I have scratch built bigger Wimshurst machines in the past and also refurbished an older one, but I still could not resist buying this charming little kit. The design is really elegant and well thought out. The build process took maybe 30 minutes. Considering the size of the machine, it is producing rather impressive arcs. It's the perfect little desktop toy :)

Shipping from New Zealand to Norway took 17 days including local delays for customs clearance.

Response from SparKIT | Sept. 6, 2023

Thanks for the great review, we hope the machine gives many years of pleasure!

Thank you also for providing information on shipping times, this is always helpful for other customers.

Aaron | Dec. 7, 2022

Amazing and Highly Recommend!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

As an engineering student, I became interested in electrostatics and the modern applications that could be developed. The SPARKIT is worth it’s price and more, since it’s safe to handle (other high voltage DC power supplies I have in the lab are 30,000 volts at 300 watts, another 300,000 volts at 15,000 watts), and needless to say I prefer using the kit with 2 AA batteries for small experiments like Taylor Cones and so forth. Mostly to get ideas and try small things safely but with a beautifully engineered Wimshurst machine. Can’t go wrong, and it’s an excellent generator.

Michael | July 27, 2022

Absoultely Amazing!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Wow! 10 Stars! Perfectly packaged! Very well constructed. Perfect after minor adjustments as described in the manual. Arc achieved over 1.5 cm. Spinner is perfect, especially in the dark! Great Documentation! Thank You so very much!

Response from SparKIT | Aug. 8, 2022

Thanks for the great review, we hope you will get many years of pleasure from the machine!

Tamer | June 18, 2021

Fantastic little kit!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

This is a very clever little Wimshust machine kit! It's a very smart design, which goes together very easily and works great.

I will be buying a few more as Christmas presents for sure.

Jerry | May 15, 2021

Highly Recommended!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

This review is for the fully assembled option; I did not purchase the kit.

I was very satisfied with this product and the service. The device worked as promised right out of the box!

And, I highly recommend this mini Wimshurst machine for anyone who is interested in the subject of electrostatic generators.

-- JS

Shane | April 24, 2021

Quickest delivery I've ever received. Great price. Fun produ

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Quickest delivery I've ever received. Ordered one night, arrived the next morning. Great price. Fun product

Response from SparKIT | April 26, 2021

It's helpful when you live in the neighborhood!

Simon | Feb. 2, 2021

Well made, good instructions, works well.

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I first saw this kit reviewed on You tube (Plasma channel). They raved over it, I saw that it was made in NZ and was very reasonably priced. This generator is a Wimshurst machine and I had made one many years ago using old records and Leyden Jars for capacitors, It worked but was very cumbersome. The SparKit is very well constructed and the capacitors were well hidden. When first tried the Sparkit did not charge due to a slightly damp atmosphere but worked as soon as a charged piece of plastic water pipe was placed near the Sparkit.
This kit is highly transportable and at a safe voltage and as such is ideal for use in schools, there are many experiments which can be done with this kit to demonstrate electrical properties.
I highly recommend this kit to anyone interested in a modern take of a classical machine which was once used to supply high DC voltages to early hospital X-ray machines.

Thomas | Jan. 15, 2021

Really satisfied

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I bought the machine already built. It has come from the other side of the world and yet needed only a few adjustments to work perfectly.

I have had a bit of trouble with shipment (mainly because of Covid-related restrictions) but Luka has been really supportive.

Response from SparKIT | Jan. 16, 2021

Thanks for the positive review! Yes, Covid has affected shipping to many countries, and we're hearing of shipping times stretching out to many weeks from customers. Glad to hear everything worked out in the end.

Evette | Nov. 19, 2020

Travelled far but worth the wait

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

My 12 year old grandson built (unsuccessfully) this and then needed new parts. I ordered it pre-built and hoped he would be happy. He was overjoyed! He's bending water and testing everything. This is a great idea and worth the time waiting for arrival.

Response from SparKIT | Nov. 19, 2020

Thanks for the review, and glad to know it arrived safely. We look forward to hearing about the reconstruction of the first one with the replacement parts!

Paul | July 30, 2020

Great kit, nice to make, well explained

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

This is a really good way of understanding a Wimshurst electrostatic generator. Not difficult to build with great instructions and an ideal demonstrator unit. A real thrill when it come to life. I would recommend this kit to anyone . I love the electric motor drive idea, nice touch and enables you to focus on what's actually happening. I would love to see a larger version now. Thank you and we'll done.
Regards Paul

Csaba | June 15, 2020

It is a very well done kit.

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Every part is very well designed and done.
The documentation is also very good.
It takes about 45 minutes max for a beginner to compete the kit, which worked from first time I have started it.
The sparks length are 1.5-2 cm, definitely more than 1 cm ( and of course occur more often if the gap is smaller like 1 cm)
I recommend the kit.

