[UnOrthodOx]

For interesting looking electronics, it doesn't hurt to check any OLD TV repair shops. I stopped in to one that had been around for decades, told the owner I was doing a mad scientist lab for Haloween and asked if he had anything he didn't need that I might use. I walked away with three boxes of dials, tubes, circuit boards and various pieces that I incorporated into my haunt. The rest went into the electronics recycling box at the dump!

Ok. First, great tip.

Second....I get this THING from the TV repair shop. It's got radiation warning labels ALL over it, and I'm dismantling it to see what kinds of things I can salvage, and this liquid just start POURING out!

I'm waiting for the third arm to grow in, because I could use the extra hand.


Pirate fans may wish to avert their eyes as I mutilate this treasure chest...

Control panel coming along:

The knife switches are now wired in, but need some nice handles to complete the look. The CRT there, only the tube will show, and everything is going to light up once it's done.

There's something thrilling about completing a jacob's ladder as well.

YouTube - Ladder

 

[UnOrthodOx]

This is the piece I was trying to salvage from the aforementioned radiation warning liquid filled doodad.

Green lens thingy, placed a tissue behind it, painted blue (because I'm out of green atm), and a string of christmas lights behind that. (the 300 string is overkill, but I got a 60 led string somewhere, just gotta dig through THAT stuff)

YouTube - Control Panel example

 

[UnOrthodOx]

Not yet. It's on the to-do list, but you need a full day to go wander their yard.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

I've never walked the yard outside....where do you get in at? Are the prices marked on things out there? I could use a 55 gallon drum or two for some props.

Right next to the tank. Typically, prices are not marked, and you have to check with the yard boss (it's been a few years, so that may have changed).

And, the (Sunday morning) Swap Meet at the Riverdale drive in has had 55 gallon drums on sale for $10 the last 2 weeks... If you're averse to heading out on Sunday, I'm heading over this week, and would happily pick one up for you, if the guy's there again. I even work out in Layton so could drop it off.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

Hey, one has to ask out in these parts.

They were the plastic, blue barrels.

The metal ones were more expensive, I think $25, and yes, they all looked brand new.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

*bump*

Well, some may remember that I had much trouble with the lab last year.

I was especially disappointed to lose the jacob's ladder. And, while it dried out and worked fine, I also came into possession of three more Neon Sign Transformers.

So, we started a new and improved jacob's ladder.

An ugly phone stand I found discarded by the neighbor serves as the base, the new one reaches 8 ft. Copper pipe to better draw attention. The entire thing can be collapsed for transport to prevent the issues of last year.

Needs a lot of finishing touches still. Hope to be dragging out the rest of the equipment from storage for overhauls this weekend as well.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

The tanks....

These were a last minute addition last year, when I stumbled on the TV stand and just had to use it.

Like most else....they didn't work according to plan during the show.

The tanks bubble thanks to a pump and airstone, but had WAY too much dye in the water, that under blacklight, they looked like 2 solid cylinders. Gotta use food coloring and light from beneath this year.

And, we're dressing the thing up as well.

An old post office box door, we'll backlight the window, much akin to how I did the control panel's window.

My brother repairs amps, and has been storing me some tubes for just such things. We'll backlight these as well.

The whole thing needs a paint job, I need some dials and guages for it, and I want to do something to the base...possibly taking apart the generator to place one of the circle pieces down there in the speaker hole. (I need to cut transportation/storage room, and the generator is my least favorite of the items, and the barrel can be repurposed as a cauldron easy enough.)

Oh, and what's with all that tubing you may ask? I'm formulating a plan to have this pumping the serum from the tanks "into" bob on the table...which is easy enough....but I need to figure a way to get air bubbles into the tube consistently so you can SEE it happening. There is a plan...hopefully it works.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

You can get small aerator from Pet smart that run on betteries. The tubing is tiny it may fit inside the other tubing you are planning on running the fliud through. Just a thought.

Well, we chose the size tubing specifically to fit the 'aquarium' tubing inside it to provide for the air bubbles. My initial tests suggest I don't need an aerator, that the force of the pump moving the water was enough to syphon air into the tubes...but, we had not enough time to shore everything up last year on that front, and the connection suffered a major leak (must not have been fully dry, like I said, LAST minute addition) and we had to halt. So, we'll see how it goes.

Seeing as aquariums are another hobby of mine, an air pump is no problem, in fact, this setup already has one 'under the hood'.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

The Tank assembly is very near completion.

YouTube- Tank assembly.wmv
Debating whether the center crack between the doors needs to be covered to prevent seeing the floodlight inside...

also debating whether it needs sound added.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

Alec shows off his evil laugh in this test of the control panel and Jacob's ladder.


YouTube - Lab equipment test