Framing Neon Art

I recently made a sign by bending glass rods at a neon art workshop. This needed to be framed and connected to its transformer power supply. This project gives an overview on how this was done.

On a technical note, the gas used in this tube was argon gas instead of neon gas. Argon gas gives a blue colour rather than neon's orange colour. The transformer increases the voltage to 10,000 volts, enabling the gas to glow.

Neon artwork

Plywood

Paint

Wood glue

Screws

Neon transformer

Tube clips

Black Paint

Black paint was applied to some parts of the tube where required. This was done by coving up most of sign with paper and tape and then using a black spray can. Afterwards I needed to scrap off some 'overspray'. I also did some paint touch up by spraying some paint into the bottom of a cut off beer can - to create a pool of paint, from which some paint was brushed on to the glass tube.

1. Plywood was cut to make a backing board: 43cm by 32cm. Some people think you can't cut plywood sheet with a handheld miter saw. Of course you can, just keep the saw fairly horizontal.
2. Some tube clips were screwed to the board to hold the glass tube. These were removed for painting and then reattached.
3. A couple of holes were drilled to allow the power cord to come out from the back.

1. The corners of the board were rounded, A beer can or glass makes for a good corner template.
2. This was followed by painting the board.

I decided to attach the transformer to the back of the frame to be out of sight. The cord comes through a couple of holes drilled in the frame and connects to the electrodes embedded at the ends of the glass tube by twisting the wires together. Rubber caps were placed over the ends.

A wooden spacer was glued to the other end of the board from transformer to keep things level.

When the power was turned on, it took a couple of minutes for the tube to glow to its Argon/Mercury blue colour. Interestingly, the argon gas becomes vivid blue by the addition of a small amount of liquid mercury just prior to the gassing process.