Crowdfunding for vacuum tubes/nixie/neon/scientific glassblowing workshop

[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

Hello All,

Thanks for adding me to this group.

I would like to ask for sharing and perhaps chipping in to my crowdfunding project for opening glassblowing workshop.

It not planned being commercial as such. It is rather a very unique and sadly expensive hobby of mine.

There is also an urge to reintroduce some of the most unique and crafty items that has been once very popular.

I would like to manufacture affordable scientific devices such as cathode tubes of many kind, nixies, help with vacuum tubes repairs (yes it is sometimes possible).

I've got many ideas for animated nixies similar to aerolux neon glowing bulbs.

Unfortunately to get it done properly I need help.

Much of the equipment has already been purchased or refurbished (I am using only up-cycled machines and tools).

The most difficult gig would be obtaining and transporting the glass lathe, purchasing induction tool, spot welder and some other auxiliary equipment.

I'd like to create a place where everyone could come or ask for help, even remotely. This would be our common place where we could experiment with vacuum tubes, nixies and everything that relates to glass, vacuum and electricity in general. Let's face it - it is quite an obstacle to have all the stuff you need to make vacuum tube. Imagine if you could outsource it. I know it is almost impossible, hence this project.

Please help with spreading the word about this project as I really think it would be a great one. http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/creative-vacuum-tubes-glassblowing-workshop 

Feel free to ask questions. All shall be answered.

Should you find this message inappropriate please remove or let me know.

[Nick]

Hi Lukas,

I like the idea, but I've tried hot glass work, and it's really tricky to do well - you don't say on the funding page what your experience or skills are like (other than you work in the NHS) - do you have any examples of your work?

As you probably know, at least one other member is doing exactly this type of work, Dalibor Farny - http://www.daliborfarny.com/ - and its taken him years of hard graft to get to the stage he's at.

More people doing this is great - just that if we're investing in you, I for one would like to know a bit more :)

Cheers

Nick

[Dan Hollis]

Have you seen the work of dalibor farny?

http://www.daliborfarny.com/

-Dan

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[Quixotic Nixotic]

I just bought a little argon light bulb on ebay, out of curiosity.

Made by Condor, it's 110 volts, 25 watt. Can I safely fire this up on 230 volts with a dropper resistor?

John S

[John Rehwinkel]

I just bought a little argon light bulb on ebay, out of curiosity.

Ah, not an argon discharge bulb, but an argon gas fill incandescent.

Made by Condor, it's 110 volts, 25 watt. Can I safely fire this up on 230 volts with a dropper resistor?

Yes, it's actually easier on the bulb than hooking it directly to 110, as the resistor gives it a softer start.

- John R

[JohnK]

Well, the filament is low ohms when cold. Therefore initially more voltage will be dropped across the resistor and the current will be higher than the eventual state.

The aspect which clobbers a filament is said to be the reaction to the magnetic field of the inrush current. A sudden judder of the filament.

 

A resistor seems to be a better idea than two equal bulbs.

 

A soft-start circuit would be even better. [The soft start I made years ago for a 110V projector on 240V mains misfired the triac (noise?) and really upset the globe  :-(      Was done for  an art student  using several slide projectors fading between different primary colour pcb-inspired paintings in time to, and controlled by, music.  ]

 

John K

 

 

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[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

Hello Nick,

Thank you so much for all insights. That's exactly what I need, reviews and sharing different POVs. 

This is my first campaign that kinda is moving on. I realise that it would not be successful at this time, but I gather necessary experience and will try again (I give myself three go's). Ultimately should this fail, I will fund all this myself because that is my long term plan.

I once run a glass workshop, when I was a student and then an employee at University of Technology abroad. I was repairing glass and manufacturing cathode tubes mainly for the physics demonstrations. 

I know works of Mr Farny, but in my case it is much more advanced as nixies and now neon signs are just a bait to attract people. The workshop would eventually be capable to produce vacuum tubes from scratch that involves many additional processes than just bending filaments and pumping Ne to nixies, as you know. I repaired many vacuum tubes with ca. 65% success in the process and that was without many strategic tools.

So I consider myself quite handy with glass and stuff :)

Please understand that this funding is just to get some push, as things started happening quite a time ago and involved much of tedious restorations for additional purposes, such as refurbishing planetary ball mill for manufacturing emission pastes and luminophores. That took almost a year and a shedload of cash.

Anyway - I will try to put some more pics of the tubes I've done years ago once I get them shipped. I moved couple of months ago and still have to get the rest of my stuff. If I won't be able to find any old pics then they would definitely go on the second campaign.

Again many thanks for your interest and insights.

Yours,

Lukas

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[Dalibor]

Hi Lukas,

In any case, I don't want to discourage you from building a vacuum tube workshop, I just want to contribute with some insider information.

I am little bit afraid that you promise to your backers something that is not possible to fulfil. My first concern is the price of 20 pounds per 80-100mm tube - this will barely cover costs of the material for such a tube. And the costs for material are practically negligible compared to costs of other stuff - tooling, machines, horribly expensive vacuum equipment (gauges, valves, controllers, pumps..), rent of room etc..  And even if you have unlimited budget, how are you going to arrange all this to be able to start shipping in October 2016?

