Do we need to babysit these?  YES  -- if they are on fire, I want a qualified babysitter.

At least warning signs!

We have 4 working - 2 for effigy 2 for radio station!

Ruben's Tube

(pre) Mixing the concepts of Music (or voice; Radio) with FIRE! I am constructing one 5' tube this month, and will create three more for the show. I am hoping for larger and more impressive flames than shown in the various youtube demos, with better compression of the gas for greater variability in flame height... testing and tuning once built and through March, and then final assemblies late March early May. Very simple devices!

(proto) The prototype build went well, and test runs are very promising. A (Silent) video is on YouTube. Thank you, you tube, for making the snapshot picture one of my ass... Michelle and Randy both came up with good ideas for generation-2 tubes. I have supplies mostly in place now, with a tenative group assembly date for April 7 (though I will do some pre-build work before then, I'm sure). It can run off of 12VDC or 120VAC power. I rock! We still need ideas and material for the suspension/stands for the set of 4 tubes.

(final testing) A couple weeks ago we did pressure tests on the other three tubes and they look just fine.  We have bamboo cut and drilled for stands, and a couple of stands are assembled.  I need to track down crimpy thingies to finalize the stands, and I will assemble the remaining stands.  We will probably need to stake the stands to stabilize them.

The fundraiser stress-tested one of the tubes, using it as the fire source for a rotisserie -- and it held up rather well.  I hope the moisture of the night didn't make the speaker soggy last night, though.  We're running these through the ringer!  And they are holding up well so far. 

This coming week, I'll document the setup for the tubes and electronics, for reference for babysitters who aren't me.

(pending) I really need to make a nice video with audio track for YouTube of these.  Also -- assemble stands, paint last tube.  That's it!

(postscript) The event was a blast!  The tubes worked very well, but will certainly be BETTER next year (and I'll have more unique ideas, too, I hope).  Heres a new video on YouTube and the place on Simreal.com where the How-To will end up.