Rubens Tube Yule Log
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http://www.instructables.com/id/Rubens-Tube-Yule-Log/ Home Sign Up! Browse Community Submit All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Photo Ride Science Tech Rubens Tube Yule Log by bofthem on December 12, 2007 Table of Contents License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Intro: Rubens Tube Yule Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 step 1: Gather Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 step 2: Understanding the Rubens Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 step 3: Mark & Drill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 step 4: Add brackets and clamp your log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 step 5: PVC endcap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 step 6: Epoxy end to end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 step 7: Speaker goes adjacent {With Important Safety Note} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 step 8: Void some warranties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 step 9: Now, add tubing to log, and ignite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Transcript of Rubens Tube Yule Log
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Home Sign Up! Browse Community Submit All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Photo Ride Science TechRubens Tube Yule Logby bofthem on December 12, 2007Table of Contents
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Intro: Rubens Tube Yule Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
step 1: Gather Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
step 2: Understanding the Rubens Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
step 3: Mark & Drill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
step 4: Add brackets and clamp your log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
step 5: PVC endcap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
step 6: Epoxy end to end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
step 7: Speaker goes adjacent {With Important Safety Note} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
step 8: Void some warranties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
step 9: Now, add tubing to log, and ignite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
http://www.instructables.com/id/Rubens-Tube-Yule-Log/
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)
Intro: Rubens Tube Yule LogMaybe you've seen a Rubens tube, before? Well I'm sure you haven't seen one this festive. All it takes is some wood, some hardware you can pick up in anyneighborhood, and a few common tools.
I'd like to extend a special thank you to Oscar for all of his help and photography on this project.
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step 1: Gather MaterialsYou're going to need:
An aluminum tube around 2" in diameter (pvc will work, but you'll have to cover the top in foil tape, and check to make sure it doesn't overheat while on)2 clamps for 2 1/4" chain link fence (these hold the fence to the upright poles)A log of some descriptionScrews2-3" PVC end capMasking tapeA ruler or measuring tape2 part epoxy puttyA sheet of latex, rubber, or plastic that can withstand some high temps (test it in the oven on its lowest setting, if you notice strange things or bad smells after tenminutes, you need another material)Zip ties"L" bracketsA butane tankA butane tank regulator>3 ft of 3/8" polyurethane tubing3/8" barb adapterA stick lighterA small speakerDuct tapeA drill1/16" Drill BitA step drillA punch
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Image Notes1. This is called a hand punch or a center punch. It's an incredibly useful tool ifyou use a drill more than once a month.2. Chain link fence clamps.3. Barb adapter. Barb for flexible tubing on one end, flare threads on the other.
Image Notes1. This punch puts a little dent in material. This is incredibly useful for drillingholes accurately in hard materials like metal.
Image Notes1. 2 part epoxy putty. Pick it up at Home Depot.
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step 2: Understanding the Rubens TubeThe Rubens Tube is a time honored physics demonstration, seen across this great land since at least last Tuesday. In essence it demonstrates how sound wavesbouncing around in a tube create high and low pressure zones which affect the flow of gas through it.
For some really well researched and detailed descriptions you can visit:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubens_tubehttp://www.instructables.com/id/Wiimote-Rubens-Tube%3a-Control-Fire-With-Sound!-And/?ALLSTEPShttp://www.instructables.com/id/The-Rubens_-Tube%3a-Soundwaves-in-Fire!/?ALLSTEPS
But for now, we're going to focus on constructing this festive widget.
step 3: Mark & DrillYou'll need to get 1/16" holes in the top of your tube spaced 1/2" apart. I left about three inches of room between the holes and the end of the tube so that thecomponents on either end wouldn't heat up.
Tape your tube down to a flat surface, and put a strip of masking tape across the top. Mark spots for holes along the tape 1/2" apart. Take your punch, and put a littledivot in the center of each mark. Carefully drill each hole, placing the 1/16" drill bit square into the divot.
