Building the Mirror Blaze in Pictures X: Preparing for the Integration Weekend

Last time, we talked about learning to weld, so that we could build a stand for the quartz tube for the first integration weekend[1].

First, we had to make sure we had all of the parts for our flame effect (and that we had built it!). Luckily, we had purchased all of the parts during our expedition to the excellent Helios makerspace in Montreal (post forthcoming):

The parts for one flame effect 'Flamey'. — The parts for one flame effect ‘Flamey’.

The list of the parts shown. Note that this was written at a most excellent parts store in Montreal where we were visiting the also most excellent Helios makerspace.

We called our flame effect ‘Flamey’ because we are creative like that:

Lights such these are ultra-useful for builds (assuming you have a generator...you do have a generator, don't you?) — Lights such these are ultra-useful for builds (assuming you have a generator…you do have a generator, don’t you?)

A few days before integration weekend, I recall running around to hardware stores looking for non-abrasive things with high melting temperatures. I found the fabric below (in the welding supply section of a Home Depot, IIRC), along with silicone placemats (not in the welding supply section):

This 'flame-protection' fabric (along with silicone place mats) saved the quartz tube from abrasion from my metal stand.saved the tube — This ‘flame-protection’ fabric (along with silicone place mats) saved the quartz tube from abrasion from my metal stand.saved the tube

Also, we had not been camping in many many years, so I went to get some inflatable pillows. They were okay, but I would bring ‘real’ pillows next time, unless space was a critical consideration:

Inflatable pillows! Okay in a pinch, but if space isn't critical, I would use a real one. — Inflatable pillows! Okay in a pinch, but if space isn’t critical, I would use a real one.

(Not shown. Tests of the flame effect. S might have pics of this, to be shown later.)

Then it was time to pack up and go! Trish drove the truck over to our place (Francis had been at least partially living in our garage for a while), and we started packing! We are still thankful for the many volunteers who tolerated our hinged posts:

Sara, Carrie, and Mike work to ratchet the posts into place. The posts were extremely effective, but a total bear to move around (thanks for helping us move them!).

There were some moments of pure joy juxtaposed with moments of pure contemplation:

S joyfully moves pipe while Trish ponders the Reuben's tube that is part of Francis the Fantastic. — S joyfully moves pipe while Trish ponders the Reuben’s tube that is part of Francis the Fantastic.

‘Truck-packing‘ is one of the lesser known NP-Complete problems:

Mike, Sara, Carrie, and Trish have a confab about packing the truck.

This tiny potato believes in us[2]:

This tiny potato helped us through many a difficult time. Its love is still with us.

Finally, we noticed that the ramp on the truck had a broken phalange, luckily (I think) Trish had found a long (like 10″) nail[3] which we were able to use to solve the problem most adequately:

What's that you say? A broken ramp you say? — What’s that you say? A broken ramp you say?

And then we were off! Stay tuned for next time, when we travel to the countryside and join forces with many other volunteers to build fiery mayhem!

[1]Organized by many people, all of whom we will try to thank photographically

[2]This is possibly the best thing you can say to someone who is participating in building a ridiculous and difficult thing.

[3]Also galvanized, but that is not important to this story.

Sometimes Egregious, Always Gregarious

Sometimes a letter can make a word of difference

Building the Mirror Blaze in Pictures X: Preparing for the Integration Weekend

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