Litho in Wall Picture Frame

Here's a picture frame for a 8" x 10" of the grandson. The frame measures 13.5" x 12" x 1.75" . It's lit by 2 strips of LED's from the sides within the back of the frame.

Just need to find the right location to hang in the house, I'll leave that up to the boss

http://www.huisinga.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=5728

can you explain more about how the lights work and how you made the back

Ron,
Fantastic job! Now that you have teased us with the pictures please post a little more detail on the lighting system!!

All,
Sorry for the delay, but sometimes the day job gets in the way of fun!

Here’s what I have done and I’m sure you all may find better ways of accomplishing the same effect.

The picture frame it self, I used ¾” thick stock for the 8”X 10” litho. Cut a rabbit 3/8” wide by 9/16” deep in order to recess the litho and light frame from behind.

The lighting is 12” 24 led flexible strips placed into a frame built to fit within the rabbit of the picture frame. For lack of a better name let’s call this the light frame.


For the light frame used 1” x ¾” stock and cut two dado’s one closest to the litho to hold the led strips and the other the back board to close it all in.






Recessed and drilled one of the shorter sides to hold the power & switch, then hot melt glued the led strips in place along with the small amount of leads for the led’s. ( silicone will work also just longer dry time)

Inserted the light frame into the picture frame which is held in with 28 gauge pins

Observations :

I used the long side of the frame to mount the led’s as to get the maximum light into the enclosure, also since the litho was in landscape it looked better being lit from the top & bottom.

Also mounted the power & switch on the side rather then straight out the back of the back board as to minimize the depth for wall hanging. Now if I was too have this as desktop frame then would have come out the back.

Used white melanine for it’s reflective properties for the back board

As I stated earlier I sure you may find better ways of achieving a similar effect , experiment away and share your work!

I have ten more of these to make so as I progress will post more detailed photos of the steps.

Hope this helps & thanks for looking!
Ron

Ron,
Thanks a lot for the write up and yes please post more info as you go along with the other projects.

I believe there is a strong interest in your LED lightings system. Things like the components them selves, sources for getting them etc.

great work, always enjoy seeing them!!

fwharris wrote:Ron,
Thanks a lot for the write up and yes please post more info as you go along with the other projects.

I believe there is a strong interest in your LED lightings system. Things like the components them selves, sources for getting them etc.




great work, always enjoy seeing them!!

I've been sourcing from ebay at this time as I have yet to find a supplier in the states.
Expect to pay around $2-$3 each with shipping inculded I generally have purchased 20 plus at a time to avoid delays in having stock on hand. As they typically come from either China & Hong Kong and customs can slow things down. The sellers I have used have been very reliable in the past. Please note that you must select the correct color because they are available in several colors. If your interested in the sellers I've used I can PM that to you.
As for cutting these strip to a preferred length some caution is required , if cut incorrectly can cause the last three leds in the strip not to light . As there is a drop down resistor every third led so if cut before that resistor the last three won't have voltage applied. So you need to cut after that resistor or at least account for the effects.
I can't speak for another then the ones I have been purchasing , So PLEASE check the internal wiring before cutting , since the strip is clear it's easy to see how they are wired in the first place.

BTW: I even mounted one of these on your dust collector to light up inside the CW


Thanks for the kind words!
Ron