Dragonshard Lightbulb (pics!) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragonshard Lightbulb (pics!) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ALRUFF
05-31-07, 09:58 AM Now I KNOW that other people have made projects almost exactly like this, but I don't care. I'm a huge steampunk fan, and as such, Eberron is right up my alley. I thought it would be cool to build an Eberron Dragonshard lightbulb, for those dark nights on gnomish airships.

So I did. BEHOLD!
The Lamp Pic 1 (http://www.studiosixguns.com/grim/lamp1.jpg)
The Lamp Pic 2: Return to Lampiness (http://www.studiosixguns.com/grim/lamp2.jpg)
The Lamp Pic 3: This Time, It's Dark (http://www.studiosixguns.com/grim/lamp3.jpg)

It's made from a hollowed-out Westinghouse lightbulb, a couple of LEDs and some brass tubing and copper wire. You can still see my "Cannith special" soldering iron ;) .
Edymnion
05-31-07, 12:41 PM So is the crystal actual quartz (in which case wow, that thing must be expensive), or did you pour up an acrylic "crystal"?
Luis_Dragunov
05-31-07, 12:48 PM Seems pretty cool! The light should be stronger, however. This way, it will look like the crystal itself beams light and, should you choose to place the lightsource within the crystal itself, it will conceal all the modern stuff :)
ALRUFF
05-31-07, 02:20 PM So is the crystal actual quartz (in which case wow, that thing must be expensive), or did you pour up an acrylic "crystal"?

The crystal is, indeed, an actual quartz. I actually don't have any good rock shops around, and was forced to go to a magic shop. I know I got ripped off, but it was the only place I could bring my pipe and do test fittings.

So yes, it was very expensive.
ALRUFF
05-31-07, 02:24 PM Seems pretty cool! The light should be stronger, however. This way, it will look like the crystal itself beams light and, should you choose to place the lightsource within the crystal itself, it will conceal all the modern stuff :)

I can definitely see how that would have been cool, but I wanted the details of the crystal to be visible when lit. If the crystal glowed like a filament, you wouldn't be able to really appreciate the wonderful, natural qualities of the rock. It's not intended to be any stronger than a candle, and it's more display than functionality.

Secondly, my hand is nowhere near steady enough to drill into quartz! Better to just conceal the lights the way I did :)
Burningspear
05-31-07, 03:21 PM looks nice and "oldfashioned" in the good sence.. very nice
Luis_Dragunov
05-31-07, 03:22 PM Still, awesome job.

But there's this cheap, quasi-crystaline opaque rock which is often either yellowish or pink in which people tend to mount lights within and it glows really well in a dim, candle-esque light. Why not try with that?

Also, are you thinking of aging the metal outside to make it look a bit worn and, thus, more real? Or maybe place some kind of ornament? It is magical, after all! =D
ALRUFF
05-31-07, 03:29 PM Still, awesome job.

But there's this cheap, quasi-crystaline opaque rock which is often either yellowish or pink in which people tend to mount lights within and it glows really well in a dim, candle-esque light. Why not try with that?

Also, are you thinking of aging the metal outside to make it look a bit worn and, thus, more real? Or maybe place some kind of ornament? It is magical, after all! =D

Ah, the possibilities are endless! I would LOVE to get a little more complex, especially with my brass tubing. It's just too plain right now, and I'm going to have to see if there is some way to spruce it up. As far as aging the hammered brass base, it actually isn't real brass. That's paint on a porcelain light mount. I might be able to pull something off with an airbrush, but I don't own one!

Tell me more of this crystal, though. I'm not sure I know of it.
Luis_Dragunov
05-31-07, 03:40 PM It's not so much a crystal as it is a common, cheap rock that is shiny and bountiful. Usually, the bulb is more expensive than the rock itself. I don't know the name. Just ask around your local construction supplier.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ALRUFF 05-31-07, 09:58 AM	Now I KNOW that other people have made projects almost exactly like this, but I don't care. I'm a huge steampunk fan, and as such, Eberron is right up my alley. I thought it would be cool to build an Eberron Dragonshard lightbulb, for those dark nights on gnomish airships. So I did. BEHOLD! The Lamp Pic 1 (http://www.studiosixguns.com/grim/lamp1.jpg) The Lamp Pic 2: Return to Lampiness (http://www.studiosixguns.com/grim/lamp2.jpg) The Lamp Pic 3: This Time, It's Dark (http://www.studiosixguns.com/grim/lamp3.jpg) It's made from a hollowed-out Westinghouse lightbulb, a couple of LEDs and some brass tubing and copper wire. You can still see my "Cannith special" soldering iron ;) .
Edymnion 05-31-07, 12:41 PM	So is the crystal actual quartz (in which case wow, that thing must be expensive), or did you pour up an acrylic "crystal"?
Luis_Dragunov 05-31-07, 12:48 PM	Seems pretty cool! The light should be stronger, however. This way, it will look like the crystal itself beams light and, should you choose to place the lightsource within the crystal itself, it will conceal all the modern stuff :)
ALRUFF 05-31-07, 02:20 PM	So is the crystal actual quartz (in which case wow, that thing must be expensive), or did you pour up an acrylic "crystal"? The crystal is, indeed, an actual quartz. I actually don't have any good rock shops around, and was forced to go to a magic shop. I know I got ripped off, but it was the only place I could bring my pipe and do test fittings. So yes, it was very expensive.
ALRUFF 05-31-07, 02:24 PM	Seems pretty cool! The light should be stronger, however. This way, it will look like the crystal itself beams light and, should you choose to place the lightsource within the crystal itself, it will conceal all the modern stuff :) I can definitely see how that would have been cool, but I wanted the details of the crystal to be visible when lit. If the crystal glowed like a filament, you wouldn't be able to really appreciate the wonderful, natural qualities of the rock. It's not intended to be any stronger than a candle, and it's more display than functionality. Secondly, my hand is nowhere near steady enough to drill into quartz! Better to just conceal the lights the way I did :)
Burningspear 05-31-07, 03:21 PM	looks nice and "oldfashioned" in the good sence.. very nice
Luis_Dragunov 05-31-07, 03:22 PM	Still, awesome job. But there's this cheap, quasi-crystaline opaque rock which is often either yellowish or pink in which people tend to mount lights within and it glows really well in a dim, candle-esque light. Why not try with that? Also, are you thinking of aging the metal outside to make it look a bit worn and, thus, more real? Or maybe place some kind of ornament? It is magical, after all! =D
ALRUFF 05-31-07, 03:29 PM	Still, awesome job. But there's this cheap, quasi-crystaline opaque rock which is often either yellowish or pink in which people tend to mount lights within and it glows really well in a dim, candle-esque light. Why not try with that? Also, are you thinking of aging the metal outside to make it look a bit worn and, thus, more real? Or maybe place some kind of ornament? It is magical, after all! =D Ah, the possibilities are endless! I would LOVE to get a little more complex, especially with my brass tubing. It's just too plain right now, and I'm going to have to see if there is some way to spruce it up. As far as aging the hammered brass base, it actually isn't real brass. That's paint on a porcelain light mount. I might be able to pull something off with an airbrush, but I don't own one! Tell me more of this crystal, though. I'm not sure I know of it.
Luis_Dragunov 05-31-07, 03:40 PM	It's not so much a crystal as it is a common, cheap rock that is shiny and bountiful. Usually, the bulb is more expensive than the rock itself. I don't know the name. Just ask around your local construction supplier.