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how do i go about building a light-box?
Hi,
Has anyone built there own light box yet? I am about to take on this task and had a few questions.
1. What things do I do to keep the box as thin as I possible.
2. With the acrylic or plexi how do I make it white? Paint, peel and stick window finish?Thanks, here is my game plan if you choose to read on. Any comments are appreciated.
I plan to build a frame and mount two large florescent lights inside. I will leave about 7 cm clearance from the lights to the front acrylic. The size of my light box will be 4 feet by 2.5 feet.
I will build a trim to keep the acrylic in place and to hold the image on the arcylic.
I would like to make something along these means but I doubt I will get it that slim.
http://www.photoglow.com/Thanks for your help.
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5 Replies
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Hi and welcome to the Boards, perhaps you can indroduce yourself,
Give us an idea of what you do etc.As for building a light box I would buy in, Panatrim boxes can be about 100 mm in depth, a problem here in the uk, I dont know about Canada, is the regulations mean you would need to be qualified to manufacture your on box, and hold the relevent electrical certificates.
Buying the box complete with acrylic panel also saves time and money, you dont have to buy a full sheet or cut and apply a hanging strip.
Peter
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Like Peter – faster, often cheaper & a lot easier to buy one in already made.
As for ‘white’ acrlyic, use OPAL with an LT (light transmission) to suit your needs. It looks white but lets light through.
With lighting: In general the more tubes the more even the light spread – you don’t want 2x super bright when 4x normal will be better. Also, the colour of the tubes makes a difference. Cool white v warm white can make a huge difference. Remember to work with the length of the tubes when making boxes & vice versa.
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Gyromite, do you have building demolition yards in your little part of the world. Find one and go have a poke about and you just may be surprised at what you will find.
I paid $5.oo here for a used 4′ x 2′ ceiling mount light fitting.
This was the type used in hanging ceilings and came with a prismatic lens and 3 tubes.I am planning on laying it into a bench top when I find enough room to fit a decent sized bench. All I did was whack a 3 pin plug whacked onto the cable and Bobs ya Uncle. Works great, I’m using it on top of the bench at the moment with clear perspex simply ‘cos I’ve been too slack too get the right stuff to cover it.
Have a hunt around, you’ll find something very cheaply I’m sure.
best
lance
:thumbsup:
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might pay to drop these guys an email http://www.snapperframes.com/Light%20Box.htm
They manufacture a lightbox 52mm thick. I am pretty sure they sell in kit form to overseas clients. May be worth dropping them a line.
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Wow, you guys are amazing. Thanks so much for your help.
I am not part of a business, i just want a light box to put on my wall and display pictures etc.Thanks again for your help, I wil check the retailer out and take a trip to the junk yard.
Its good to know that it may be cheaper and certainly much better looking to buy then to make it. Usually, I build things once and screw it up and then build it again to get it right.
thanks
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