Building the Mirror Blaze in Pictures VIII: More Friends Come to Help!

Photos, Things We've Built

Yesterday, we talked about some friends who came to help with Mirror Blaze. It turns out that many more people also wanted to come and help![1]

Hong shows what post 20 means.
Hong shows what post 20 means.
Some of the mirrors had been cut to different shapes, so we had to plan accordingly, putting them into less visible parts of the maze.
Some of the mirrors had been cut to different shapes, so we had to plan accordingly, putting them into less visible parts of the maze.
A selection of posts. We would learn to rue those hinges.
A selection of posts. We would learn to rue those hinges.

Those hinges made the maze possible (especially the assembly in the intense heat, uneven ground, and otherwise terrible conditions on playa), but they made the posts almost impossible to stack or pack (Sorry Mike and Marc!).

S and Alfredo share a quiet conversation.
S and Alfredo share a quiet conversation.

The following set of pictures are of our hardy team assembling the inner triangle which would eventually house the flame effect (inside the quartz tube). Note that the posts are 8′ tall, but the two-way mirrors are only attached to the top 6′ of the posts. This made assembly significantly trickier, as they had to be held up while being attached, but it was necessary so that we could attach a swing panel to the bottom so that we could access the flame effect shutoff valve in case of emergency. (Also, two-way mirrors are horrifically expensive, and the fact that they were 2′ shorter was a significant savings.)

Bryan, John, and Alfredo work on the triangular centerpiece. (Note that Bryan is inside.)
Bryan, John, and Alfredo work on the triangular centerpiece. (Note that Bryan is inside.)
Bryan climbing inside the two-way mirror triangle to align the mirrors and attach the top hinges.
Bryan climbing inside the two-way mirror triangle to align the mirrors and attach the top hinges.
Proud trianglers Alfredo, John, and Bryan.
Proud trianglers Alfredo, John, and Bryan.
I take a moment to re-re-re-flect.
I take a moment to re-re-re-flect.
My dad came to help! Mirror alignment is very important.
My dad came to help! Mirror alignment is very important.
My dad and Bryan adjust very carefully.
My dad and Bryan adjust very carefully.
Bryan, me, and my Dad, proud of our new panel!
Bryan, me, and my Dad, proud of our new panel!
Tarver came to help, too! (l-r:Tarver & Bryan)
Tarver came to help, too! (l-r:Tarver & Bryan)

Thank you to all who helped! (I think I managed to get pictures of just about everyone who came out!)

Next time, we’ll talk about our adventures in finding/making/etc. an appropriate stand for the 7’x1′ quartz tube. Your assignment is that you need to find or make or have made a stand that can hold 100+ pounds, is fireproof, and yet is gentle enough on the quartz so as not to cause abrasions or cracks.

Stay tuned!

[1]We have the *best* friends!

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