Re: DIY Plasma globes available

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Neonglo-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 12/6/02 6:49:34 PM Central Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:

>Original poster: "Crow Leader by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><tesla-at-lists.symmetric-dot-net>
>
>You might find a patient neon sign shop to weld a new fill tube on them.
>They all have vacuum pumps and can evaucuate the globe and fill it with gas.
>As for whether or not they can measure out the gasses you need at the right
>pressures, I cannot say.


The plasma globes are most likely to be made from Pyrex glass, namely a 
boiling flask blank. Neon shops work with soft glass, like lead glass (or 
soda glass in the UK). Pyrex requires much more heat than neon fires will 
deliver, and the lead glass used by US neon shops will not seal on to 
Pyrex. Also, most shops are limited to neon and an argon/neon mix on hand. 
Xenon and other gasses are commonly used in plasma globes. Plasma globes 
are usually filled to a higher pressure than neon tubes, so most neon 
shops' fill gauges may not go high enough.

Best Regards,

Tony Greer
Special Effects Neon
Lubbock, Texas
"Flowing Glass and Glowing Gas"
        ~~~SINCE 1980~~~

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