You Have Just Been Poisoned

By Sean Michael Ragan
Time Required: 45 minutes

Print this Project

Fans of Patrick McGoohan’s classic BBC spy series The Prisoner will recognize this gimmick from Episode 15, “The Girl Who Was Death.” This is a pint glass with words etched on the bottom (in authentic “Village” font) that appear line by line as the liquid is imbibed.

Update: Got lots of folks asking to buy these, and I finally managed to get a couple dozen made and posted in my Etsy shop. Thanks for all your positive comments.

Update 2: Etchworld has started carrying these stencils in their online catalog, so those of you who want to DIY should now have a much easier time sourcing the vinyl. Thanks, folks!

Steps

Step #1: Clean bottom of glass

NextPrev

Moisten a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and wipe the bottom of the glass squeaky clean.

Conclusion

The stencil I used was laser cut from adhesive-backed vinyl with a transparent "carrier" sheet that makes it easy to apply the entire stencil, "islands" and all, at once. I ordered four of them from Etchworld for $1.76 apiece.

The stencil art is attached to this project as a .PDF file. You can also download it as an .AI, .SVG, or .DXF file from Thingiverse.

You can, of course, make your own stencil design. For it to read correctly from inside the glass, it needs to be reversed left-to-right. The reproduction "Village" font I used is freely available here.

Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

Sean Michael Ragan

Use a mug instead of a glass! And then orient the text based on whether you think the mug is more likely to be used by a right- or left-handed drinker. =]
Sean Michael Ragan

Yes it does. As pointed out in Step 5. But probably worth emphasizing.
NMF

Especially since those nitrile gloves provide no protection to acids. HF is scary stuff- it won’t burn your skin- it seeps painlessly into your tissue and seeks Ca- that is your bones- and dissolves it. Best get real acid gloves if you’re screwing around with HF.
Sean Michael Ragan

I did finally managed to make a run of these and get them listed in my Etsy store, if anyone wants to buy. Thanks for your interest. Sorry about the busted Etchworld link.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76104876/you-have-just-been-poisoned
Sean Michael Ragan

The claim that “nitrile gloves provide no protection to acids” is unsupported by any evidence that I can find, and, frankly, makes little sense to me. They exclude water, they exclude acid.
Sean Michael Ragan

Those are cool! If you want to use my vector art, which is authentic to the show styling, you can download it at the link below, and should feel free to do so. Sell it or whatever, I don’t care, though I suppose it’s possible the BBC actually has some rights in this that I am not empowered to convey. But you won’t get any grief from me, though you might link to this guide if you are feeling generous.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:9384
Ryan Byrne

Nitrile gloves are impervious to hydrofluoric acid in liquid form, although vapourised acids may penetrate thin layer gloves with sufficient exposure. A respirator should be worn.
Source: Research pharmacist. Provided link to MSDS for HF, Section 8 provides the relevant safety information;
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924296
Pingback: 25 Amazing DIY Gifts For Father's Day - Faithfully Free()

Make: and Maker Faire are registered trademarks of Maker Media, Inc. | Privacy | Terms

Get the Magazine

Make: is the voice of the Maker Movement, empowering, inspiring, and connecting Makers worldwide to tinker and hack. Subscribe to Make Magazine Today!

Sign up for the Make: Newsletter

Stay inspired, keep making.

Draw Abstract Art with a Random Number Generator

Explore Lenz’s Law with Gravity-Defying Magnet Tricks

How To: Build a Six-Axis Positioning Platform From Stuff You Can Buy at the Hardware Store

Fold Up a Jumping Origami Frog with LED Eyes

Maker Pro News: Maker Health at Maker Faire, Pebble Founder’s Comeback, and More

Edible Innovations: 7 Food Makers Coming to Maker Faire New York

Quick Tip: Make a Guitar Practice Amp for Under $35

Register Today for the Make: Education Forum

World Maker Faire

Milwaukee

Maker Faire San Diego

Pittsburgh

Maker Faires Around the World

Make: Projects

Tools

Steps

Step #1: Clean bottom of glass

Step #2: Position stencil

Step #3: Apply stencil

Step #4: Remove areas to be etched

Step #5: Apply etching cream

Step #6: Remove etching cream

Step #7: Verify that the etch is complete

Step #8: Remove the stencil

Conclusion

Sean Michael Ragan

Get the Magazine

Sign up for the Make: Newsletter

Make: Projects

You Have Just Been Poisoned

Tools

Steps

Step #1: Clean bottom of glass

Step #2: Position stencil

Step #3: Apply stencil

Step #4: Remove areas to be etched

Step #5: Apply etching cream

Step #6: Remove etching cream

Step #7: Verify that the etch is complete

Step #8: Remove the stencil

Conclusion

Sean Michael Ragan

Explore Making

Our Company

Follow Us

Makers, we want to hear from you!

Thank you for the feedback!

Sign Up

Follow Us

Sign Up

Make:

Explore Making

Our Company

Welcome to the Make: Community!

You might also like these newsletters:

Maker Pro

Maker Faire

Make: Education

Awesome!

Awesome!

We've got it.

Thank you!

Get the Magazine

Sign up for the Make: Newsletter