Light Box

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I wanted to post this light box. I’m getting ready to make another of these for my mother in law as a birthday present. I liked it so much I really didn’t want to give the first one away.

David L. Whitehurst

Very nice, I like the design you did in each panel.
Do you mind telling what material you used for the light panels?

Figuring out how to do something you have never done is what makes a good challenge.

I got this 1/4" plywood that was probably mahogany on the outside. It was red and had wide pores in it. I sanded a boo-boo (we’ll call it) and the underlying lamination was probably birch. I used pine shelving board for the bottom and top. I cut huge rectangles out of the panels first. I then made the patterns with little sticks and I’ve since learned that is not the best gluing situation. I’m still not sure how I’m going to do the next one. I may just use epoxy or the brown Gorilla glue. Not sure.

The entire thing was stained with Minwax Colonial Maple. It’s very light but with Minwax Tung Oil looks nice. I glued handmade paper with grass in it to the panels on the inside. It has a night light bulb inside. It’s very delicate. But it’s not a piece of furniture either. I like it but I’ve since learned a lesson about gluing to end grains. My prototype Shaker table in pine had breadboard ends with no joinery, just laminated and glued on the ends. One piece just fell off one day sitting by my window. A cabinet-maker friend discussed this no-no with me after it happened.

David L. Whitehurst

It a beautiful light box.
I think it will be a nice gift as well.

Maybe small dowels will help with the end grain long grain situation. I am thinking toothpick size.
It looks like you have room for 1/8. They sell those 36" rods pretty cheap.
A lot of work for sure.

Abbas, Castro Valley, CA

Wow, paper with grass in it, who would have thought? Very cool!

I have a little Porter Cable furniture staple gun. Shoots 1/2" wide staples with whatever length legs (3/16 – 1/2 I believe) You could glue and staple them across the back, works good for this sort of thing since you don’t see the back. (Food for thought)

Figuring out how to do something you have never done is what makes a good challenge.

Very nice. Here’s an idea for gluing the sticks. Make mini dowels using toothpicks.

Losing fingers since 1969

Very nice lamp ,cool design.

woodworking classes, custom furniture maker