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Concrete lightbulb
I don’t know art, but I know what I like. Recently, I found myself taking a shine to lightbulbs. I don’t remember exactly what started the whole lightbulb thing, but when it was all over, I was in posession of several handsome examples of different screw-base lightbulbs, a huge light bulb oil painting, and a dozen or so concrete lightbulb castings.
The concrete bulbs are particularly popular among visiters to my cubicle at the office. When people pick one of these things up off my desk, they invariably finger it for a second while doing a few eyebrow excercises before finally letting out a “Ok, how did do it?”
It’s surprisingly simple, try making some yourself.
Take a very fine file, razor saw, or emery board and carefully saw aroud the lightbulb, right where the glass meets the threaded base. You want to score the glass all the way around. Then you will be able to snap the bulb right off at the base and extract the base complete with the long glass filament holder. Do several at a time, since some will turn out better than others.
Next mix up some some concrete, either pre-mix or just a 50/50 blend of sand and portland cement. Make it about the consistency of hummus. (everyone always says peanut butter, so I thought that I would say hummus.)
Use a funnel or paper cone to fill the bulbs with the concrete, then replace the glass stem and screw base. Let the concrete dry for a few weeks, then peel the glass away much like you are peeling a hard-boiled egg.
Now, sit back and be moved by the juxtaposition of the fragile and the resilient, a familiar warm form rendered in cold, heavy, stone.
Ray Alderman’s bulb log.
Hi Steve, I don’t see an email link for you, so I’ll just leave this right here. I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your site/blog. This “concept” is EXACTLY what I’ve been trying to put together myself – a blog to showcase all of the various and often fleeting obsessions that I get distracted by.
Thanks!
kaufman
kuafman,
Thanks for the kudos.
I have added an email address to my “what is finkbuilt?” page.
Steve Lodefink
I guess that if I get too much spam, I will switch to a graphic text address or something.
They make white portland cement, and additives to make the mix flow better. Also if you can make some sort of vibrator you could get rid of the bubbles.
This might make a spiffer looking bulb.
My girlfriend did work some sculptures related to lightbulbs, she’ll love your stuff, really nice.
See: http://www.robynerbe.co.uk/ (check out gallery/mixed media)
Matthew, cool stuff, thanks.
I made one of these from Cornice Cement – the great advantage is that it dries in a couple of hours, rather than days.
And Cornice Cement is pretty cool, too.
I’ll take a photo one day, and post it onto my blog.
these are great! i got bubbles in mine but i think it just makes ‘em look cooler. kinda like a lunar surface.
I’ve made a few of these and it’s hard to avoid the bubbles when using concrete.
For a totally smooth surface, I’ve found that using hardwall plaster works a treat. If you make the driest mix possible (still allowing you to pour it) it dries in about an hour.
For a bit of fun I’ve also added oxide coloring to the mix…the electric blue bulbs look very cool.
To vibrate bubbles out of your concrete try putting a carrage bolt in your hammer drill and running it like a drill bit. This is what we use to raise bubbles to the top of counter tops. you must take a peice of wood and drill a large enough hole to craddle the bulb, then press the drill with the carrage bolt to the wood and vibrate away the bubbles.
I can’t cut the lightbulb with anything:( help!
These are great !…Good conversation item !..
If you could figure out a way to sand a small portion…would be a good paper weight !
These are great !…Good conversation item !..
If you could figure out a way to sand a small portion…would be a good paper weight !
Here’s an idea: paint with invisible UV reactive paint, and under a UV light, it will glow like a real lightbulb!
Thats a nice light bulb canvas you got on the go sunshine!
I got one of a Battery i bought in London off some stoner for a fiver.. maybe they are a pair?
Pairs are worth something you kno!
I have heard of someone making ammo for his spud-gun this way. I guess they are the perfect size for a 2″ PVC barrell or something.
I have heard of someone making ammo for his spud-gun this way. I guess they are the perfect size for a 2″ PVC barrell or something.
Cool!crystal clock holder
good text thank you
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I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
I just saw another blog about transparent concrete bieng made with fibre optic glass. Combine this with that and sombody could make a working concrete lightbulb. Useless but interesting nontheless.
This is very good that helps people to save their construction in a very cheapest way I really loved it.