High voltages and children's toys mix brilliantly, right?

Lego Wimshurst

A Lego Wimshurst electrostatic generator

The discs are the non-metalised cover discs you used to get with CD cakes, with aluminium foil tape sectors attached. The drivetrain was built in Lego Technic, with the discs hotmelt glued to the gears. Neutraliser brushes were made from fine multistranded wire, and the collector spikes were bent coarser multistranded wire attached to some high voltage cable offcuts to connect the Leyden jars.  The Leyden jars were made using stubby bear bottles with aluminium tape outside, filled with water inside.

Focused on the spark

Focused on the spark

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