I’m glad my five years in advertising haven’t been a complete waste of time. My mind-controlling wizard tricks have finally paid off. After only a year of the brilliantly-named “makemesomething.co.uk” someone has finally thought “yes, good idea, make me something”.
And so it came about that my mate Franz over at www.fudgegraphics.com became my modern-day Cosimo De Medici (history of art was not wasted on me either) – the first person to commission and pay me for an original piece of woody madness.
As a designer, he was after a lightbox – but not just any old boring lightbox. He wanted a hand-crafted, custom-designed, one-of-a-kind masterpiece. I was very excited.
So, a mere three months after taking it on (yes, it took a while) here it is – the 2013 Kim Jordan Lightbox, designed exclusively for fudgegraphics.com.
If you’re interested in commissioning your own piece, lightbox or other, please get in touch! I’d be thrilled to help out.
Enjoy the pictures!
Step 1: Buy all the parts: Tasmanian Oak, some Opal 20 perspex, some Phillips strip lights, a bunch of screws, a bit of leather, a switch and some clear perspex.
Step 2: Cut the wood to size using wicked Japanese saw
Step 3: plane wood to nice finish. Make a mess. Spend hours hoovering.
Step 4: Mark and cut dovetail joints. Stab yourself in the hand with chisel.
Step 5: Assemble dovetail box and look in surprise as it fits together.
Step 6: Make leather strap using Scottish leather (thanks Kenny’s grandad!)
Step 7: Make metal holder for leather strap after realising that you’re not strong enough to bend it.
Step 8: Cut out hole and insert silver rocker switch
Step 9: Work some electrical magic and wire up the switch, using fabric cable and retro plug from http://urbancottageindustries.co.uk/.
Step 10: Test lights and marvel at lack of electrocution.
Step 11: Sand, varnish and assemble whilst being really, really, really good looking.
Step 12: Boom.
Step 13: Boom again.
Step 14: Wow!
Step 15: Look at the insides, all held together with Sugru!
Step 16: Sign the damn thing!
Step 17: Testing
Step 18: in action
This is just brilliant! I’ve been searching for a light box but this is by far the nicest one I’ve come across, great work and thanks for the tutorial! I’m not sure mine will turn out as nice as yours, but I might give it a try.
Thanks! Good luck with the making and be careful with the electrical side of things. And if it doesn’t work out, you know who can make you one…
Your dovetail joints are amazing!
For your thicker followers (i.e. your parents) could you explain what a light box is for?
Love and kisses Mum
Thanks! A lightbox is used for tracing and drawing. You put the original on the box and then a piece of paper on top – the light then allows you to see what’s on the first and trace it. A more practical alternative to holding it up against a window. I’ll add a picture of it in action…
So it’s like a Victorian photocopier eh?