DIY Eclipse Viewer Tube – Safe, Adjustable, And Updated For 2024!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE DIY ECLIPSE VIEWER DESIGNS

First, download my DIY Eclipse Viewer designs from my free library – look for Design #46. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

In the download folder, there is a PDF you can print and cut by hand, and DXF or SVG files you can use with cutting machines. I’ll show you how to prepare the SVG in Cricut Design Space and cut it using a Cricut Maker 3. You can also use an original Maker, an Explore series machine, or the Cricut Venture. I don’t recommend resizing the file to fit on a Joy or Joy Xtra.

TIP: If you’re not sure how to upload, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload SVG files.

STEP 2: PREPARE AND CUT YOUR DIY ECLIPSE VIEWER DESIGN

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. Open Cricut Design Space and click “New Project.”
2. Click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
3. Click “Browse.”
4. Select the SVG file.
5. On the Prepare to Upload screen, it will say “Cut Image” with the design preview.
6. Click “Upload.”
7. Find the design in Recent Uploads and add it to the Canvas. This is what the DIY Eclipse Viewer looks like on the Canvas.
   
8. There are several pieces that make up the DIY eclipse viewer:
   The rectangle with a cutout is the viewing tube.
   The rectangle without a cutout is the extender tube and creates the length of the viewer.
   The tabbed circle without an opening is the projection screen cap.
   The red piece it’s stacked with will be a crease line, and the white circle is the projection screen.
   The tabbed circle with an opening is the sunburst window, which also has a red shape for the crease.
   The gray circle will be cut from aluminum foil. It can also be cut by hand, you’ll just need a push pin to add the pinhole.
9. Ungroup the design.
   
10. If you have a scoring tool, select the red layer for the projection screen cap.
    NOTE: If you don’t have a scoring tool, select and delete both red layers.
11. Use the “Operation” drop-down menu to change it to “Score.”
    
12. Click the group’s layer in the Layers Panel to select both elements.
13. Click “Attach.”
    
14. Use Steps 10-13 to change and Attach the Score layer for the sunburst window, too.
15. Each extender tube rectangle will add about 11” to your DIY eclipse viewer, and a longer viewer will make the image larger, but dimmer. If you want to make it larger, select the rectangle without the cutout and click the “Duplicate” icon until you have the length you want, including about 11” for the viewing tube piece.
    
16. If you’d prefer to cut your aluminum foil piece by hand, find the gray piece in the Layers Panel and click the eye icon to hide it during machine cutting.
    
17. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right.
18. Click “Make.”
19. If prompted, click “On Mat,” choose your mat size, and click “Confirm.”
20. On the Prepare screen, make sure the correct Material Size is selected for your materials.
    NOTE: If you’re cutting the aluminum foil with a machine, leave the Material Size at “12 in x 12 in.”
    
21. Select the first mat again and click “Continue.”
    

CUTTING

1. On the Make screen, set the Base Material for your mats. For cardstock, I used the “Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)” setting with “More” Pressure.
   
2. For your cardstock mats, check that your Premium Fine-Point Blade is clean and in the clamp.
3. Place the first color face up on a green StandardGrip Machine Mat.
4. Use a brayer to make sure it’s evenly adhered.
5. Press the flashing “Load/Unload” button to load the prepared mat into your Cricut.
6. Press the flashing “Go” button to begin cutting.
7. When it has finished cutting, unload the mat, flip it over onto your work surface, and gently roll it back to release the cardstock.
8. If you’re cutting the foil with your machine, tear off a rough 4” square, just make sure it’s larger than the gray circle on the screen.
9. Place it in the top left corner of a blue LightGrip machine mat. Either side facing up is OK.
   NOTE: The Cricut will make the cut right where the preview screen shows, so make sure your material is in the correct spot.
   
10. Set the mat’s material to the “Aluminum Foil” setting with “Default” Pressure.
    NOTE: Your screen may recommend using a deep-point blade, but mine worked well with the fine-point blade.
11. Use Steps 4-7 to cut the aluminum foil.
    
12. Repeat the steps for each additional mat.
    NOTE: When you get to the mat with the cap pieces, you can change the scoring tool if you want, then follow the prompts on the screen.
    