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step 4: Add brackets and clamp your logTake your Yule Log in hand and admire it. Imagine it with fire shooting out every which way. You'll want to put the Rubens tube on in a way which will be both convenientand pleasing. Just slip the chain link fence clamps over the tube and use wood screws to attach the assembly to the log.
Also, put an "L" bracket on the side of the log to accommodate the speaker.
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Image Notes1. Wood screws with washers. The heads of the screws slipped through the holesin my clamps.
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step 5: PVC endcapYou need a hole in your PVC end cap to facilitate your barb adapter. I clamped the endcap, marked the center, and hit it with the punch. After taking out most of thematerial in the hole with a regular twist drill (be careful, PVC has a nasty habit of grabbing hold of drills and being mean to them) I enlarged the hole to nearly the size ofmy fitting with a step drill. Your fitting may vary, so check your measurements, but mine was 9/16" across. After your hole is the right size, you can simply screw yourfitting into the hole with a wrench.
step 6: Epoxy end to endMoosh a gumball sized blob of epoxy putty over and over until the color smooths out. After everything's homogenized, roll it into a snake, and lay it in the inner corner ofyour PVC endcap. If you've played your cards right, it should fit all the way around, and pressing it onto the end of the tube will create a nice, even seal. If you didn't playyour cards right, like me, you'll have to seal things again with a bead of silicone caulk around the lip of the endcap.
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step 7: Speaker goes adjacent {With Important Safety Note}I initially made the mistake of taping the speaker directly on to the other end of the pipe. Do Not Do!
I replaced this fairly poor concept with a latex membrane I found (rubber, plastic, or another flexy material will probably do well.) I just popped on the end right before thespeaker with some zip ties. The speaker is just duct taped to the "L" bracket.
Image Notes1. DO NOT WANT!
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step 8: Void some warrantiesClamp down your gas regulator and drill out its outlet aperture with a drill bit. It doesn't have to be all kinds of huge, just wide enough to allow for a lot of gas flow. About1/16" should do. Attach this to the gas bottle, and in turn to your tubing.
step 9: Now, add tubing to log, and ignite.YOU ARE NOW PLAYING WITH FIRE. I DON'T RECOMMEND ANYONE ACTUALLY TRYING THIS FOR THE SAKE THAT YOU COULD 'SPLODE AT ANY TIME.IF YOU DO CONSTRUCT ONE OF THESE DEVICES, BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WHERE YOU SET IT UP, HOW YOU USE IT, AND BE EXTREMELY MINDFULOF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. LIGHT IT WITH A STICK LIGHTER. HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HANDY.
It's time to plug in the speakers, pop the gas line into the tube, turn on the gas, and let 'er rip. I found that it worked best at high volume, with songs that had a few, stronginstruments, as opposed to more mixed orchestral music. I also found that the best results came from having just a small stream of gas moving through the tube. Feelfree to play around and tweak. Using a tone generator, like the one found in Audacity can be really fun.
Happy Making.
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Wiimote RubensTube: ControlFire WithSound! (And aNintendoWiimote!) byScaryBunnyMan
Worldwide YuleLog: HandmadeMobile App bydrillteamer
fischertechnikYule Penguinsby ftking_83702
How to EntertheAmazon.com ®andInstructablesScience Fair!Over $3,000 inPrizes! byContest Robot
Bûche de Noël(Yule Log) bypen_bow_arrow
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AdvertisementsComments29 comments Add Comment
Kiteman says: Sep 12, 2010. 12:23 PM REPLYApparently, the videos have been deleted...?
kelsey-0190 says: Jan 19, 2009. 11:42 AM REPLYcan anyone help me on the ruben's tube thingy in doing this for science fair !!!!! plase anyone just write back if they can help
DannyboyINXS says: Jun 11, 2008. 3:58 AM REPLYLOL! the wave bar in winamp FOR PIROMANIACS!
