Light box kit

[Lou Ann]

Have any of you bought the light box kit that is sold at Delphi and other stained glass retailers?

http://www.delphiglass.com/index.cfm?page=itemView&itemsysid=171540

Santa needs to watch his budget and this looks to be the most economical solution to my lack of a light box unless I can convince him to build one big enough for my maxi surface...

would love any comments from people who have used this one... I know it is small but the largest sheets of glass I tend to work with are 12 x 18...

LA

[JoanFrances]

LouAnn, it may be less expensive to build the bigger one if you can talk your honey into building it.  Sometimes I find it a pain in the butt that I can't fit the entire pattern on my light box to see how different glass will interact in the piece with each other.  So it isn't just one glass sheet size that you will be interested in when using the light box. 

[Kev]

The bigger the better!

[Glassic]

I question the economy of that one. As pictured you are looking at 60 bucks unless you have a Morton and a light lurking in your glass den. I seems they do not supply a top.

My first light box was an old drawer and glass from a fridge shelf, the portable I built looks rather like the Delphi one.
If your local lumber yard cuts to size you can make one for pennies on the dollar.
 
I forgot to add shipping, I would add a light to a glass topped desk.

[ct4mom]

Lou Ann, you still need the grid and light for this and for 30.00 you can buy a lot of wood to make a bigger box. Also there are many ideas out there as I have seen them made from an old drawer. Also check craigslist in your area...I got mine for 20.00 and its 4' sq.

[Rebecca]

Tony used to advise using a glass storm door.  I think he put it on sawhorses and could use any light he wanted under it.  He even used sunlight by tilting it by a window or putting a mirror under it by a window.  You might find a storm door on Craigslist or at a used-stuff store.  You could use sawhorses or make a cheap frame to hold it up and put a cheap light fixture under it if you wanted it to be permanent instead of "mobile" like Tony's.  It might cost the same, but would give you more room to lay out a complete pattern and see how the glasses interact as Joan said.

Rebecca

[mich4u33]

I have one of those.  It works pretty well for small things.    It could be a little brighter.  It does not come with a light so that is an extra $10 on top of the additional cost of the grid.    I think if you can build your own it would be best.

[TodB]

Lou Ann:
Most clear glass shops have scrap plate glass and excess tempered glass. Either makes a great top. Usually, it's reasonable and sometimes it's is free.

I made my lightbox using 1 x 8 lumber for the sides with a 1 x 2 gusset in each corner for strength. I used silicon to glue the plate glass on top. It has a handle and has served me for about 30 years. I sprayed the underside of the glass with glass frosting spray (paint).

I've always liked the recycled drawer idea. Appeals to the tightwad in me.
Good luck, Lou Ann, but don't spend a lot on this part - buy more glass instead!
- Tod

[Anne]

This is the one I use LouAnn.  I bought it originally because the size was right.  I use it as a light table and I cut on it too.  I like it and while it was expensive it's worked well for me and fit into the spot I had for it perfectly. I like cutting on it because the grid picks up glass chips - when I need to use it for a light table I just put a piece of plexiglass on it.

[JoanFrances]

Lou Ann:
Most clear glass shops have scrap plate glass and excess tempered glass. Either makes a great top. Usually, it's reasonable and sometimes it's is free.

I made my lightbox using 1 x 8 lumber for the sides with a 1 x 2 gusset in each corner for strength. I used silicon to glue the plate glass on top. It has a handle and has served me for about 30 years. I sprayed the underside of the glass with glass frosting spray (paint).

I've always liked the recycled drawer idea. Appeals to the tightwad in me.
Good luck, Lou Ann, but don't spend a lot on this part - buy more glass instead!
- Tod

Tod, question if you don't mind.  After you glued the glass in place, how do you change your light bulbs when needed?  I like that you used the 1x8's for the sides to help with the heat thing.  Did you paint the inside of the box?

Yes LouAnn, look for ways around the cost, and use the savings on more glass like Tod suggested.  I love that idea.  My Mom used to say that "Joan pinchs a penny till it screams, before she spends it".  LOL

[Lou Ann]

thanks for all the feedback...

I'm not sure what Santa is going to do... he is at work right now and I just sent him an email telling him the general consenus is it is too small... I already have the maxi-surface on my workstation so I'm hoping to get him to build a box to go under it (not sure I'll be able to leave it there all the time or not because it could be too high comfort-wise and I can't lower the workstation any)

I looked at the glass desks already and the height of them is too low to comfortably work so he would have to build a platform for me and I really don't have the space in my work area for another piece of "furniture"

The storm door is an interesting idea but there is no way it will fit in my area and I don't want to carry glass down my stairs to use it in a bigger space

I'll be curious to see what he has to say tonight -- I'd be willing to bet he already has enough wood in the garage to just build a bottomless one for my maxisurface (heck, he might even have plywood for the bottom) -- the hard part is getting him the time to go out to his workshop and get it done because I'm spoiled and Santa doesn't come late :-)

Although I would like to do this as economically as possible, I'm not too worried about the cost because this is the only thing I'm really asking for and right now by husband's free time is pretty valuable

[JoanFrances]

LouAnn, when I built my work table I had my stepson use a router on the counter top so that my glass is sitting in the channel, then built the box under the work table.  That may work for you.  I will take a picture of it if you would like.  I just wish it were bigger.  I will have a bigger one come spring or sooner lol

[Lou Ann]

thanks Joan but something like that would not work with my workstation -- I have 2 standard kitchen cabinets (roundly 2' wide) that stand seperated by about 2' with a 6' piece of counter on top of them and their isn't enough space in that open area to do that plus the backsplash and front lip would be in the way for the box

Santa just told me to give him my grid so he can determine the size so I guess I better go vacuum all the shards out because Santa doesn't like splinters

[JoanFrances]

WOW, that was fast LouAnn.  The man is on a mission.  Can't wait to see what he comes up with

[Lou Ann]

WOW, that was fast LouAnn.  The man is on a mission.  Can't wait to see what he comes up with

More like a man wanting to get me to stop emailing him!!! I'm sure he won't actually do anything with it this weekend... Now I have to get the shards out and have things ready....

I'm a little nervous it won't fit on my workstation width-wise but I'm sure he will take that into consideration because he does wonderful woodworking and plans everything out first...

[TodB]

Good questions, Joan Frances. My light box has no bottom; yes, I painted it white inside.
I added a hefty metal handle to one side so I can store it like a suitcase. The glass side is much heavier so I put two hammer-in feet under the glass side so it sits slightly tilted but secure. Some of the features were serendipity rather than good planning.
I also have a toggle switch for the lights on one side. The box is about 24" square.
- Tod

[Glassic]

Well fingers crossed for you, let's hope he gets to it this time around, I had forgotten that I'd already given you the desk idea. Was it Ian that has the drop down cover for his box? Sort of an RV over the sink concept.
Joan I think from the description Tod gives that his box, like mine is braced, not fully covered o the base. Hah we post at the same time!

[JoanFrances]

with all the different applications we have all used to come up with our light boxes maybe it would be a good hints for equipment because that way people could get ideas for fitting their space and needs.

[Glassic]

Mine is lined with acrylic mirror and has a rope handle! The mirror came as scrap from the local windowauto glass guy.

[Rebecca]

Lou Ann, if you make one like Tod says that you can move out of the way, then put on the table.  What I'm trying to say is that if the one Santa brings makes your table too tall, you can stand on one of those step exercise doohickeys.  You can get them cheap at yard sales if you don't already have one.  I'll take a quick picture of one that I got from someone else.  Her dh made it.  Be right back...

Rebecca