Response from SparKIT | June 15, 2020

Thanks for the great review, we're pleased to see you had a good result and hope you continue to use it for a very long time.

Mark | March 18, 2020

Awesome product!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I’m a “lab guy” in a university physics department (for 38 years), and I’m very happy with this kit. It’s a great design, easy to assemble, and it works great. I have several hand-cranked Wimshurst electrostatic generators, but this little, battery powered and motor driven unit is a shining star! It doesn’t produce as high a voltage or as fat a spark as a typical, much larger unit, but for its size, it does an amazing job! I might order a second unit...

Philip | March 11, 2020

A nice demonstrator of a Hamilton's mill (Corona spinner)

For Corona Spinner

I built a few of these myself form household materials for various physics classes but none of them functioned as well as this unit in terms of rpm.

Bill | Feb. 9, 2020

SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Great kit to build !!!
It works Great !!!
Easy & fun to build !!!
Highly recommended. Requires supervision when children are present.

Bill

Adam | Feb. 1, 2020

A great piece of kit!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

The kit arrived on time, well protected and complete. Assembling took about two hours (including wheel adjustments) and worked from the first go :)
Lots of fun and experiments done already - the generator triggered a lot of sparks and even more memories.

Thanks from the whole scientifically-biased family! :)

Stuart | Dec. 29, 2019

Awesome Fun!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I received my kit yesterday. Put it together in less then an hour taking my time. Instructions are great. It fired right up and is fascinating. Thank you SparKIT! Very well made kit.

Garry | Dec. 13, 2019

A wonderful Wimshurst Machine

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

First class service , a well constructed machine .
Built it up and it worked first go ( 2 cm sparks ) .Shocked everyone in the house ( not painful but a laugh ) , i reckon its good for 50 Kv at least
Tried to be an idiot and cranked the motors up to 12V and burnt both out , no real improvement in spark length , just way noisier.
Got replacement motors ( thanks for the info Luka ) , fitted and back working .
On the rare occasion when it wont work i have found it is caused by dust etc, dismantle and wipe down with IPA , so what the say about keeping it clean is VITAL .
All in all a great design , great service and a great fun Wimshurst Machine
Thanks SparKIT
p.s. the Corona spinner kit works very well

Response from SparKIT | Dec. 14, 2019

Thanks for the great review, interesting to hear your journey with overpowering it. Faster rotation will provide more current and more frequent sparks, up to a limit, but the voltage is ultimately limited by the breakdown of the total distance of the gaps between the sectors.

Thomas | Nov. 30, 2019

Nice

For Miniature Wimshurst Machine Disks

The mini Wimshurst machine is awesome ... it's easy and quick to assemble. She worked for me right away

James | Sept. 8, 2019

Very nice kit

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Works really well - started spinning the first time I switched it on and I was rewarded with blue sparks and the smell of ozone.

An easy(ish) build. The only difficult part was fitting the brushes. They're quite hard to get into their holes and tend to 'moult' in the process. An extra one in the kit might have been useful. Also the stands will fall off without a blob of solder to hold them in place. The kit has been designed for this but it's not mentioned in the instructions.

Nick | Aug. 10, 2019

Brilliantly simple

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Great bit of kit, easily assembled even with my fat fingers dodgy eyesight and massive soldering iron. Get a finer soldering iron if you can. Instructions easy to follow, and online support fantastic. Watch out for customs charge in the UK though, should have bought two to get the average price down.

Philip | June 24, 2019

Great kit works very well

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I watched a video of the assembly on Youtube before starting. The assembly was easy, but I already had a fine tipped soldering iron (If you don't have one get one before starting). I recommend using an extra hands station if you have one https://shop.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_22585.jpg

to make the assembly process super easy. The kit worked very well, I made my own larger acrylic base to which I added a home made leyden jar/capacitor so I had a choice of regular or much fatter sparks.

I didn't need to communicate with the SparKIT people so my rating of that is based solely on their included instruction sheet.

Fabio | June 19, 2019

Great device and good seller!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I'm an Italian physicist.
The item took only two weeks to arrive in Italy from the other side of the world.
I love all electrostatic machines and this is perhaps my favorite.
It works perfectly, it's easy to assemble, it has a beautiful design and it's easily transportable!
Beautiful as an object to keep on your desk and excellent as an educational device for school.
In addition the Corona Spinner is a truly fanciful object.
Thanks!

Marcio | March 28, 2019

Outstanding Kit!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

A lot of thought has gone into this kit, as evidenced by the small custom parts and the well written assembly instructions. This was fun to put together and generates a really nice spark when operating. Hands down a fantastic kit!