Steve1776 says: Dec 31, 2007. 8:34 PM REPLYVery nice. Why not go down to the hardware store and get some metal gas pipe that is used to bring the gas into the house? It would be harder to drill(probably need a drill press) but it would not melt. It would be smaller, maybe drilling larger holes would correct for the size. Use copper tubing from the tankto the tube. Use ceramic logs. That should be safe.
bofthem says: Jan 1, 2008. 10:03 PM REPLYI did use metal pipe for the tube. The small gas line pipe you can pick up from the hardware store is expensive, and too small to really resonate for themain tube. I also wouldn't use it for getting the gas from the bottle into the Rubens tube, as it's difficult to work with and cant' be adjusted easily. Forsafety, it'd just be easiest to get a flexible gas line meant for an outdoor grill, and get fittings to adapt it for a small gas bottle. I found ceramic logs atHome Depot at $120 a set. I just wasn't willing to pay that price for the added safety. If I had infinite time to play with this project, I probably would havesculpted a log out of clay, and let it harden. It could be custom shaped to the tube and be flame resistant. I'm not saying your suggestions aren't welltaken, and they are great. I just was willing to sacrifice safety for ease of construction and price.
Astinsan says: Dec 21, 2007. 8:12 AM REPLYNeat idea but I wanted to add some safety information for the people that may not think about it. I think that the tubing and propane tank may not be a goodidea. Vinyl tubing can be a static magnet. I also don't think you should use this setup in a house. A leak of propane will hug the ground. You could beunintentionally filling the house with propane and not know till its to late. Natural gas is lighter which is why you smell leaks of it when they happen (they addthe smell though). Using a cheap 30oz propane tank is also a bad idea. Newer LP tanks have fall over shut off valves. This will prevent liquid propane fromflowing out. Liquid propane on vinyl tubing will most likely cause a leak. Liquid propane can and most likely will burn your skin. How to fix the issues.. I wasthinking that using compressed air to blow on another ignited item. Should work for gas fireplaces and wood. Have a good Christmas. Astinsan
WingDings says: Dec 21, 2007. 4:02 AM REPLYYay! Good call on the Conchords tune!
tradergordo says: Dec 18, 2007. 6:43 AM REPLYYou should not surround this with combustibles (like real wood logs!!) or you are just asking for trouble.
bofthem says: Dec 18, 2007. 9:40 AM REPLYYeah, it'd be completely unsafe... if it weren't in a fireplace.
tradergordo says: Dec 18, 2007. 10:24 AM REPLYIts not all that safe even in a fireplace because of the nearby gas, not to mention all the parts that aren't intended to burn but could if yourcombustibles ignited. And then you have the people with natural gas or even electric fireplaces that might try this in there, in which case burning a logcould burn their house down.
bofthem says: Dec 18, 2007. 2:35 PM REPLYI agree that there are dangerous elements presented here. I have recommended that people not replicate this project. I have also advised firesafety, caution and extinguishers. There is a chance this device, like any combustible-fueled contraption, could cause some kind of cataclysm. Ithoroughly tested the propane setup, and found that it was not capable of producing a flame that reached outside of a 1' radius. Given this, I feltthat this setup, even if it experienced some kind of full spread, would not have the kind of combustive force to exceed the footprint of my fireplace,and any average home fireplace. Additionally, this scenario only seems feasible if I lost my mind and left this burning unattended at some point. Iunderstand where you are coming from with the gas fireplace and electric fireplace concept, but have not specifically recommended them. Theyare not safe places for an open flame from any source other than their own mechanisms. I cannot picture someone mistaking this project, thinkingit's meant for a gas or electric fireplace. It's meant to be put in a safe place for an open flame.
