For H.S. use Knox gelatine instead of glass or Plexiglass. Use a standard 1/2 gallon of milk carton, which is close to a square of 3 and 3/4 inch by 3 and 3/4 inch. Cut about 1 and 1/2 inch of the bottom; Line it with plastic wrap, and held in place by paper clips. Make enough gelatine to fill the square to about 1/2 inch; after it hardens, remove the plastic wrap mold and use this square which is about 1/2 inch thick, for calculating the index of refraction. Be sure to remove the plastic wrap, and even out the edges if needed.
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If you cannot locate strips of metal, then use 12 gauge copper wire and wire coat hanger, and aluminum wire from an electrician or chain link fence company or hard ware store.

For supporting the clothes pin, holding the metal strips or metal wires; For your main support stand, use a plastic gallon bottle, make or puncture a pair of holes about 1 and 3/4 inches bellow the main opening of the bottle, on one side of the handle, but not on the handle side, it should be on the left or right shoulder. The holes should be about 1 inch apart, and parallel to the surface. Then make two more hole opposite the first set of holes. Obtain a 12 gauge copper wire, about 1 and 1/2 foot long, fold in half, and then try to thread them (individual wire into one hole), through the pair of holes, until it reaches the other side. You then can twist the pair of wires coming through the neck of the plastic bottle, so you do not get any movement or play in the wire. Now using a single wire, make a " U " shape bend, ( Dim. approximate 1/4 to 1/2 in. bend with a 1 in. leg), this " U "should be parallel to the surface. Fill the gallon bottle, to the height of the puncture holes, this will give it stability. Now you can attach your clothes pin that holds the strip of metals, with another clothes pin, but first make any height adjust of the wire.

Suggested work area, obvious the kitchen sink !

Note:

There are hundreds of dollar stores, with slave labor products, and you can buy a set of four Bic type butane lighters, for a dollar. Just a note, there are several dollar stores in this area and none of them have the same products, so you may have to look around. The moral implications in supporting such stores are many, and some one should address them. =================================================================