We used a wood pyrometer when remetalling white metal bearings. Heat up the brass until when you spit on it it spits back, and heat the liquid white metal until a pine spill dipped in chars. Then pour the metal into the brass

Dave(SOD)’s take on them recently!

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/topic/microwave-transformer-too-good-to-throw-away/#post-715045

An easy way to kill yourself – a good way to get an honourable mention in the Darwin Awards ! Hope Hopper was right that The Good Lord looks after Drunks and fools. Noel.

I did some a few years ago. Problem is, it’s interesting to build the machine to do it, and fun to make the patterns if you’re careful, but no-one likes the result. I can’t find a use for it.

With my machine, you don’t hold both electrodes like so many idiotic videos I’ve seen, just the one that is earth referenced. It’s also current-limited (to prevent the wood setting on fire too quickly) with two fluo light ballasts on the primary side.

I won’t let anyone else use it. I think the number of deaths and horrific injuries from these is, at least partly, down to its attraction to arty-farty types who are not science-based and not naturally methodical and systematic. Like any potentially dangerous machine, you need just the right dose of fear when using it. That comes from knowing exactly what it could do.

You can get a pretty good facsimile of this effect with a laser if you’re so inclined. Sometimes it can look quite nice.