A child cannot resist the mystery of the kaleidoscope.
When you were a child, the mystery and fascination of the changing colors in the kaleidoscope captured your imagination for hours. Imagine making a wooden kaleidoscope to pass on to the youngsters in your life today. It would even be fun to include the children in the building process after you have the wood cut to size.
This is a project that can be made with minimal material expense, but you will need a table saw with an adjustable blade angle.
Instructions
1. Cut a piece of wood long enough to get three equal lengths to make the kaleidoscope. Add one inch to allow for the thickness of the cuts.
2. Tilt the table saw blade 30 degrees away from the fence. Set the fence distance so that the top edge of the board just touches the blade. Make a 30-degree cut the length of the board. Turn the board around so the same surface is against the bed of the table saw. Cut a 30-degree angle along the length of the second side.
3. Cut three equal lengths from the board. Temporarily put them together to form a triangular tube using rubber bands.
4. Measure one side of the tube. Use that measurement to make a flat equilateral triangle for the eye piece. Use the fine-toothed handsaw to cut the 60-degree angles needed for the triangle.Test the fit to be sure that it covers the end so you have a surface for the wood adhesive. Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the center and set it aside.
5. Take the rubber bands off the tube and measure the inside width of one of the sides. Cut three strips of reflective contact paper to size and adhere them to the inside of each board. Remove the protective covering from the reflective side of the contact paper.
6. Put wood adhesive on the angles and join the pieces to form a triangle. Wrap the tube tightly with blue masking tape to secure it while the glue dries. Glue the eye piece on one end, and allow everything to dry overnight.
7. Pour sequins and small beads onto a frosted plastic lid that is slightly larger than the end of the tube. Use only enough to form a single layer loosely covering about 3/4 of the surface.
8. Cut a circle from a clear-plastic lid the size of the inner diameter of the frosted lid. Place it in over the beads lightly so they can move under the lid. Apply rubber cement around the inner edge of the frosted lid to adhere the clear plastic in place. Allow to dry.
9. Put rubber cement on the open end of the triangular tube. Press the lid container onto the glued area with the clear side against the tube. Allow to dry completely.
10. Rotate the tube as you look through it and watch the movement of the beads and sequins forming images on the reflective inner surface.
