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There's been quite a bit of interest in how to construct a lightbox for drawing, so I've put together some renderings and instructions for an easy version that anyone can build.
Materials:
- Two lengths of 42 x 19mm 2.4m DAR Pine Premium
- One sheet of 900 x 600mm 6mm MDF Panel Standard
- One sheet of Suntuf 900 x 600 3mm Flat White Acrylic Sheet
- One pack of Click 3M Cool White LED Strip Lights
- One tube of Selleys 80g All Clear Multipurpose Sealant
- One bottle of Parfix 250ml PVA Wood Glue
- One container of 250ml white paint
- One pack Zenith M8 Forged Wing Nut
Tools:
Step 1
Take your 42 x 19mm Pine timber and cut two lengths each of 862, 600, and 300mm. Pre-drill the ends of the 862 and 600mm sections with the 3mm drill bit. Drill an 8mm hole in one end of both the 300mm pieces. Apply your PVA glue to the ends of the 862mm sections and screw the 600mm sections to them with the woodscrews.
Step 2
In one corner, drill a partial 8mm hole in the frame. This will be used to accommodate the power cable. Apply PVA glue to one side of the frame and position your MDF board. Fix the board into place with your nails.
Step 3
Insert your bolts through the 8mm holes in your frame. Include washers before attaching your 300mm timber sections to the bolts. You might wish to round the top of the leg section and add a chamfer to the bottom of the legs. Add your wingnut, fold the legs and lock them into place.
Step 4
Paint the interior of the box with your white paint. You might also like to paint the exterior sides. After your paint has dried thoroughly, pass the LED light strip through the 8mm hole in the corner of the unit. Make sure to leave the switch on the exterior of the unit. Remove the self-adhesive backing and stick the LED strip around the box's perimeter.
Step 5
Next, take your clear silicone and run a bead around the top of the lightbox. Place the acrylic sheet on top and press it down into position.
That's all there is to it. Quite a simple project that can be made over the weekend. It's perfect for tracing and transferring images or just illustration in general. I'll be keen to see your versions, so please feel free to show us in the comments down below.
Hi @Handy-Andy
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you for joining the discussion.
I'm glad @MitchellMc's guide has inspired you to make your own lightbox. Please make sure to post updates so our members can see your version of the lightbox.
If you have any questions while building this project, please let us know.
Eric
