what to do, what to do?

[Sherwood]

and/or "spinner" volume knob.

[Audiocats]

maybe a pair of 2-liter size bottle-neck power triods, with all silver internal parts (solid silver wires and parts machined out of 9999 solid silver blocks).
Then cryo them for two month and design a circuit (use 300B's are driver tubes, for example).

[Duggeh]

A tube amp inside a tube.

[Asr]

An anodized-aluminum sphere, to be used to senselessly beat unsuspecting enemies.

[manaox2]

Originally Posted by Asr

An anodized-aluminum sphere spear, to be used to senselessly beat unsuspecting enemies.

FTFY

[kevin gilmore]

This bowling ball thing got into my head last night.

So i could machine it out of a solid piece of titanium, but i did titanium last year.
A solid piece of african ebony might be really nice.

The titanium is most likely out of the price range for a joke, and
the chunk of ebony might be unobtainable at any price. I figure i need
1 cubic foot.

maybe some kind of glowing orb...

edit: bowling ball made out of titanium would be about 200 lbs
and my price is $78 per lb can't be...

[kevin gilmore]

Originally Posted by Audiocats

maybe a pair of 2-liter size bottle-neck power triods, with all silver internal parts (solid silver wires and parts machined out of 9999 solid silver blocks).
Then cryo them for two month and design a circuit (use 300B's are driver tubes, for example).

I've been seriously thinking of making some of my own tubes. I used to make them
back in the zenith days, and i did hand made plasma stuff at lucitron. It is actually
pretty easy, and i do have access to a really nice glass lathe.

[bhd812]

Originally Posted by kevin gilmore

This bowling ball thing got into my head last night.

So i could machine it out of a solid piece of titanium, but i did titanium last year.
A solid piece of african ebony might be really nice.

The titanium is most likely out of the price range for a joke, and
the chunk of ebony might be unobtainable at any price. I figure i need
1 cubic foot.

maybe some kind of glowing orb...

edit: bowling ball made out of titanium would be about 200 lbs
and my price is $78 per lb can't be...

how much would a tungsten bowling ball weigh? or do a lighter base metal for the core then plate the ball in platinum! then laser etch "breitling for Billy on it for bonus points!

[JBLoudG20]

I'm really liking the floating platform for the amp. However, I think an electromagnet would be fun. A slow turn on circuit could be used so when you hit master power on the system, the platter would slowly raise into place.

[kevin gilmore]

from here
Calculation of density with tungsten

1 cubic foot of tungsten is 1200 lbs.

The diameter of a standard bowling ball is 8.6 inches...
So a 10 inch cube would be the minimum.

electromagnets are very inefficient. Its the reason superconducting magnets
exist, because there is no other way.

[Chekhonte]

Originally Posted by kevin gilmore

electromagnets are very inefficient. Its the reason superconducting magnets
exist, because there is no other way.

Tell me about it!

[JBLoudG20]

Yeah but it would be so much cooler.

[kevin gilmore]

OH i have some delightfully evil people here.

Aluminum or magnesium bowling ball. Painted black to look like the
real thing. Take it to a bowling alley and try and use it...

[JBLoudG20]

Originally Posted by kevin gilmore

OH i have some delightfully evil people here.

Aluminum or magnesium bowling ball. Painted black to look like the
real thing. Take it to a bowling alley and try and use it...

You'll break all the ball returns. That's what she said.

[Spiug31]

I don't know how this could be done but maybe something incorporating triboluminescence.

Triboluminescence
http://www.minerals.net/resource/property/tribolum.htm

[laxx]

I think the magnetic platform is hot. DO IT!

[kevin gilmore]

ultra trendy aluminum bowling ball it is.
Start by cutting the block in half, use the NC lathe to cut out spheres on
the inside, tap and thread to put the thing together. Then machine the outside
to perfectly round. Add finger holes, tap the holes from the inside, and use machined
finger tubes. If i calculate everything correctly it should end up the correct weight.
Anodize or paint....

[Sherwood]

hawt.

[Dreadhead]

Originally Posted by kevin gilmore

ultra trendy aluminum bowling ball it is.
Start by cutting the block in half, use the NC lathe to cut out spheres on
the inside, tap and thread to put the thing together. Then machine the outside
to perfectly round. Add finger holes, tap the holes from the inside, and use machined
finger tubes. If i calculate everything correctly it should end up the correct weight.
Anodize or paint....

Weight might be right but rolling inertia will be high. You're going to have to work hard to get that bad boy spinning. Will still be very cool though.

[Duggeh]

Could you do the titanium bowling ball if it was hollow? Give it a less dense core, napalm for example.