Vibrant Mobile: a Delightful Burst of Colors!

If you're a fan of vibrant hues, this mobile is perfect for you. Unlike traditional hanging mobiles, this unique design features a series of transparent disks arranged horizontally. When suspended beneath a light source, it creates a mesmerizing color-changing effect that spills beautifully onto the table below. Get ready to add a touch of magic to your space with this colorful mobile!

• various pieces of colored acrylic in different sizes
• aluminum pipes 6mm
• some M4 eye-bolts, rings and nuts
• some string.

hacksaw, fret-saw and drill.

Get some different colored 3mm acrylic and create some different sized disks using a fret-saw. While you can certainly follow the dimensions I used, don't hesitate to select your own preferences. For my design, I opted for six disks with measurements of 140mm, 190mm, 220mm, 250mm, 280mm, and 370mm.

Start by drilling a 4mm hole in each disk. For accuracy, temporarily place a 4mm round object in the hole (I utilized the drill bit itself) and tie a rope to it. The rope will enable you to effortlessly draw a perfect circle on the acrylic surface. Now, using the fret-saw, carefully cut along the marked line. Be cautious and maintain a steady slow pace to avoid the fret-saw getting stuck in melted acrylic. If you happen to have some face masks leftover from the Corona days, it's a good idea to wear one while cutting the circles.

This step is a breeze! Take an eye-bolt and fasten a nut onto it. Then, slide an M4 ring onto the eye-bolt, followed by one of the acrylic circles. Finally, secure everything in place with another nut. The ring serves as a helpful aid, ensuring the disk remains perpendicular to the eye-bolt. Repeat this process for each disk.

Cut the aluminum tubes to the desired length. This very much depends on the layout you want, but also the need to be long enough that the disks can rotated (mostly) freely without constantly bumping into each other. For my design, I used tubes measuring 500mm, 370mm, 300mm, 280mm, and 210mm.

At the end of each tube, drill a small 2mm hole for the rope to get through.

Take a short piece of rope and thread it through the hole at the end of an aluminum tube. Make a secure knot to hold it in place. Tie the other end of the rope to the eye-bolt of one of the disks. It's important to vary the rope lengths to ensure that the disks can slide under or over each other without bumping, allowing the colors to blend beautifully.

Some ropes will not connect to another disk but instead loop around the central part of another aluminum tube. Simply wrap the rope around the tube tightly and tie a knot as tight as possible. Don't forget to add a rope to the center of the top aluminum rod as well; this will be used for hanging the mobile.

Now comes the challenging part—adjusting the rope positions for optimal balance. Even though you made tight knots, you can still slide the ropes along the aluminum tubes. Begin with the top one and gradually work your way down. Slide it into a position where the rod achieves perfect balance, and mark that spot. Then, move the rope out of the way and make a small cut with a saw at the bottom of the tube. Slide the rope back into place, and it will use the cut to stay securely in position.

It's time to hang your creation! Find a suitable spot on the ceiling, preferably near a door or window to allow for a gentle draft that will cause the mobile to sway gracefully. For an added touch, hang it directly beneath some lights to create a mesmerizing color effect on the floor or table below.

In the example animation, I used vibrant fluorescent rainbow colors. However, during the construction process, I found that not all the colors were readily available at my local shop. Nevertheless, the mobile still turned out visually appealing. If you have the opportunity, I recommend ordering acrylic online to access a wider range of colors and achieve even better results.

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