Did anyone make ION GUNs or DEATH RAY projects from 1980s books ?

[lordvader88]

When I was a kid I had electronics books that said I could make such things. I suppose now that I know a bit I, should dig them up

I will be very very disappointed tho if I can't make star wars and star trek weapons at home on a limited budget

[German_EE]

<sigh>

Prepare to be disappointed. If you could do this at home on a limited budget then the US DoD would not be spending millions of USD on directed energy weapons. Unless of course you discover something that doesn't obey the laws of physics, but please don't go there.

[Brumby]

I don't recall projects of that nature - but you can bet your boots they would be purely decorative.  If you want something serious - then that's a whole different ball game.

You might enjoy this:

[mathsquid]

I remember seeing these books:

Build Your Own Laser, Phaser and Ion Ray Gun (https://www.amazon.com/Build-Laser-Phaser-Working-Projects/dp/0830606041)

Lasers, Ray Guns and Light Cannons (https://www.amazon.com/Lasers-Ray-Guns-Light-Cannons/dp/0070450358/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1505734101&sr=1-9&keywords=gordon+mccomb)

But I never built any of the stuff.  Gordon McComb's "The Robot Builder's Bonanza" was a big influence on a younger MathSquid, but I never built any of the stuff back then because of lack of funds, supplies, etc.

[eugenenine]

I checked out both of those from the local library repeatedly.  Never did finish any of the projects though, just wasn't in a kids budget.

[Cyberdragon]

Somewhere on Youtube there is a guy that built a homemade open-air gas laser out of nothing but a homemade HV supply and some simple hardware. Of course it was weak and unfocused, but if you were to put some optics on it, it might have a small chance of burning something (I think it was a UV laser).

Not sure how long it would run before burning up though.

[T3sl4co1l]

Somewhere on Youtube there is a guy that built a homemade open-air gas laser out of nothing but a homemade HV supply and some simple hardware. Of course it was weak and unfocused, but if you were to put some optics on it, it might have a small chance of burning something (I think it was a UV laser).

Not sure how long it would run before burning up though.

Quite a while: atmospheric nitrogen is in ready supply!

Tim

[LaserSteve]

Yes..

Did the  YAG, Image Converter Tube,  and HENE...

Steve