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richelton says: Dec 20, 2007. 11:28 PM REPLYI have recommended that people not replicate this project.'You do know that discouraging admonishment is the fastest way to get DIY people to do something, right?
trebuchet03 says: Dec 21, 2007. 12:04 AM REPLYIt also reserves the "I told you so" rights of the discouraging party :)
el kabong says: Dec 17, 2007. 11:25 PM REPLYThis is a great idea. I'd really like to make this as a gift. Two questions, though: What do you use for a speaker? I have zero electronics ability/experience- isthere a real simple solution for a mono speaker powerful enough to move some air through this tube? Also, does the music sound good through the littlespeaker and tube? I was thinking that if I figure out a speaker option I could use a headphone-splitter to send the sound out to the nice sounding stereo fromthe mp3 player or laptop or whatever...
brad says: Dec 20, 2007. 10:13 PM REPLYA good cheap source of an amplified speaker is a cheap set of computer speakers (that you plug into the wall, not "unpowered"). You can find them for$15-20 at your local computer/electronics stores. With them unplugged, carefully pull them apart (you'll need screwdrivers). You'll find a circuit boardand, most likely, two wires running from that board to the center of the speaker. Take the whole setup and remove it and bingo! Cheap, bare, amplifiedspeaker.
bofthem says: Dec 18, 2007. 12:21 AM REPLYI went with an amplified speaker (one you have to plug into a wall outlet.) It worked great, and the sound was fine, given there was another tweeter and awoofer in the set. Nearly any speaker will do if you can give it enough volume, but this requires external power, so you could put it through an externalamp.
suggsugg says: Dec 20, 2007. 3:47 PM REPLYsweet music, flight of the conchords rocks. "Brown paper white paper stick 'em together with the tape, the tape of love". I can't wait until the new season
dannydutton says: Dec 18, 2007. 2:58 PM REPLYToo bad we have a gas fire place tha always has a pilot light on.
bofthem says: Dec 18, 2007. 3:17 PM REPLYYeah, I'd set this up somewhere safer. The driveway is always an option, if it doesn't have standing oil or anything on it. It's a bit less effective outsidebecause of draft. You could also consider a fire pit or chimnea.
Kiteman says: Dec 18, 2007. 10:48 AM REPLYNice - I've added it to the Christmas Competition group.
bofthem says: Dec 18, 2007. 11:35 AM REPLYThanks. I don't think I'll be seeing a victory from this one, mostly due to the fact that I'm an Instructables employee. I don't see what a little cronyismcould hurt.
Kiteman says: Dec 18, 2007. 11:54 AM REPLYAh, I forgot that rule. Still, it would have been worth entering if you just an ordinary punter.
Pyrowuzzup says: Dec 17, 2007. 10:22 PM REPLYthis is a great idea. correct me if im wrong but wouldnt a one way valve help avoid the occasional explosion? or is that fairly unlikely?
bofthem says: Dec 17, 2007. 11:10 PM REPLYIt'd be prudent. The only chance of 'splosion would come in if air somehow invaded the tube. The flames rising from the tube pretty much eat all theavailable oxygen, and prevent any kind of combustion within the tube, and especially the gas line. Something would have to happen to cause air to backinto the line and ignite. The chances are really far out, but it's worth considering.
joejoerowley says: Dec 17, 2007. 4:25 PM REPLYGreat instructable! Love it! I had the same idea but was to lazy to give it a try. I was thinking it would be awesome for an outdoor fire pit.
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Doctor What says: Dec 17, 2007. 6:42 PM REPLYOOOOHHHH! Good idea. You would need a round tube though.
bofthem says: Dec 17, 2007. 6:50 PM REPLYthe wave effect probably wouldn't be as pronounced, though. The straight tube provides an ideal environment for sound waves to stack up on oneanother, there'd probably be a good bit of interference in something with some curve to it. It's worth a shot.
GorillazMiko says: Dec 17, 2007. 5:08 PM REPLYvery nice! my fireplace looks like yours, except for the electric wires and stuff. cool pictures!
nanor11395 says: Dec 17, 2007. 4:17 PM REPLYgood job