David | Jan. 17, 2019

Maxed out Cool Factor!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I saw this reviewed on youtube and was instantly hooked, I had to have one.

I am trying to find a "safe" way to generate lightning style electrical sparks. Well, "safer" at any rate. My reason? Here's the abridged version of this story: I roast coffee. No big deal there, lots of roasteries in the Universe, but mine has a gimmick. All my roasts are performed by hand over an open fire that has been ignited using primitive methods. That means either foraged "natural" fire, or bow drill friction fire, or concentrated solar, or the fire piston, no modern butane lighters or matches. Of course the coffee doesn't care how it's roasted, and in essence it's no better or different, it's just a gimmick that has made itself obvious to me over dozens of camping trips and roasting coffee in the bush. The secret ingredient to Secret Ingredient Soup is.... nothing! See Kung Fu Panda for this obscure movie reference. Anyway, moving on..

Our ancestors had to gather fire as they found it occurring naturally in the wild. So meteor strikes, volcanic activity, lightning strikes, etc. And they were forced to do this because no one knew how to make it on demand. It is believed to be one of the most important biological pressures on our species, learning how to make fire. This learning process evolved over hundreds of thousands of years, no one knows precisely how long, but a wicked long time.

Back to the here&now, I have a rating system for such fire from Most Epic Sacredness, to not sacred at all, when it comes to igniting a "primitive" fire. I am not bold (or stupid) enough to chase actual lightning, or go rummaging along lava flows, but if I'm ever "fortunate" enough to be near some, and there are a few embers with little or no risk to my physical self, oh yes, I am definitely going to collect some of that! Then the idea as I watched that initial youtube video: hey! this little Wimhurst Machine may be an excellent "safe" way to simulate the mechanics of natural lightning without becoming human toast.

The shipping took about 10-ish days and was totally worth the wait. It was an exercise of patience anticipating my little experiment, and upon arrival I set everything up and immediately offered a small piece of charcloth into the spark gap. But it is too small to ignite even char. Bummer.

Even though my initial purpose for this little Wimhurst Machine was not met, I don't see this as a failure or a waste of money and time because, like I mentioned in the title, this thing is maxed out on the Cool Factor scale! I love it! My wife however, who is a college professor, is afraid of it (smile). Which is actually funny. She refuses to get any closer than a dozen feet when it's on. The effect of sight and sound and smell go a long way to impress and it's just fascinating to watch. Currently the humidity in our home is 27%. It's winter here in Rhode Island so the air is very dry right now. This one produces 11 mm sparks and will happily use your skin as a conductor if you touch the gap. It's no worse than any other spark one may get on a dry day when reaching for a door knob or whatever. Definitely heed the warning about sensitive electronic equipment, what seems harmless to you&me will eagerly destroy microchips or SD cards. I brought it into a humid bathroom after a long hot shower and it still pumps out the same size sparks, but at a slower rate.

In conclusion, this little Wimhurst Machine stands to inspire me to build a larger version that can ignite char, that way so I can legitimately lay claim to the marketing gimmick of using a primitive fire to roast my coffee. Thank you and Ignis Prim!

Sverre | Nov. 2, 2018

Good priced, well working product.

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

What others have already said - I can highly recommend this kit. It works really well and produces sparks close to 2cm. Instructions are clear and logical and the build quality is really good. It is quite clear to me that there has been put much time and effort in making this kit.

What also impressed me was the shipping time. From the day of order to the day of arrival in Denmark it only took 10 days, from what is literally from the other side of the globe (within a few 100 km's)

Nancy | Sept. 15, 2018

Fun product, promptly shipped, well-packed, no probs

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I got this for my own education & amusement. Instructions were clear, Item is just as described. A happy price for a cool thing. No problems with transaction. These folks accomplished what their "mission" stated. Will recommend to friends & family

Jakub | July 31, 2018

A quality product for fair price

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

The asembly was easy (except for soldering of the charge collectors) and the instructions were clear. I took me about an hour. The device worked perfectly from the begginig and I saw some HUGE sparks. Producer claims that this device can make 10mm sparks so I was very happy when I measured spark length of 17mm. I use this mainly for static electricity experiments (lifting hair, attracing water/salt/sand) and it also works flawlessly. I think that this device is just awesome for its price tag. I highly reccomend it.

Salvatore | July 9, 2018

A wonderful, reliable, compact, and educational device!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

I purchased one for myself and two more as gifts. Assembly is easy with basic soldering skills. All parts are well packaged in separate clear plastic bags.

The design and manufacturing of the all the parts is outstanding. Very high quality printed circuit boards with a formally elegant black soldermask top layer.

