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Lichtenberg wood burning

Gregor62
I saw a picture hanging in an antique store that had what I thought was carvings on it. Very intricate work, so I asked about it, and the nice lady told me how it was made, but could not remember the name of the process. I found it on youtube and thought I would share.

I have purchased a neon light power supply, and intend to try this on some knife scales.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTOyO6HAC_g
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • Horse Plains Drifter
    Wow, that looks pretty cool! It would have been nice if the fella explained the process as he went along.
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  • Mercury
    Where did you get the power supply? I think that is salt water he is putting on the board? I have been thinking about doing this for a LONG time!

    Merc


    quote:Originally posted by Gregor62
    I saw a picture hanging in an antique store that had what I thought was carvings on it. Very intricate work, so I asked about it, and the nice lady told me how it was made, but could not remember the name of the process. I found it on youtube and thought I would share.

    I have purchased a neon light power supply, and intend to try this on some knife scales.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTOyO6HAC_g
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  • Gregor62
    The transformer came from partsforlights.com, but they are available on both ebay and amazon. I bought a 7500v 30mA model, and have not wired it up and tested it yet.

    I intend to use a foot pedal to fire the unit, with high voltage electricians gloves for protection.

    The solution is a mixture of water, and baking soda.

    HPD,

    I wish I could answer technical questions about how this happens, but I am not knowledgeable in how the process works. My best guess is the opposing leads are attempting to reach a connection, using the wet surface as a conductor?
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  • grdad45
    Gregor62, be aware that 7.5KV can and will jump through those electrician gloves if there is even a tiny pinhole in them. That is the voice of experience speaking. My brother and I were doing that to wood with a 5KV transformer when we were kids playing around in our Dad's shop. He was an electrical contractor, and had all kinds of things that boys find interesting! We always had neat science projects. Glad we lived through that phase!
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  • Gregor62
    quote:Originally posted by grdad45
    Gregor62, be aware that 7.5KV can and will jump through those electrician gloves if there is even a tiny pinhole in them. That is the voice of experience speaking. My brother and I were doing that to wood with a 5KV transformer when we were kids playing around in our Dad's shop. He was an electrical contractor, and had all kinds of things that boys find interesting! We always had neat science projects. Glad we lived through that phase!


    Thanks for the added safety advice. I've been bumped several times by EDM machines in the past, so I do completely understand the danger that this type of voltage presents.

    I have no intention of having my hands, or any other body part, near the leads while firing the burner.
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