ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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A pair of suggestions for Jonah Cohen and others regarding the challenge of drilling holes through brittle plastic.....

1. Experiment with using a hot soldering iron to melt holes through the plastic rather than drilling.  Note that there are several diameters of tips available.  It would be prudent to do this in a well-ventilated area since some fumes are produced. This technique even works well with plastic cups and bottles.

2. Experiment with first drilling a rather small hole (like 1/8 or 3/16 inch) and then enlarging it to the size you want with a taper reamer.  

Albert J. Read, Director Emeritus, Science Discovery Center of Oneonta (NY)




-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network on behalf of Jonah Cohen
Sent: Mon 6/26/2006 4:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: film canister alternative
 
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

In a similar vein, you could pony up some cash for snap-seal vials
(available from Flinn Scientific... and doubtlessly other places, too).

Pity yours truly! While such vials are certainly a useful film can stand-in
for many experiments (like the alka seltzer rockets), they're less useful
for the PVC sound pipes. You have to drill a hole in the bottom of the
canister. Easy for film cans, less so with the rigid plastic of pill bottles
and snap-top vials.

Did I mention that we do a class where kids make their own individual
version of this instrument and get to keep it, ergo a constant need for more
canisters? Sheesh, what moron came up with this idea?

Oh, right, it was me,
Jonah Cohen
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
The Children's Museum (formerly the Science Center of Connecticut)

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits."
         -Albert Einstein

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