    TIP: Use a spatula to carefully remove any intricate parts and a weeding tool to pop out any small pieces. If you have trouble with any of your cuts, check out my Cricut Tips & Tricks for Cleaner Cuts.
    
    

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE YOUR DIY ECLIPSE VIEWER

1. Gather your DIY eclipse viewer pieces.
   
   NOTE: If you didn’t use a cutting machine to cut your aluminum foil, cut a 3” circle using scissors.
2. Hold the rectangle with a cut-out window lengthwise and roll it around a cylindrical object, like the foil roll, so it can curve without creasing.
   
3. Tuck the tabs into their matching holes and secure them on the outside with clear tape.
   TIP: Starting near the cutout and moving from there might be easier than working on all three at once.
   
4. Use tape to secure the tube’s edge seam well.
   
5. Roll an extender tube around the cylinder so it overlaps about an inch on the end without a cutout.
   
6. Use tape to secure the extender tube's tabs.
   
7. Tape the extender tube to the viewer tube.
   
8. Tape the extender’s seam.
9. Use Steps 5-8 to add as many extender tubes as you want.
   TIP: Make sure they overlap the previous one by an inch and are well secured,
10. Place the sunburst window face down.
    
11. Fold the tabs up to make crease lines.
    
    NOTE: If you didn’t add score lines, wait until you’ve put the cap on the tube to bend the tabs.
12. Center the aluminum circle on the sunburst window so the visible tab edges are even and the pinhole is in the middle and not blocked.
    NOTE: If you didn’t use a Cricut to cut the foil circle, we will add the pinhole once the foil is attached.
    
13. Use tape to secure the foil to the tabs.
    
14. Place the sunburst window on the end of the extender tube (not near the viewer cutout) with the tabs on the outside.
    NOTE: If your sunburst window doesn’t have score lines, gently fold each tab down around the tube so the foil is centered.
15. Use tape to secure the tabs to the exterior of the extender tube.
    
16. If you cut the foil by hand, use your push pin or needle to poke a clean hole in the center of the aluminum foil.
    
17. Hold the viewer up to the light and look inside. If you see any holes letting light in, other than the pinhole, cover them with extra bits of cardstock and tape.
18. Use Steps 10-13 to secure the white cardstock circle to the projection screen cap.
    
19. Make sure the tabs are folded enough that they can fit into the extender tube’s open end by the viewing cutout.
    
20. Insert the projection screen cap into the extender’s open end, pushing it in enough to stay in place. Rotate it so one of the shorter tabs is under the cutout.
    
    NOTE: Don’t use adhesive to keep the cap in place, because you might want to experiment with some of my viewing tips!
21. Lay the assembled viewer on its side and make sure it’s straight.
    
22. Use duct tape to secure each of the joints between the tubes so the viewer is sturdy enough to hold up straight.
    
    

STEP 4: SAFETY CHECK YOUR DIY ECLIPSE VIEWER

1. Before the day of the eclipse, hold the viewing tube up to very strong light -- sunlight is best.
2. With the sunburst window aimed at the light, angle the viewer so you can see a pinpoint of light projected onto the white circle.
3. If it works, you’re all set to use your viewing tube for the eclipse!
   
   NOTE: If it’s not working, use more tape to cover any gaps that might be letting light in.

STEP 5: SAFELY USE YOUR DIY ECLIPSE VIEWER

IMPORTANT: Do not look directly at the eclipse, even while you’re getting set up.

1. On the day of the eclipse, keep your eye looking down and point the sunburst end of the tube with the pinhole directly at the sun.
2. To aim your tube, move it around until you see a round spot of light on the projection paper at the opposite end of your tube. That light is the projected image of the sun!
   
3. If you have trouble aiming the viewer, find your box’s shadow on the ground, then move it until the shadow is as small as possible. It should look like a perfect circle.
   
4. Be sure you do not look through the pinhole at the sun! Look only at the projected image on the white paper. Once you have it in position, rest it on your shoulder if the angle works for that.
5. If you want a larger projection view, remove the projection screen section you wedged into the bottom of your viewing tube and place a sheet of white paper on the ground.
   
6. Hold your tube up, aimed at the sun and pointing down at the paper. You will see the eclipse projected onto the paper on the ground even larger than in your tube!
   
   

STEP 6: SHOW IT OFF

Remember to stay safe while enjoying the historic event!