Remember, in one Disney cartoon girl asked her stepmother to reduce her look at the lights, Chinese paper lanterns that were launched into the air every year? Even in the hand-drawn version, this spectacle captures the spirit, but nothing can be said about reality-it's very beautiful. And, probably, many will want to learn how to make a paper Chinese lantern with their own hands. It would seem that the simplest way is to figure out how to make classical Chinese lanterns, and then repeat all the technological steps with our own hands. It turns out that everything is not so simple. Only Chinese masters know how to make Chinese lanterns with their own hands and know how to do them in the traditional way. Because it uses rice paper, impregnated with a special solution, so as not to catch fire, a bamboo hoop, combustible material and strong wire. And if there should be no problems with wire and combustible material, then a bamboo hoop, and rice paper with special impregnation, it is not particularly convenient to look for. Therefore, for those who wish to make Chinese lanterns, they themselves invented a replacement, like rice paper, and a bamboo hoop. Of course, our classic flashlight will be different, but not much, we'll leave the scheme of the Chinese flashlight the same. So, how to make a heavenly flying flashlight that will be required.
How to make an airy Chinese lantern by yourself?
What will be needed to make a Chinese flashlight:
- bags for garbage thin, color, volume 120 l - 1 pack;
- Scotch tape wide - 1 piece;
- liquid for lighting a fire (medical alcohol) - 1 bottle;
- tracing paper - 1 roll;
- packing cotton wool - 1 pc.
- thin wire;
- a square of cardboard 40 * 40 or 30 * 30 cm - 1 pc.
By using all the necessary materials, you can start assembling the flashlight. The scheme of the Chinese flashlight is quite simple - the outer shell and wick is fixed to the wire frame.
- First we take the garbage bag, open it and measure the diameter.
- From the calque we make a continuation of the package and attach the tracing paper to the package with adhesive tape.
- From a piece of cardboard we cut strips in width of 1,5-2,5 centimeters.
- Strips are attached outside to the tracing paper with the help of all the same scotch tape.
- From the wire we make a skeleton for a flashlight. To do this, it is sufficient to twist a circle from the wire. In the circle, it is necessary to attach two more pieces of wire crosswise, this will give the stiffness of the structure, and the wick will be where to attach.
- In the middle of the frame, on the wire, we fix a wad of cotton wool. Vatu pre-impregnated with medical alcohol or liquid to kindle fires. It is better to prepare several wicks and check how they are ignited, the size of the flame. So you can pick up the perfect wick for your flashlight.
- We put the package with the tracing paper on the frame and start the flashlight.
If such a flashlight seems small to you, then it is in your power to make it bigger, it's enough to glue several garbage bags and take a larger quantity of tracing paper, cardboard, etc.
Several rules for launching Chinese lanterns
Run lanterns only in open areas, away from tall buildings, car parks, dry meadows and forests. And most importantly, if the wind is strong, impetuous, the launch of lanterns is transferred to another time - and then instead of romance, we will get an accident. We ignite the wick and, with the help of a friend (friend), straighten the dome so that it does not come in contact with the flame. Carefully lower the flashlight to the ground, holding the frame. It is necessary that the air inside the flashlight warms up faster. After about a minute the flashlight needs to be lifted to the chest level, as soon as the sky lamp begins to stretch upwards, it needs to be released. We do it quietly, slightly holding it by the rim. Well, then it will only remain to enjoy the beautiful flight of the Chinese air torch in the night sky.