A Wooden Dog LED Lamp

by Well Done Tips

34K40447

Intro: A Wooden Dog LED Lamp

This time I’ll show you how I made a cool looking wooden dog LED lamp that could be powered with a USB port, power bank or smartphone charger.

How I did it - you can check by looking DIY video or you can follow up instructions bellow. For this project you will need:

Materials:

Ash beams 30x15mm in a total of 2.1-meter length

Ash edge-glued panel or already 8mm thickness 110x640mm board

5V LED strip Link

4mm polycarbonate (Acrylic)

CA, Epoxy and wood glue

Piece of tin-plate

Two wood screws

Treaded 6mm rod, wing nuts, and washers

Nylon braided power wire Link

USB A connector which could be used from old USB charging wire

3-way power button with fixation

Tools:

Drill and bits

Table saw, band saw jig saw or other cutting tool to cut acrylic

Soldering Iron

Sand paper (320 grit)

Utility knife

Clamps

and some other usual bits and bobs which is laying around the workshop.

STEP 1: Preparing Wood

First things first - it needs to cut wood to need length.

I’m using 30x15mm ash beams and cut to need length. Measurement will be provided in one of the pictures.

STEP 2: Cutting and Driling

All four legs and ears were cut in a slight angle. After that, with forstner bit made a recess for a washer. All rest piece was drilled with 6mm drill bit and sanded with 320 grit sandpaper.

STEP 3: Threaded Rod

Cut two pieces of 6mm threaded rod and by using drill and angle grinder rounded both ends.

STEP 4: Test Assembly

Used cut threaded rods, washers and wing nuts and made the first test assembly. Not it’s time to prepare wood for the head.

STEP 5: Preparing Wood for the Head

Used ash edge-glued panel and cut it to 8mm thickness board. If you already have such a thickness board - you’ll save some time. Later on, cut the board to 4 pcs of 110x160mm. To be able to glue all four pieces to one unit I made 45 degrees edge cuts at the same spaced bottom part to get top part narrower than the bottom.

STEP 6: Glueing

Used painters tape, placed all 4 pieces, applied wood glue and fixed all parts with painters tape tension and some additional holding power from regular clamps.

STEP 7: Sanding and Installing Ears

When the glue was dry - removed all clamps and gave a light sanding to get a nice and smooth surface. Then drilled two holes for ears. Used 6mm bolt and secured an ear at each side with washer and wing nut.

STEP 8: Installing Acrylic

Made more holes and chiseled one, which will be used for the power button.

Applied some CA glue at ears holding bolt heads to avoid bolt turning around. Cut a piece of 4mm acrylic which was glued in the front of the head with CA glue. This milky acrylic very nicely will distribute the light.

STEP 9: Attaching Head

Installed nylon braided two wires cord. A knot will keep the cord in place.

Drilled two holes in the neck and with 2 two flat head wood screws secured head in place. Also applied wood glue to get stronger joint.

STEP 10: Installing 5V LED Strip

Cut used thin-plate. Cut and glued pieces on thin-plate cut to my needed shape.

After that resoldered all cut joints back by using some twisted wire and soldering iron. For the middle strip made a spare power wire, which will allow me to turn that strip separately from the rest of alls. This will give a dimm mode. While other wires will give full power mode.

STEP 11: Installing LED Panel

Used epoxy glue and glued prepared lighting panel inside the head. After that soldered negative terminal to the power cord. And all positive power wires were soldered to the power button.

STEP 12: Closing the Head

Closed the hole with a piece of ash board and wood glue. Applied some pressure with the flat board to get nice an flat surface.

STEP 13: Preparing USB Connector

Soldered USB A connector to the nylon braided cord. After that, I used a shrink tube to fix nylon braided threads in place at USB connector.

STEP 14: Finishing the Wood

Took all apart and applied two coats of Danish oil. After applying the last finishing layer the real texture and color show up.

Assembled everything back and wooden dog LED lamp is ready.

STEP 15: The Result

This wooden dog LED lamp could be powered by any USB port. That means - power bank, PC, or regular smartphone USB charger.

The lamp has two modes - dimm and bright. The dog stance could be adjusted from sitting, standing or whatever what do you come up with. Just release wing nut and twist legs, tail or ear and secure wing nut back. I hope this project will inspire you to make something similar.

21 Comments

Ron47Walker 4 years ago

I loved this little fellow - see my attempt.
The presentation was easy to follow, the only thing I would have liked were more dimensions - I have attached a drawing I made from the pictures to help my lay out, see attached if anyone wants to use.
I cheated and used a ready-made USB cable and cut the end off that I didn't need.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Micro-USB-Cable-3M-2M-...
I am also envious of the saw bench used.
Thank you for this great project.

innercube 4 years ago

Some small hints if you want to build it:
- 15° seems a good angle for the ears and the legs
- I made the front side of the head 1cm smaller than the backside (that are ~3,58°)
- the CA glue fumes leaf a ugly residue on the acrylic. so you either use other glue (hot glue or wood glue) or leave the protective cover in place while gluing. Or clean the residue with thinner (I´m not sure that ist the right translation. In german it is named "Verdünnung").
- if you don´t want to solder the usb connector you could also use some textile usb cable. there you only have to solder the end inside the head to the switch.

@well done tips: this is a great build. Thanks for the idea and this instructions.

sparkies1st 4 years ago

Hi
What angle did you cut the 4 legs and the ears at?

innercube 4 years ago

I build it yesterday and 15 degrees looks perfect.

marcotoll 4 years ago

I didn't build it yet, but looks like 15 degrees. I'll build one tomorrow and give more feedback. Engineering standpoint, 10 degree will give clearance but not sure on stability.

jacofiero 4 years ago

Love your build. Question about your LEDs. I tried to purchase a similar LED strip from amazon and mine was coated with a thick transparent rubber for waterproofing. The product image in your link seems to have the same thing. Can't solder with it on there. Did you manage to rip it off yours or did you have a source for uncoated LED strip lights?

nirim 4 years ago

Very nice and I don't want to slide into sentimental mode, so I leave it there.

OscarD6 4 years ago

Ohmygod!. Thats just a fabulous looking lamp! Well done. I want to make it right now! :)

tonyi 4 years ago

What a great simple design idea & project. your finish looks very good.

Bajindo 4 years ago

Love the wood working portion of the dog lamp! The soldering etc part is too advanced for me but i can adapt an ordinary portable garage utility light with LED light bulb and use standard wiring to make the light portion. The only change i would make, is to allow the back of the dog head to open and close so i can change the bulb if needed. Great job, very inspiring! TY

burningred 4 years ago

Reminds me of the hobby horse character from the wizard of oz book series

8e6 4 years ago

Wow, these puppies make great gifts! I have a box of mini easels I've been looking to chop up. These will work perfectly for this! Any chance of a cat's head build? The second I copy this, someone in my family is going to ask for a cat. The cord really works nicely as the leash. Creative build!

AnandM54 4 years ago

You guys did amazing instructable ... WOW...brilliant work...video tutorial and editing superb...!!

Meglymoo87 4 years ago

SOOOOOOOO darn cute! I love, love, LOVE it!

MakerRIP 4 years ago

I love this. I had a similar idea for an instructable, but this is so much better than anything I could have made. Amazing.

Penolopy Bulnick 4 years ago

I have never seen a lamp that is cuter than this lamp! I love that you made the cord the collar/leash and that you can change the position of the dog! Just pure adorableness!
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