Trash to Treasure : Turn an Old Fluorescent Tube Into a Wizard's Wand

Most of the things we throw away as trash can be turned into treasure with some imagination. I am one of those who do not throw away trash unless I find it extremely useless.

Think of a fused fluorescent tube, which is good for nothing. I have many of those fused tubes stored in the attic in the hope that I can make something out of those glass tubes. And then I got the idea of placing a blinking serial LED lighting we use to decorate during Christmas time and turn it into a wizard's wand.

The following steps explain how this is very simple to do, but before that watch the video to see the end result.

• Fused fluorescent tubes. I got tubes of different diameters. I have selected one with 15 mm outer diameter, that is the slimmest of all.
• Decorative blinking LEDs connected in serial
• Thick thread. This thread will be passed through the tubing to pull the serial light into the tube.

Safety First:

The fluorescent tubes are filled with Mercury vapor and the inside of glass tubes have phosphor coating to make it glow when lighted. So, work in a well ventilated open space when breaking the tubing and do not touch the powder coating inside. Wash your hands and the tools after handling the tubes.

• I have selected a 15 mm diameter tube for my project. using cutting pliers hold the metal capping at the ends of the tubes and turn lightly. Do not apply force. The metal cap will come off very easily.
• Under the metal capping, there are sealed light bulbs at both ends. Break the seal with a screw driver safely away from you in an open area..
• Scratch off any glass pieces on the edges with the screw driver.

Now the empty fluorescent tubing is ready

Hold the tube vertically.

Pass one end of the thick thread through the opening at top. It is very easy to do. There are no obstructions inside the tube and the thread will come out easily through the bottom end of the tube.

The LED serial light contains 20 pieces of blinking LEDs spaced at 6 inches between them. Each LED is covered with a butterfly shaped thin plastic sheet with glitters glued to them.

When I tried inserting the LEDs with the butterfly shapes into the fluorescent tube, they did not pass through. So I removed all the plastic sheets from the serial light.

• Tie the free end of thread to the wiring connecting the LED at the end.
• Pull the other end of thread. Do not use any force.
• When a LED gets struck at the opening, gently push with your fingers inside the tube

Now the entire length of the tube is covered with just 8 LEDs and the rest are outside the tube. When the LEDs were lit dark empty spaces were visible between the blinking light.

I have decided to pull the LEDs out and fold them in two, so that more number of LEDs can be put inside the tube. The blinking LED light will also cover the tube completely.

Please see video here of single line of LEDs spaced at 6 inches apart inside the tube.

• Now fold the LED serial wires at the center.
• Arrange the LEDs in such a way that LEDs from one length are placed exactly at the center of LEDs at other length.
• Tie the thread at the fold and pull it from other end.
• Pull slowly. The LEDs may get struck at the opening. Gently push it inside the tubing
• Once the folded portion of the wire reaches other end of tube, untie the thread.
• Secure the wire at the end to prevent from slipping in.

• Now there are four LEDs hanging outside the tube at the bottom end
• Hold them together around the tube and secure with transparent adhesive tap.

The Wizard's wand is ready. Please see the finished wand in the last picture

Plug in the serial lighting to the power supply, light up the wand and enjoy the show.

Please go back to the introductory part of this instructable and watch the video once again....