Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Cut a a 6-inch length of transparent rubber tubing, using scissors. Place the tubing on a board and carefully slit it along its length down one side, using a craft knife. This will enable you to open up the tube later, to fill it with glow-in-the-dark material.
Measure out 1/2 teaspoon of copper doped zinc sulfide powder, often sold as "glow powder" in craft and hobby stores. Tip the powder into a disposable paper or plastic cup. Wear rubber gloves while handling and mixing the materials to fill your glow stick.
Mix the epoxy resin following the instructions on the packaging. The product is usually sold in two tubes, one for resin and one for hardener. Put equal amounts, about a teaspoon, of each substance into the disposable cup along with the zinc sulfide powder. Use the teaspoon to thoroughly combine the materials.
Place the point of a pair of scissors in one end of the rubber tube. Open up the scissor blades to open up the tube along the slit you cut in it.
Drop the resin mixture into the opened rubber tube, using the teaspoon. Spread the resin mixture, using the spoon, evenly along the tube's length. Spread a little resin mixture on the two cut edges of the slit too. Remove the scissors and press the walls of the tube back into place. The resin on the cut edges should glue the slit closed again. Allow the resin in the tube to set. This should take around half an hour, depending on the brand of epoxy resin you use.
Trim any excess rubber tubing that is not filled with set resin. Put the tube in a sunny place to charge it with light. Later, when it's dark, the tube will glow. It can be recharged by simply placing it again in a bright light.