Before I'd worked out better ways of getting diffused light in my drain photography, I did some experimentation. What I wanted was a smooth, clean light that would be even across each part of the tunnel, but without throwing too far in front or behind.

Perhaps the most dubious of these experiments was this:

* One battery-powered drill
* A one-metre threaded steel rod
* nuts and washers to fit
* An array of nine keyring lights, zip-tied into a loop.

Put them together, and you get this:




It looks ridiculous, but did it work? Not well.



Apart from anything else, it obliterated the shadows and graduations that usually give tunnels their depth. That is a danger with fluoros as well, of course, but this gadget let me achieve the effect with far more effort and inconvenience!

I do actually have an even worse home-made lighting gadget in my history - let's see if I can find a photo...

It gets worse!

Behold the majesty of the predecessor to the drill-spun light. It consists of:

* A cardboard mailing tube
* A reflective cone
* Two cardboard discs

A light was inserted into the far end of the mailing tube, its beam theoretically hitting the cone at the other end, and reflecting through the holes. The discs prevent light spilling forward or back. So, the idea was that this would be rotated manually to keep things even.

Such a feeble glow you have never seen. This thing reduced powerful lights to a weak, patchy glow. Bad, very bad.



Can anyone compete with me in this arena of shame?

Aside from trying to get a pit bull to model a headlamp, I cannot. I'm just not as motivated as you are, I believe.

That's awesome.
The light on the end of the drill is absolutely the most ridiculous looking light that I have ever seen.

ECO MASSAGE TORCH http://www.theglow...MASSAGE-TORCH.html

A massager and torch combined into one, sounds crazy but this mini dynamo massager with LED light is a great eco product that is ideal for hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. This fantastic massage torch doesn't require new bulbs or even batteries just wind up the crank attached on the back and it will provide you with light and even vibration to relax your tense muscles.

Posted by rob666 ECO MASSAGE TORCH

Every Drainchick wants one!

I found another one! This one, actually constructed by my brother, was the precursor to the drill thing, and was far more practical, if not so bright.

* Small fan
* Two keyring LED lights

~meta i like the first two pics ha ha~

Posted by rob666 ECO MASSAGE TORCH http://www.theglow...MASSAGE-TORCH.html A massager and torch combined into one, sounds crazy but this mini dynamo massager with LED light is a great eco product that is ideal for hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. This fantastic massage torch doesn't require new bulbs or even batteries just wind up the crank attached on the back and it will provide you with light and even vibration to relax your tense muscles. http://www.theglow...assage-Torch-1.jpg

I can think of better uses for this....!

Posted by le_button_m I can think of better uses for this....!

Shiatsu exploration?

Thanks for posting those meta...those are great!

I wonder what affect you would get with an old hand held torch.

You are freaking insane. Please continue.

This stuff is pure genius!! Love your work

I've been looking for a cheap floody light when I remembered that I own one of these:



Puts out 80 watts and runs for hours on a single canister. It's also relatively small and light. Now it's not going to light up a huge room but sitting in a side drain or something....

Brainstorm or braincramp?

Posted by rob666 I've been looking for a cheap floody light when I remembered that I own one of these: http://media.rei.com/media/643063Prd.jpg Puts out 80 watts and runs for hours on a single canister. It's also relatively small and light. Now it's not going to light up a huge room but sitting in a side drain or something.... Brainstorm or braincramp?

All this talk of poison gases in drains, and then you bring them in with you? It's probably a good idea, but I remember gas lamps being fragile...

Posted by AnAppleSnail All this talk of poison gases in drains, and then you bring them in with you? It's probably a good idea, but I remember gas lamps being fragile...

I think it'd probably be okay. We've done white gas before (I mean granted it was dumb but we're still alive so hey) and I've seen loads of fireworks pictures. I think the danger might be overrated. YMMV. <disclaimer.h>

It would give off a small amount of carbon monoxide so you'd not want to use it in an area where there's no airflow. I guess if there was methane present this could ignite it but I'm guessing that if there's sufficient methane to ignite that breathing it in would kill you.

This one is pretty tough but the mantle could certainly break. The lantern itself travels in this:



It's relatively safe in there. You can also replace the glass if it were to break.

Posted by rob666 It would give off a small amount of carbon monoxide so you'd not want to use it in an area where there's no airflow. I guess if there was methane present this could ignite it but I'm guessing that if there's sufficient methane to ignite that breathing it in would kill you. This one is pretty tough but the mantle could certainly break. The lantern itself travels in this: http://www.moontra...p-lantern-case.jpg It's relatively safe in there. You can also replace the glass if it were to break.

Ah, that's what I get for bringing a cheapy Coleman on a middle-school boy scout trip ;)
I think you've got a good experiment on your hands!

Posted by metawaffle I found another one! This one, actually constructed by my brother, was the precursor to the drill thing, and was far more practical, if not so bright. * Small fan * Two keyring LED lights

I think I'm in love with this one.

Got any photos you took with it?