There are many more risks and challanges that just this, but time is the most critical matter..

Good luck!

Dalibor Farny

Dne pátek 8. dubna 2016 19:25:30 UTC+2 Lukas Niebieszczanski napsal(a):

[jb-electronics]

Hey Lukas,

You mention "many additional processes than just bending filaments and pumping Ne to nixies". Just doing that took Dalibor Farny (the only man to ever do this in a professional manner in history, I might add) more than three years. So do not underestimate that -- I am not saying you cannot do it, but just don't underestimate that.

The other thing: I naively tried to accomplish something similar a couple of years ago. You can still see remnants on my website, http://jb-electronics.de/html/elektronik/nixies/eigenbau/index.htm?lang=en . I eventually had to give the project up altogether, because I completely underestimated the financial aspect of all of it, let alone the practical experience that you will have to gain as well.

What I read from you is very ambitious, and you are certainly excited about the project -- that is all very good, and don't lose that spirit! But please also be aware of what you are trying to accomplish. Don't aim too high, and you might end up disappointed. At this point, there is no reason why I should believe that you can accomplish these things, which is why I would not put down funding right now. This might change for me (and perhaps other people) when you start having furst success and so on.

So I wish you good luck, all the best, and keep us posted!

Cheers
Jens

PS: Also check out Ron Soyland's website, it is an amazing collection of useful facts: http://tubecrafter.com/

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[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

Hi Jens,

Thanks for your message.

Please believe me that I am aware of all of that. I also know what responsibility and risk that project brings upon me. If I spend the funds on that lathe and something goes wrong I must then return the funds, I've made certain arrangements for that.

I used to manufacture vacuum tubes and other glass vacuum devices for a significant amount of time, so there will be no problem with that.

I will repeat again that this funding is to get the last 85% of all works and machines done. Nearly three times I spend since 2011 when I started to work on all this.

And finally I never underestimate anyone's accomplishments. Mr Farny's is a great guy and I wish him all the best. My workshop is intended to manufacture nixies also, but not as a main product, therefore we are not even a competition. 

Jens you shouldn't give up your project. Try to finish it, I wish you'd succeed.

All the best,

Lukas

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[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

Dear Dalibor,

Thanks for your insights.

I managed to gather ca. 4T of simax glass tubes, some other glass materials, wires, tools etc.

This project is not funded from ground zero. I am assuming the project is at 85%. I was hoping to get funds for the remainder.

I will you all the best.

Lukas

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[jb-electronics]

Hey Lukas,

So why not share some of your accomplishments? Do you have some pictures? I for one would be interested.

Jens

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[Dalibor]

Hi Lukas,

good luck, I will place an order for 4 big tubes to support the project,

regards!

Dalibor

Dne pátek 8. dubna 2016 21:46:23 UTC+2 Lukas Niebieszczanski napsal(a):

[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

Thanks mate I really appreciate it, albeit I think this time it will just be a taster.

I need to gather opinions of how people would see it, what would be the expectations and demands.

And finally I need to present some prototypes as this is obviously crucial.

I assume all this would go in two months from now on another go with this project maybe on Kickstarter.

Thanks again for all insights and please feel free to send more.

Yours,

Lukas

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[Charles MacDonald]

On 16-04-08 04:05 AM, Nick wrote:
> Hi Lukas,
>
> I like the idea, but I've tried hot glass work, and it's really tricky
> to do well

> As you probably know, at least one other member is doing exactly this
> type of work, Dalibor Farny - http://www.daliborfarny.com/ - and its
> taken him years of hard graft to get to the stage he's at.

Apparently Mr. Farney is one of the folks pledging on this one.

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cm...@zeusprune.ca Just Beyond the Fringe
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[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

I would but I need to move the rest of my stuff. I'll put some pics of my works on the next campaign. Last time I was granted an opportunity of using a torch was 8 months ago and I made my McLeod vacuum gauge. Please see attached filed.

Cheers
Lukas

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[jb-electronics]

That looks pretty good! What kind of glass is this? Pyrex?

Cheers Jens

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[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

Yes it is.
Gauge is 300mm
Cheers

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[Jonathan Peakall]

Lukas,

Great project and I wish you luck!

However, without demonstration of your skills and previous work, it is a total non-starter for me. I don't know how you can expect folks to dig in their pockets without some way of showing it isn't just a fantasy in your head. I don't mean to offend you, but there are a lot of dishonest and delusional folks out there on the internet. My feeling is that you are on the level, but how to know for sure?

Let us know when you get some kind of display of your work. I for one would love to give this project a second look.

Jonathan

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[Lukas Niebieszczanski]

Hi,

Thanks for your message.

I concur that it does not look promising at this moment. I got my old works elsewhere and I am going to make some photos at the next campaign. This is just a warm up as it is my absolutely first project and it is already huge.

It is impossible without some more investment to show prototypes as this is not a project for a porridge mix or some wooden motorized gizmo for kids.

Anyway - as I said - the second campaign would happen in two months or so. I am planning to move the rest of my stuff till then.

Right now I am spreading the word over social platform, gathering followers etc. so I can have a better start.

Thanks again and keep in touch. I will definitely let you all guys know about a second go.

Cheers

Lukas

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