Make A Kaleidoscope WITHOUT A Kit

How to make a kaleidoscope from scratch.
Stave Construction video:
• A Guide to Stave Const...
Information on the threading jig can be found here:
• Maple Burl Box with Th...
Thank you to Andrew at Fusion Glass for cutting the glass and mirrors!

[@KaleidoscopesToYou]

Love your turned wooden kaleidoscope! Nice work!

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you very much! I really appreciate that.

[@MikeWaldt]

A great project Gordon, and very well explained tutorial. Take care Mike

[@GordonRock1]

Mike Waldt Thank you, Mike! Glad you liked it......Gord

[@mikegoldfine9152]

Very nicely done project Gordon. The lacewood really sets it off well. I like your 'if someone else can make it so can I' attitude.

[@GordonRock1]

Mike Goldfine Thank you, Mike! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting me know.

[@CoxJoxSox]

OK TWO COMMENTS - First - wow do you know how to make a video or what - you have multiple angles - never seen that quality done before - Second - wow do you know how to make a nice product. Good job Gord - you are the man!

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you for the nice compliments, Nick. I'm glad I don't wear a hat because after this it probably would not fit. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks very much for watching! Take care, .....Gord

[@donaldadams1662]

Such skill with the tools & such patience amaze me. You are such a skilful guy that is mind boggling. I would love to see it in operation & I wish I was more up to date with my viewing. Thanks for sharing, Don from down under.

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you very much, Don! Once again you are too kind. Thanks for watching! 😃😃😃🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 .....Gord

[@janicemiller5382]

Great job Gord. I really liked the addition of the lacewood. Another well done tutorial Cheers Scott

[@GordonRock1]

Scott Miller Thanks Scott. Glad you liked it. I appreciate the support. Now I'm waiting to see your version!!!

[@ridterranytofollowtruthpea8324]

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!! THANK YOU MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL CREATION, IT IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT!!! STAY SAFE!!!

[@GordonRock1]

I am so glad you liked it! Thank you for watching! I appreciate the support! Take care, .....Gord

[@tsuchang1]

Well done Gordon. I really liked the music too. Thanks

[@GordonRock1]

stephen dickinson Thank you Stephen. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@ninaharris5335]

Thanks for sharing your expertise, Gord. Good, clear explanations and very professional video. You have given me some ideas how I might be able to make turning ends for my ceramic scopes :) I thought the eye hole may have been a little large as you were turning it. I have made the same mistake :( You could pull out the mirror assembly and insert a circle of black board/acrylic with a smaller hole in the centre on top of the glass disc at the eyehole. The mirror assemble should hold it in place - or you could glue it onto the first glass disc. That would eliminate the problem of seeing the mirror edges because the viewing hole is too large. BTW, I have never heard of "front plane" mirrors either. I suppose it's another name for "first surface" or "front surface" mirrors. I buy mine from Larry at Boston Craftworks. They are supposed to give a more accurate reflection, since there is no thickness of glass to get in the way of perfect reflections. Having said that, some of my best scopes were made with regular mirrors.

[@GordonRock1]

+Nina Harris Thank you for the information, Nina. I never turned a kaleidoscope before so didn't really know what I was doing. The cheap one I had purchased to find out how they work had a large eye hole so I thought that was how they should be. Now, with your information I may have to take a look at the one I made and see about making the hole smaller to see what difference it makes; thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!! Take care, .....Gord

[@phillmurray2708]

Very professional production Gord. I appreciate your efforts. I have some ideas myself as an ex shop teacher. All the best from Phill.

[@GordonRock1]

+Phill Murray Thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Take care, .....Gord

[@DRHinds-fb9vv]

Very Nice Gordon, I enjoy watching.

[@GordonRock1]

D.R. Hinds Thanks for watching & commenting. I appreciate the support. Glad you enjoyed it!!!

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Awesome project, loved the threading jig! Really cool!

[@GordonRock1]

Scrap wood City Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love the threading jig, too!! Need more projects to use it on.

[@HarryWatts65]

Hi Gordon: Very nice project, Thank you for the idea, Cheers Harry

[@GordonRock1]

Harry Watts Hi Harry. Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it.

[@benjabens2058]

nice treading jig! you coud use it maybe by making a baby bottle with a treaded top in contrasting colors of wood???i love the caleidoscoop to make for my grandchildren,they never seen something wonderful colors!!!grtngs from belgium!

[@GordonRock1]

I hope you have fun making it and your grandchildren enjoy it! 😃😃😃🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@jamesmoore3346]

Very Simply put, Amazing!

[@GordonRock1]

+james moore Thank you so much James! Thanks for watching! Take care, .....Gord

[@woodshop5367]

Another entertaining video Gord . Thanks! Regards, Newt

[@GordonRock1]

woodshop Thank you, Newt! The support is appreciated!

