so far has worked the best but it's still hasn't covered a big enough area. I might be able to add up to 3 or 4 of them but it's gonna get costly and I'm not sure how well it will look.

If anyone has a recommendation I'm open..I'm even considering building something simple if it will help..I'm on a schedule though that is rapidly ending.

The only thing I can think of would be chasing Christmas lights.

Yeah I've seen that done..you can actually buy a setup that uses them. They run the lights through stiff clear tubes that keep them straight and they sync up. It was out of my price range though this year...I'm not sure if I could build it myself or if I have time.

Is their a DJ light or something that would make bright spinning circles that get progressively smaller as they are project to give an illusion of depth ?

Try fluorescent lights inside rotating tubes. How long is your tunnel? If, for example, it is 10' long, buy 4 cheap 48" shop lights ($5 apiece), remove the reflector, and CAREFULLY attach the end assemblies to the backs of two separate 10' metal studs (spaced the same as they were originally). This will give you two 10' light bars (with 8" spaces at each end and in the middle). Insert each light bar into a large 10' drain pipe (without the holes) and attach the ends (of the light bars) to your end walls. Add small rollers at each end to hold the drain pipe up off the light bar and 2 small drive motors (or one drive motor and a series of belts to go under the bridge).

Once you have one assembled, mounted, and running, drill a small hole in it to see what size light dot it produces on the tunnel wall. Start small (like 1/16") and increase one drill bit at a time until you get one you like. Then go nuts and drill that size in both pipes. Or, you might have different size holes to produce a variety of dots. Want a little color? Buy some colored Celophane (in the gift-wrap aisle) and tape small pieces over the holes.

Keep in mind that, because the light source is linear, the light dots will be oval (side-to-side), not round. However, the thicker the pipe wall, the rounder the dots. You might try tilting the drill up and down a little to make the holes slightly "taller". This should add a little vertical dimension to the dot and possibly make them round again.

Fluorescent lights don't get very hot, but they still give off enough heat to soften an already soft drain pipe. You'll probably want to add a roller or two to the top edge of the light bar to support the pipe and reduce sag. I suppose you could build four separate 48" long assemblies (to reduce sag) and mount them end-to-end, but then you would need four drive motors (or some way to turn all four with one motor). Of course, with separate units, you could build a bunch and mount them in two staggered rows for extra dots.

DISCLAIMER: This design is just an idea I've had. I have never built one but believe it will work. Always use extreme caution when working with electricity or modifying any electrical device, or you might die. Make sure the metal stud is grounded (as was the original reflector) and power the unit with a grounded cord. If you're not comfortable building the light bar yourself, find someone who is to help.

I was thinking the Cheaper version

http://www.christmaslightsetc.com/p/...ire--17604.htm

These are 47' long, not sure how long you would really need.

I like the tube Idea. I'm trying to think how I would build it.

4' long pieces of tube, and mount end caps in each end, and have some type of bearing on the end caps so the tube spins freely, then you could just you a small motor to spin the tube.

I like the idea LV, wonder if I would have time to make this, this year.

Maybe you just need a different moon beam? Thread on it here.

That's sweet...it's pretty much what I have ended up doing..but I would like a better light..more like the one in the video of the thread you posted. Any idea what model it is ?

Sorry no idea what model they used, literally just stumbled across the video.

No problem. I'll search around...maybe something I can use next year.