Post #816785 by MadDogMike on Mon, Sep 1, 2025 4:37 PM

I had a plan for a Lava Tube Eternity Table. If it work, it will look like a glowing lava tube extends miles into the Earth.

Started with a 5 gallon steel bucket. Painted the inside flat black. Broke up some Styrofoam into pieces and spray painted them black too. The solvent in the paint dissolves the foam a bit and creates a rock like texture.

Placed a 12 inch acrylic mirror in the bottom of the bucket and glued the foam pieces to the side of the bucket. Left some space between the foam pieces to string red rope lights through. Spayed a little fluorescent orange to give a little color and contrast.

Ran red rope lights in between the Styrofoam spacers and secured to lights to the foam with wire staples.

Here's what I've got with the lights on.

Next step is to cover most of the rope lights with bigger pieces of textured foam. Didn't get a good pic of this step but cut out some random rock shapes and spray painted them gray. Then brushed them with watered down black paint which settled in the textured areas of the foam. Then flipped them over and cut some kerfs into the foam so it would curve with the bucket.

Glued and pinned these pieces to the first layer of foam support pieces. It's getting there.

I found a round piece of 1/4 inch glass for 10 bucks. But it was 28 inches and I needed 16. The internet told me to cut it off in sections.

Then cut off the "tabs"

Not quite round, I was able to smooth it out some with a grinder and flapwheel. Some flat black paint on the outside and some brackets to support the glass.

Next step is to put reflective film on the bottom of the glass, arriving in a couple days on Amazon

[ Edited by MadDogMike on 2025-09-01 17:05:13 ]