Introduction: Lighted Ouija Board Table
I made a table with a lighted Ouija Board top for the ultimate Halloween decoration! You can also use the Ouija Board for some extra Halloween spookiness!
Supplies
Materials
End Table - Square or Round
Ouija Board Pattern or Design of your own
1/2' Thick Polycarbonate or Plexiglass
16' RGB LED Strip
Cable Tie Downs
Zip Ties
Adhesive Backed Table Edge - Channel https://www.amazon.com/1-1-Self-Adhesive-Channel-Protector-Flexible/dp/B0D8SMBKVH?pd_rd_w=8XccS&content-id=amzn1.sym
Card stock or Adhesive Backed Craft Paper that you can use in a Cricut
Isopropyl Alcohol 70%
Split Loom Tubing
Sandpaper or Sanding Sheets
Tools
Jigsaw W/ Plexiglass Blade (13 TPI)
Cordless Drill
1/8 drill bit
5/8 Chamfer
Engraving Machine or Dremel/Rotary Tool
Palm Sander or Sheet Sander
Med Cut File
Old toothbrush
Small Butane Torch
Heat gun
Step 1: Choose & Customize Your Table
First thing to do is Choose a Table or refinish and customize a thrift shop or curbside find to your liking. Any size or shape will do as long as your LED Strip is long enough to wrap the circumference or Perimeter. I re-finished an old end table that was on the curb. I took it from a dull and boring wood veneer to Flat Black with Ferrari Red accents to make it pop. I also cut and applied a few scary skull stickers using my wife's Cricut Smart Cutting Machine.
Step 2: Cut Your Top
This Table is 21.5" in diameter, so lay out a circle on the Plexiglass with a 21.5" diameter. In the course of finishing the edges of the plexiglass it will reduce the size to roughly 21.4375.
Use a Jigsaw with a Plexiglass blade and cut out the top. You want the Plexiglass to be about .0625 smaller in diameter or perimeter than the actual table it will be mounted on.
Step 3: Clean Up the Edge
Using your file, smooth out any rough edges. Finish the edge with your Palm Sander or Sandpaper as smooth as possible. This is very crucial to the next step. the smoother you can make it, the easier it will be.
Step 4: Finish the Edge
***I HIGHLY SUGGEST PRACTICING ON A SCRAP PIECE BEFORE TAKING A TORCH TO YOUR FINAL PROJECT***
Using an old toothbrush and 70% isopropyl alcohol scrub the edge of the Plexiglass really good then wipe clean with a lint free cloth.***LEAVE PLEXIGLASS FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES AFTER WIPING IT OFF AND REMOVE THE ALCOHOL FROM YOUR WORK AREA*** Any residual Alcohol must evaporate so you can torch the sides of your tabletop without starting a fire.
Take your butane torch and quickly move the flame across the edge of the table in short bursts until you start to see the opaque, sanded edge turn to a polished crystal clear window for our led light strips to shine through.
Step 5: Scale and Layout Your Top
In order for the top to be laid out evenly and all the letters to be spaced properly, draw a cross on the Plexiglass to split the circle into 4 equal quadrants. Take the original pattern and divide it into 4 parts using a Photo Editor of your choice (I use Photo Studio Pro) then send them to the Cricut to be cut out. Transfer a quarter of the pattern using the cross laid out on the Plexiglass as your guide.
Once all the patterns are laid down trace them on to the Plexiglass using a Fine Point Sharpie.
Step 6: Engrave the Pattern
Using an engraving tool, engrave the outline of the Ouija board.
Then fill in the letters.
Step 7: Fill in the Letters and Rest of the Pattern
After filling in the letters and other areas of the pattern, clean up the design to your liking. You can make alterations/corrections to the design as noticed or needed for the remainder of the build.
Step 8: Mount the Top
Drill 2 .125 diameter holes at 3 and 9 o'clock.
load the Chamfer bit and countersink your 2 holes so the screw heads will sit below the surface.
Secure the Plexiglass to the table top with drywall screws.
Step 9: Add the Lights
Orient the light strip so the power wire can be secured to a table leg and wrap the light strip around the entire circumference of the Plexiglass, securing with clear tape as needed.
Trim the remaining LEDs on the strip.
Step 10: Wrap the Plexiglass/table With Edge Channel
Measure the Circumference of the table and cut the table channel edge accordingly. Peel the center sticky strip off and apply all the way around the table, leaving the ends loose so you can access the top and bottom sticky strips.
Pull the top and bottom sticky strips off the edge channel and secure them to the top and bottom of the table top.
Step 11: Smooth Out the Edge
Warm the edge of the channel with a heat gun and smooth out the any bunched up or raised areas of the channel.
Step 12: Wrap It Up
Plug in your table and enjoy!