Fluid-filled coffee table in motion

This is a coffee table that I built with a fluid-filled disc on the top. The disc can be rotated freely, and the speed and direction of the rotation will cause the fluid to swirl around in different patterns. The fluid is called rheoscopic fluid -- it is designed to show the intricate patterns in turbulent fluid flow. More here: http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2013/0...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[420Galleon]

I feel the need to express I'm in my late 20's, and consider myself someone who isn't easily impressed. This is the first time in my life I've ever really wanted a piece of furniture. You really should talk to someone about patenting/production/distribut­ion.

[Ben Krasnow]

Thanks, I really appreciate it! I've had people ask how much such a table would cost, but they've all lost interest upon hearing what I would charge for custom hand-built furniture. Being a custom furniture designer/builder sounds like a really fun job, but I haven't seen a way to make it pay enough. There would be no patents involved with something like this, and mass-producing them might remove the art/custom aspect that would create value in the first place.

[Ratcheti]

That's a neat invention Ben! May I ask how much you sold it for or did you give it away for free?

[Ben Krasnow]

I still have the table. Many of my other woodworking projects have been made as gifts for people. I briefly sold wooden puzzleboxes, but haven't really done much other marketing of my woodworking.

[Phayze101]

Needs some stargate chevrons.

[Tehmuffin19]

Chevron seven... locked!

[youskeff]

Seller's hat on, Ben. You just haven't met the right people yet. The first thing I think of is an awesome table for a fantasy role playing game (RPG). Can you put led lighting underneath, make it look like a storm? An actuated wheel on the inside rim to keep the vortex going perpetually? Perhaps the led lights should flash to mimic lightning, maybe in response to rfid-tagged cards in the game, to foretell of dramatic events in the near future.

[LynxSnowCat]

...about fluid dynamics.

[impeatus]

I love the idea. Also it would be a crazy idea to make a table like a plasma lamp, and when you drink your coffee, by touching the table, to make the same efect like touching a plasma lamp.

[EtSomnio]

Also, have you considered making something similar, but with ferrofluids instead? That'd be nuts!

[EtSomnio]

This is really awesome! I was wondering where I could get a rheoscopic indicator, thanks for mentioning it in your sources!

[tealsuki]

Is there any way to reduce the noise of the bearing? Seems like it'd be a bit loud. Also, some modifications I might suggest is to replace the glass and grey PVC with two circles of plexiglas, and then possibly a diffuser and backlight

[vevenaneathna]

baller

[xsonicbladex]

Now if only it was a ferromagnetic fluid...

[acwizzard]

Don't you have at cat?I would love to see my cat jump up on that table it would finally teach her a lesson

[1pinosos1]

anybody know how to buy the fluid in Australia? the link provided wont ship to me :(