[@AWCreations262]

Excellent work. I’m curious why a staved cylinder is required? Is it more stable?

[@GordonRock1]

It wasn’t a requirement, Alan. It’s just the way I wanted to make it at that time. I don’t know for sure how much more stable it would be. Thanks for watching!

[@MrHaroldOwen]

Design change time... just turn a little rivet shaped eye piece to make the view hole smaller. Great project, going to have to make some for the grandkids.

[@GordonRock1]

Andy Owen Glad you like it, Andy. Thanks for watching & commenting. Hope your grandkids like them.

[@stevekosztala7027]

Well communicated tutorial, easy to follow and really liked the threading jig. I'll need to get one of those. I see your replies are a couple of years ago. Are you still turning Kaleidoscopes? I started making kaleidoscopes in 2018 and I'm still a novice. There is a lot of enthusiasm to learn new ideas, and you help to create them, thanks.

[@GordonRock1]

I haven’t turned a kaleidoscope in quite awhile, Steve. Too many things to do, too little time. I still have some of the supplies so I may do another someday. Thanks for watching! Happy turning, .....Gord

[@jamesnewman8392]

very nice i plan to make one with gemstones thanks for info

[@GordonRock1]

I’m happy that you liked it, James. I hope you enjoy making one. You may find that one will lead to many. 😃 Thanks for watching! .....Gord

[@mikalaki1]

Great work Gord, is the length of the mirror critical, what length did u use for this protect. I am trying to do one? I enjoy your videos. When I finish mine I shall send a picture to you. Can u please let me have your contact Regards Michael from UK

[@GordonRock1]

Hi Michael, Thanks for watching! I'm glad you like the project and hope yours turns out as well as you want. I would love to see what you come up with. I don't believe the length of the kaleidoscope is critical. I don't even remember what length the ones I made were. I just measured one and it is 9" total length. You can contact me at gordrocks123 (AT) gmail (DOT) com. Take care, .....Gord

[@manusoftar]

You should use a glassless mirror for a kaleidoscope cause the glass on the mirrors actually distort the projections of the image... but overall it was a nice result.

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you. Glad you liked it. 😃 Thanks for watching! .....Gord

[@manusoftar]

You're welcome!! i have a lot of ideas to improve this if you want to test some be my guest, i just don't have the tools to do it anyway. I think that the way you put the "crystals" the drop just to fast, i think that perhaps if you put "crystals" or even metallic paper cuts into an oilish solution the would move smother and slower and the final effect could be awesome. Also i made a kaleidoscope a long time ago but i had to make it out of a piece of PVC pipeing cause i don't have tools to make it wooden like you did. And one thing i aded to it was a light so i could be used even in the darknes cause you just turn on the light (attached to the end of the pipe where the chamber is and it works awesomely. (Perhaps this comment is not written the best way but english is not my first language... sorry)

[@KaleidoscopesToYou]

wondering if i can place this link of your video on my website under the kaleidoscope making supplies section?

[@GordonRock1]

Yes, you may place a link on your website to this video. I appreciate you asking! …..Gord

[@KaleidoscopesToYou]

Thank you so Much @@GordonRock1

[@georgebrill3072]

Gord, great job on the video. Have you turned any scopes since this one?

[@GordonRock1]

No, George, I haven't turned any since turning that one. Too many projects, too little time! Thank you for watching! Take care, .....Gord

[@adamquincey4371]

Excellent... Cheers...

[@GordonRock1]

Adam Quincey Thank you for watching, Adam. Thanks for the comment!!

[@kiangonthetube]

nice video can you post a link to where you got the large cone centre in your tailstock

[@GordonRock1]

kiangonthetube The cone is part of the Oneway Live Center Kit. You can find it on the Oneway website. Thanks for watching!!.....Gord

[@zzrmatt1]

The music that starts at 14:20 is the same as in the ClickSpring videos; I guess it's from a collection of royalty-free music, but it's really in-grained to me as his theme. :) Nice work.

[@GordonRock1]

+BrokkenFrepz Yes, that tune is called Parasail and is done by Silent Partner. It's available on the KZbin Music Library for use on videos for KZbin. Thank you for watching my video. I appreciate the support! Take care, .....Gord

[@jerryodom7358]

Have you thought about making one out of PVC?

[@GordonRock1]

No, it never even occurred to me, Jerry. Thanks for watching!

[@jerryodom7358]

@@GordonRock1 I mentioned it because most of us don’t have the machines or skill to do what you do. It would be nice to see some scopes made easy out of ready materials..thanks.

[@deborahyezbak5909]

Just want to add that the image is much more clear if you use "front plane mirrors" just like your dentist's mouth mirror.

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you, Deborah. That's good to know although I must admit I have never heard of "front plane mirrors" before. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care, .....Gord

[@timothymcswain6235]

Nice

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you, Timothy.