The steps of assembly are all simple enough to accomplish full assembly in less than an hour. The only thing that could be improved is the size of the photos in the tiny instruction sheets. All photos are too small and of very low resolution. Not enough clarity to identify the small parts orientation, especially the charge collectors and the brushes. After a few minutes of test fitting it is possible to guess the correct alignment for soldering in place.

The completed generator works immediately, with a very simple and reliable mechanism. The two motors turn the disks silently, quickly coming up to speed and creating a series of surprisingly long arcs between the terminals. The corona motor works beautifully!

Thank you so much for your skillful design of a fun and easy kit.

Chris | May 27, 2018

Awesome modern version of a classic invention

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

This little unit is a great new interpretation of the classic machine invented by James Wimshurst, using thoroughly new techniques & materials.
Assembly was straight forward enough, but needed a moderated degree of skill with a soldering iron, and the machine worked perfectly first time.
Like most electrostatic generators, it is sensitive to humidity, so be sure to operate it in dry surroundings, or use a hairdryer to warm it up if performance is lacking or fading away.
I had the privilege of getting the first one in Tasmania, and am delighted to add it to my other high voltage paraphernalia.
An awesome unit, highly recommended!

William | April 11, 2018

This is a lovely kit!

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

This kit is really nicely engineered, well put together, well documented, and quite reasonably priced.
I've been toying with the idea of an electrostatic machine made from PCBs for years, but the pricing of "somewhat large" PCBs was annoying, at least until recently. So I was looking into it again, and low and behold, someone had already done pretty much exactly what I was thinking. And did it well!
I guess one of the best things I can say is that my unit did NOT work the first time I turned it on. So I continued to follow the "troubleshooting" part of the instructions, and ... they solved my problem! (I didn't have the spinning disks spaced correctly.)
Delivery (to the US) was about 10days after ordering.

Ruud | Feb. 25, 2018

Mini Electrostatic Generator

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Realy my compliments about the Sparkit delevery and instructions. Within a week recieved and the instructions were very good detailed. It works perfect. Thank you very much.

Ruud The Netherlands

Craig | Feb. 11, 2018

Delightful

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Honestly I've always wanted a Wimshurst machine but I never found one that seemed affordable. This little guy is perfectly affordable, fun to build, works better than I expected, makes up to 12mm length sparks even in humid Oregon USA, and the gold plate on gloss black PCB version looks really cool even turned off. I am totally impressed with this and highly recommend it to any hobbyist.

If soldering is not one of your skills then order it pre-built.

Delivery to the USA from New Zealand was just a bit over one week.

Ben | Feb. 11, 2018

Elegant and fun Wimshurst generator kit

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

Includes printed instructions with photos, so no need to hunt around online to build this. My generator worked perfectly the first time, and makes 1cm sparks easily. I chose the gold-on-flat-black PCB color option and it looks very nice. I love it!

Vicky | Aug. 8, 2017

SparKIT fun galore...

For SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

My SparKIT arrived within the stated arrival time however the instructions were not included. A little searching on line and I found them so got stuck in and built the kit.

The instructions are clear and straightforward. I did however have difficulty encouraging a spark out of the unit but a quick email to Luka and a slight technical adjustment on my part and I now have my very own Whimshurst machine.

I would highly recommend the SparKIT for any budding enthusiast.

Vicky

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Tindie

SparKIT

Overall Rating:

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

All Reviews

Charming and brilliant little kit

Response from SparKIT | Sept. 6, 2023

Amazing and Highly Recommend!

Absoultely Amazing!

Response from SparKIT | Aug. 8, 2022

Fantastic little kit!

Highly Recommended!

Quickest delivery I've ever received. Great price. Fun produ

Response from SparKIT | April 26, 2021

Well made, good instructions, works well.

Really satisfied

Response from SparKIT | Jan. 16, 2021

Travelled far but worth the wait

Response from SparKIT | Nov. 19, 2020

Great kit, nice to make, well explained

It is a very well done kit.

Response from SparKIT | June 15, 2020

Awesome product!

A nice demonstrator of a Hamilton's mill (Corona spinner)

SparKIT - Mini Electrostatic Generator

A great piece of kit!

Awesome Fun!

A wonderful Wimshurst Machine

Response from SparKIT | Dec. 14, 2019

Nice

Very nice kit

Brilliantly simple

Great kit works very well

Great device and good seller!

Outstanding Kit!

Maxed out Cool Factor!

Good priced, well working product.

Fun product, promptly shipped, well-packed, no probs

A quality product for fair price

A wonderful, reliable, compact, and educational device!

Awesome modern version of a classic invention

This is a lovely kit!

Mini Electrostatic Generator

Delightful

Elegant and fun Wimshurst generator kit

SparKIT fun galore...