"Magic" Fire & Air -Powered Rotating Lamp! (Zou Ma Deng)

In this Instructable, you will learn how to make a "magic" rotating lamp!

The candle heats up the air. The heated air then rises, and with the special angle of the blades on the fan makes the lamp rotate. Then, colder air fills in from the bottom and the cycle repeats.

This makes for a great magic/science trick, as well as a beautiful, mesmerizing lamp!

Note: This rotating lamp has been around for long time, but our experiments to replicate it were filled with surprises, failures, and finally successes. We want to share our trials and critical tips in this Instructable.

(Supplies are for 2 fans, mostly household items. You should be able to find replacements if you do not have theexact match)

• Soda cans (empty)
• 2 snap buttons
• Tracing paper
• Tape
• 2 candles
• 2 metal skewers
• 2 small glass jars with diameter of around 2.5 inches and 3 inches tall (you can try with different size of small glass jars-ours is from yogurt containers)
• 1 glass jar with diameter of around 3 inches and 3.5 inches tall (we used a small glass candle holder)
• Plastic jar with diameter of at least 6 inches (we use this as a test lampshade)
• Pebbles
• Flexible plastic strip
• 4 wooden skewers
• Styrofoam (for a base, other materials may work)
• 26 gauge Wire (for weights, there are alternatives)
• Washi tape (for decoration, there are alternatives)

Tools:

• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Compass
• Markers
• Pliers
• Stencil (optional)
• Hole puncher (star shaped)

Use the craft knife to CAREFULLY cut off the tops and bottoms of the cans.

Remove the label if applicable: the can we used has an easy-to-remove wrapper.

Cut the metal lengthwise so you are left with a rectangle. Flatten it as needed.

WARNING: The cans become reasonably sharp once you cut them, so be careful while handling them.

Tip: We tried using many materials for top fan, such as card stock, regular paper, etc. Paper is typically either too soft to support itself (so you need to add metal wires) or it is too heavy to move efficiently. I am sure there are better types of paper to use, but we don't have any around our household, so we ended up using soda cans.

Use the compass to mark a circle on the metal. Cut out the circle.

Tip: The can is pretty small, so try to draw as big a circle as possible.

Print out a circle template with 12 equal sectors.

Poke a hole in the center of the metal circle (where your compass should have left a mark) and position this center on the center of the circle sectors template.

Use the ruler to mark the 12 lines on the metal circle.

Cut out the fan as in the image.

1. Cut along the lines. Don't cut all the way to the center or to the edge.

2. Cut along an arc parallel to the edge, from each endpoint of a line. Don't cut all the way to the next line.

3. Fold the flaps out.

4. Attach the snap button. (There are two sides. Place one on top of the fan, the other on the bottom, and press.)

Tip: The best angle for the fan blades to point seems to be between 30-45 degrees.

Make the base by sticking the metal skewer into the styrofoam base upright. We will decorate the base later.

Position the bottom (dented side) of the snap button on the fan onto the tip of the skewer. Light the candle.

First test the angle of the blade. It turns out that an angle between 30 and 45 works best.

Next, we tried to find the best way to balance the fan to get the most efficient spin.

We tried to add hanging paper weights, adding metal wire loops for weight, a metal lampshade, and a paper lampshade. It turns out that a paper lamp shade works well by itself. A paper lamp shade will make sure heat does not escape, making the speed more reliable. With weights, we still need to find a way to control airflow by introducing an outer lampshade. We have more details later in our alternative top fan.

To make the lampshade, curve the paper around the lamp and then tape. If needed, position the candle so that the paper does not burn.

Given the test, we want to make a different top fan with dangling features and outer lamp shade. With this fan we will cut the blade in the top circle all the way to the edge.

Possible advantages:

- More area for hot air to hit, so faster/more reliable movement

- Blades are easier to adjust if unbalanced

- Easier to cut (doesn't need craft knife, just scissors)

Possible disadvantages:

- Vulnerable to outside forces, since metal circle doesn't hold everything together

- Harder to hang decorations from

Punch holes in the center and the blades. Tilt the blade to the right angle (30-45 degrees).

We bent metal wire (26 gauge) with pliers to make loops for weights to balance the fan. It took some trial and error to get the right balance.

You can copy us or make your own weight design.

Add the snap button, center, and test.

We also tested with different potential lamp shade materials: plastic, card stock and tracing paper.

We made two lampshade designs: Geometric and Constellation.

Geometric:

- Use a stencil and marker to draw shapes of many colors on the lampshade. Make sure to mix some colors.

- Add small shapes in silver and gold Sharpie.

Constellation:

- Paint a lampshade blue with acrylic paint.

- Use a star hole puncher to punch star shapes in constellations. There should be space for about 4.

- Connect the stars in each constellation with a silver Sharpie.

Other ideas:

- Butterflies

- Flowers

- Bubbles

- Fish

- Birds

- Cars

- Aurora

- Scanimation (only works if using two lampshades)

Tape the geometric design to the first fan.

Add a metal wire as needed to support the lampshade and make sure it is a circle.

In this setup, the lampshade is taped to the fan, so it rotates with the fan.

Now we are going to upgrade our lamp base, replacing the styrofoam base with glass candle jar.

Tape a design around the bigger jar, preferably dark so that it hides the candle stand.

Place the small jar up-side-down to support the candle inside.

Add small pebbles and a support skewer. The pebbles help ensure the skewer is in the upright position.

Put the candle on the small glass jar and light it. Enjoy!

In this setup, the fan moves, but the lampshade doesn't.

Tape a circular plastic supporting band on the inside of the constellation lampshade.

Make a base out of multiple pieces of styrofoam and topped with a black styrofoam board circle that has a slightly larger diameter than the lampshade.

Place the metal skewer in the center. Add the 4 skewers in a square around the metal skewer, such that they form a circle larger than the fan and about the size of a lampshade.

Decorated the base with stars (we got many such stars when creating this lampshade with our star hole puncher).

Place the second version of the fan on the metal skewer.

Tape the plastic band and constellation lampshade to the 4 wooden skewers.

Add the candle on top of the small glass jar and light it. You may notice the shadow cast on the lamp shade by the hanging weights! That makes this type of lamp special.