Twsbi Glow Project

[Surnia]

So about two weeks ago I had an idea to install some spare tritium vials I had lying around from some flashlight projects. I posted it in the TWSBI update thread, but decided not to clog that one up with my project anymore!

 

What I had planned was to take the 4 spare 1.5x5mm tritium vials (white and blue) I had, and install them on my TWSBI! I had a few options for mounting, but decided... they should go on the piston rod. The fun thing about that location is, the visible length of the piston rod fully retracted is actually just about 5mm, so just enough for the vials.

 

Last night I finally had no midterms to worry about, and begun the sizing process. Tritium in itself is a VERY dim source. I need to emphasize it is a DIM source, the glow is not visible if you have ample light, or daylight. You either need a moderately lit room, or some shadows in a normal room to see it (hand covering the area usually is enough to see the glow happen). In most cases, it means that when I get around to writing, the glow should be visible because my hand partially covers that area (i have a relatively high grip, I actually grip above the threads).

 

The good news is, I'll always be able to find it in the dark :roflmho:

 

 

my EF TWSBI, currently loaded with some Private Reserve Spearmint.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1020970.jpg

 

The glowing shot!

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1020989.jpg

OK I admit I cheated on the above photo, 4 second long ISO 80 (F2.5) exposure is needed to really bring out the tritium's glow. For the not photography inclined, that is equivalent to a completely dark room, lit only by my monitor at lowest brightness.

 

 

THIS photo is what its like in a normal room.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1020991.jpg

 

At the moment, I have the piston mounted with all 4 vials, and its been curing in the windowsill since noon (currently 3pm). Unfortunately the weather decided not to agree with me, and has been cloudy all day so it might take a while to fully cure.

 

By tonight, it will have hopefully finished curing and I can reassemble my TWSBI!

Edited October 30, 2010 by Surnia

[markiv]

That is really neat; only if Speedy agrees to include this as standard feature on future Diamond 530s

[M.C.]

I have tritium vials in my Ball watch and have fired guns fitted with them in the sights. They are pretty neat and can be had in a variety of colors. I would buy a clear pen with them. I think the clear pens are fun. I want to fill mine with very bright ink, having it glow would be neat.

Edited October 30, 2010 by Ike

[Surnia]

So, process photos, and final photos!

 

Sitting on my Windowsill, the Norland61 is absorbing UV...

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1020992.jpg

 

I love my camera's macro-ish abilities.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1020994.jpg

 

A normal room light shot, pen has been reloaded with Spearmint for now (I'm going for a... mint chocolate chip colour theme this week. The 78G's in Noodler's Brown!). Again, with a bit of shadow from the hand, you can see the blues glow quite well, but its hard to tell if the white ones are; they look like they're still just reflecting light.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1020996.jpg

 

Close up of the vials in their home

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1020997.jpg

 

And who can resist falsifying images with long exposure photography? In all honesty to see this level of glow it would be far too dark to write in. Also notice the faint glow underneath the piston, i have all 4 vials installed on it!

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc122/CxTPB/TWSBI%20Glow%20Project/P1030001.jpg

 

And so ends my glow project, until the TWSBI Vac Filler comes around (Probably going to put some yellow vials in the cap...), or until I get the urge to pick up some Creapers.

 

The reason why the glow is so dim is partially due to the miniscule vials I'm using, the 2x8mm in my flashlight's actually brighter. Also the colour matters... Green is brightest, followed by yellow, then white/ice blue.

 

Oh maybe I could install one under the feed for some night time writing =o

Edited October 31, 2010 by Surnia

[saskia_madding]

This is so awesome. I'd love to see if any would fit under the clear casing on the top of the piston. Hmmmmm ... now to find some titrium vials of my own.

[Surnia]

I've considered it, but you'd need to attach it to the inside edge of the black inner cap (IF they fit), as there's not enough space up there at all for anything. Attaching it to the piston itself is out of the question, unless you don't feel like ever being able to disassemble the piston again (well a bit of boiling water softens Norland61).

[Tsujigiri]

Very cool...

[cfpen]

Very funny, now you can write in a dark room :clap1:

[nicholasyeo]

This is interesting!

[Chippy1199]

It would look cool with some Noodlers Ghost Blue in there under the UV lamp.

 

Then you would have a couple of different colours glowing!

[speedy]

Wow! what a cool stuff.

[Azrael]

needless to say - that is very very cool.

[calibr8]

Really neat stuff. Where do you get the tritium vials anyway?

[Surnia]

I have to admit, pulling the TWSBI out of a pocket or my pen case is far more entertaining than before, there's that subtle glow before it comes out into the light xD

 

It would look cool with some Noodlers Ghost Blue in there under the UV lamp.

 

Then you would have a couple of different colours glowing!

 

on that same chain of thought, you could pick up some glow paint (or powder, and mix your own with epoxy) from Glow Inc. and apply it to the pen. However it didn't feel the same since it would be a coating and detracting from the demonstrator feel.

 

Upside to the Glow Inc. powder/paint is that they're super efficient, the Ultra green glows for something like 19 hours, while ultra blue runs for something like 12 hrs. The green's bright enough to read with for a good 20 minutes or so too, after a minute of charge...

Edited October 31, 2010 by Surnia