Steampunk Glass head

[Claude J]

I took an attempt at building my own glass head.

Let me start by saying "thank you" for all of the tutorials available here.

In lieu of a coaster to seal the lamp, I used a small pyrex bowl for added stability.
It took 2 stages of black silicone to build it up to where I wanted it for effect and sealing.

When tested, I used a spring but ended up using a stainless dish drain with the hopes it would "Cone the lava. It did not, but it still raises the lava. For some reason, more so on one side but that may be a heat transference issue with the grande bulb

The lava is Magma goo kit" with florescent blue lave color and neon blue McCormik food dye. I really like this color combination.
I am plan on adding a spiral florescent black-light or color changing led lamp inside the hat for added effect.

Here are some pic,

Please bear in mind the hat is waiting for more decorations to arrive to complete the punkiness.

[Claude J]

a few more pics showing the base.

It was a second hand store christmas cookie tin for $.40 cents

A can of hi-temp bar-b-que flat black paint changed it from a christmas theme to spooky black

The heat shield is a reused can of refried beans cut on the band-saw and measure to within 1/4" of bottom of pyrex bowl

I also ended up raising the bulb higher for better contact and heat transference

[Bohdan]

Great looking head and very interesting that you used a drain screen for the coil. Another great Idea was the use on the pyrex bowl as a base. From what I can see did you also make the pyrex bowl a darker color?. I also resized a few of your pics for a better view as a whole photo.

[Claude J]

Thanks!

Yes, I masked an @4" area for the bulb to direct the light and painted the inside of the Pyrex bowl hi temp black.

[Bohdan]

Great looking base with its top heat shield it looks like the pyrex bowl just makes its fit and the glare of the bulb is contained. Would like to see at a later time perhaps what the head looks like just plain on this interesting base.

[Claude J]

thanks

It was difficult to measure the threaded rod so the top of the lamp was only 1/4" from the underside of the Pyrex bowl, then measure the size needed for the heat shield. It was a hit and miss procedure since you cannot et access underside when assembled. silly putty was finally utilized.

Pyrex bowl just happens to fit perfectly inside the rim of the upside down Christmas cookie tin.

In hindsight, I would of kept the spring instead of the sink strainer, seems to take longer to heat and does not appear to distribute the heat they way I thought it would.

here is a picture of the basic unit undecorated

[Claude J]

The "Tuxedo" is a bandanna intended to dress up you dog for formal occasions