Those of you unfamiliar with my work should know that I only make prototypes: meaning that I’ll have an idea and bring it to 87% completion (just to see it work), then give up.
I found an interesting idea online about a candle heater. (It’s at www.heatstick.com if you’d like to check it out.) I went ahead and ordered one because I thought , “Here’s a guy who had an idea and actually carried it through! That kind of dedication has to be encouraged.” However, it’s going to take several days for mine to arrive, so I made an extremely dangerous prototype.
His candle heater has three flower pots and many more screws and washers, and a well-made stand – not a green bean can with sharp, dangerous gashes on the sides. I played with it all night, using the infrared thermometer to check how hot it was getting. I also gave myself a royal burn after touching the bolt. I knew it was hot, and was being very, very careful, then some demon possessed my mind and said, “Touch it. Touch it now.” Then I did. Stupid.
Don’t adjust your screen, the picture’s just blurry.
With a title like “Prototype”, I was expecting a story about how you built a murderous robot. But it was just a flowerpot candle heat retention device (or a FCHRD). The Amish scientists invented these years ago. Don’t you read “Amish Science Weekly”?
This from a woman who only needed a plant in her classroom science center….now she’s an all growed up scientist!
Great! But did it WORK?
Yeah, it gets about 150 – 180 on the outside, so it’s kind of like having a hot cup of coffee on the tabletop. The man on the website says, “It’s a candle, so it’s not going to heat a whole mansion, but it will take the chill off a small, insulated room.” I’ll have to try it in a smaller room. Experimenting away! (By the way, you are the first of the Hofman clan to comment! Hooray and congratulations!!!)
Isn’t there some sort of prize for being the first in a family to comment?
I believe it might be an FCHRD.
So, DO I get a prize or something? Like a prototype Sommerer Heatstick of my own?
I’m sorry, but I only build prototypes once. I have already given up on this idea and am off to build a secondary litter box that will hold all my cat’s pee until we get back from Colorado. (I’m SURE you wouldn’t want that.) 🙂