Introduction: Fidget Light
A Fidget light!
I had this great bicycle wheel hub left over from the Softbox Light project, just kicking around the workshop...
...I kept picking it up to admire it and enjoy clicking the cassette hub...
...I wonder if a lamp bulb connector would fit...
Step 1: Get Your Bits Together
You will NEED
An old bicycle rear wheel hub with a working cassette hub for the ultimate fidget
A metal standard lamp fitting thread size to fit wheel hub - this projects was 10mm
Some electrical wire suitable for a lamp
Black spray paint if you want to colour the electrical wire
Epoxy glue
8mm steel rod 350mm long - stainless steel looks great
M10 nut
Plug
or - Vice stand
A pillar drill vice
M12 threaded rod 450mm long
Cutting oil
or - Timber stand
Block of wood of choice - approx. 50mm x 200mm x 300mm long
Hardwax oil
M12 threaded rod 450mm long
Cutting oil
or - Fidget spinner wall mounted
6mm birch ply - 100mm square piece
22mm sealed bearing
Card for stencil
Spray cans - colour of choice
TOOLS
Pillar drill or electric drill
Drill bits
Forstner bit
General tools - files, plane, saw...
Bandsaw [or jigsaw] for fidget spinner
Metal vice [vise]
Step 2: Cut Up a Wheel
If you haven't already made the Softbox Light project...
...cut out the spokes of an old bicycle rear wheel to get to the wheel hub...
...make sure the cassette hub is nice and smooth for a satisfying fidget click!
Step 3: Armature
Place the hub in a vice...
...mark a position centrally on the hub...
...and drill through the outer wall of the hub.
Don't drill through the inner parts.
Check that the steel rod will snugly fit.
Step 4: Glue It Up
Mix some epoxy glue...
...and glue the rod to the hub...
...make sure they are at right angles to each other.
Add some glue to the top end this will stop the bulb from spinning around...
...and leave to cure.
Step 5: Wire It Up
Strip back the electrical cable the length of the hub and a bit more...
...and thread the inner wires [still with insulation] through the hub...
...screw on the lamp holder onto the thread of the wheel hub...
...and wire the cable to the lamp holder connectors...
...screw on the top of the lamp holder.
If you are unsure on safely wiring up the lamp gain advice from a professional.
Step 6: Black
I wanted to have black wire to match the black end of the wheel hub...
...If you don't have black coloured wire...
...just get out the spray cans!
Thread a M10 nut onto the bottom of the hub...
...mix up some more epoxy glue...
...and add to the end to secure the cable in place.
Step 7: Lab Stand
Grab a vintage laboratory stand that you conveniently have to hand!
I was super lucky to pick one up from a skip...
...they can be purchased online.
Attach the fidget light assembly to the stand...
...screw in a light bulb...
...and switch on.
Step 8: All Done
Find your favourite place...
...switch on...
...and have a fidget!
But what if you don't have an antique lab stand?...
...do not worry...
...we have some more cool alternatives...
Step 9: Drill Vice Stand
Grab a M12 threaded rod and cut to length, about 450mm...
...drill a hole approximately 320mm from one end through the threaded rod...
...so the 8mm steel rod of the fidget light can nicely slide through it...
...make sure it is nice and square to each other.
Clamp the threaded rod in the pillar drill vice...
...for a funky industrial looking stand.
'Too Industrial' I hear you say...then lets make another one...
Step 10: Timber Block Stand
Grab a nice piece of timber...
...about 200mm wide and something around 50mm thick.
Drill a 11mm hole centrally at one end, about 50mm in from the end...
...cut the board to around 300mm long.
You can go for the rough sawn look...
...or plane the board flat...give it a sand...
...and finish off with an oil finish.
Screw the threaded rod [from the pillar drill vice stand] into the drilled hole...
...slip in the fidget light...
...looking cool.
'But I want it wall mounted!'...really?...okay....
Step 11: Wall Mount
Super cool fidget spinner wall mount!
Grab a scrap of 6mm thick ply...
...drill a little pilot hole in the centre.
Make up a bandsaw circle cutting sled...[check out Bonus Content at the end of the Instructable]
...attach the ply and cut the circle...super simple + easy.
A jigsaw or coping saw will do just as well.
Drill out the central hole with a 22mm forstner bit...
Step 12: Fidget Spinner
Add somecool graphics to the ply...
...I like to make card stencils and spray stencil.
Push in a 22mm bearing...epoxy glue if needed.
Enjoy fidget spinning!...
Step 13: Fix to the Wall
Drill a 8mm hole in the masonry wall...
...hold the fidget spinner up to the hole...
...and poke the fidget light steel rod through and into the drilled hole.
Just a drilled hole will work just fine though the fidget spinner just finishes it off really nicely.
Switch on...and ENJOY!
Step 14: ENJOY!
This was a great project to make...it was super easy...with loads of alternative options...
...and it looks really cool...
...as well asyou can have a little fidget whenever you so desire!
I am entering this project into the Lights Competition. If you have enjoyed this project, I would really appreciate your vote. Many thanks.
This project is part of my YouTube channel where I try to make cool and interesting projects.
Please check out my channel if you want to see more of the projects, if not there will be more coming to Instructables soon.
Why not check out what I am up to with pricklysauce.com
And also catch me on Facebook + Twitter
and now on Instagram!
Step 15: BONUS CONTENT! Bandsaw Circle Cutting Sled
Make a bandsaw circle cutting sled...easy
Cut a piece of MDF that is a little larger than the bandsaw table...
..cut two battens to go along the right hand edge and bottom edge...
...screw to the MDF
Step 16: Sled Set Up
Push the sled hard up to the right hand side of the bandsaw table...
...switch on the bandsaw...
...and push forward until the bottom edge batten stops the sled...
...the bandsaw will have cut a slot.
TURN OFF THE BANDSAW
Mark a squared line to the right of the blade...
...from the front of the blade...
...this will be a guide for screwing the piece to be cut
Step 17: Cut the Circle
Drill a small pilot hole in the ply to be cut...
...measure the radius that is required...
...and measure from the bandsaw blade and mark on the sled [on the line]
Screw the ply to the sled making sure it can freely rotate.
Make sure the right hand stop is hard against the bandsaw table...
...turn on the bandsaw...
...and carefully slide the sled forward...
...cutting into the ply until the bottom stop engages.
Spin the ply in a clockwise direction to cut the circle.
Carefully pull the sled backwards following the original cut line.
Turn off the bandsaw and remove the screw...
...you now have a perfect ply circle...
...super easy.
Participated in the
Lights Contest 2017
