Introduction: Multicolored Blinking LED Light Sculpture

By None
About: Be limited only by your imagination.

This Instructable uses an Ikea Candlestick and multicolored LED's projecting into large marbles. All of it is fixed on a hand-made pine base. This is how I made it.

Step 1: Materials & Tools

  • Multicolored LEDs from Amazon Amazon LED's
  • 2X AA Battery Holder from Amazon Battery Holder
  • 2 AA Batteries
  • Ikea Candle holder
  • 1 to 1.25 inch marbles
  • 3/4 inch pine 8X8 inches
  • Wire
  • Shrink tubing
  • Switch
  • Metal Screws to hold candle to base
  • Spray Lacquer
  • Mineral spirits
  • Rubber Feet
  • Hot Glue
  • 5-minute Epoxy

Tools

  • Drill or Drill press with various size bits and forstner bits
  • Driver
  • Soldering Iron
  • Heat gun for shrink tubing
  • Sanders - table and random orbit
  • Router with roundover bit
  • jigsaw or bandsaw
  • Hot Glue gun

Step 2: Prepare the Candle Holder

  1. remove the thin caps by drilling thru and use a driver to pry the cap out
  2. drill a hole at the base of each to pass a thin two stranded wire thru
  3. drill a hole to attach the candle holder to the base
  4. pass wire thru the three sections and leave 6 inches below for attachments

Step 3: Make the Base

  • Cut an 8 by 8 square
  • mark the center
  • Draw an 8 inch circle
  • Mark the position of the candle holder
  • Transfer the position of the holes and drill thru the base
  • Turn the base over and use forstner bits to recess compartments for the battery holder, the switch and to make channels for the wire.
  • Use a jigsaw or bandsaw to cut the circle out
  • Clean the edges with a sander
  • Use a roundover bit on a router for the top
  • Sand to 120 or 220 grit
  • Use a tack cloth to remove sawdust
  • Use mineral spirits to fully remove sawdust and let dry
  • Apply 6-8 coats of spray lacquer, allowing 1/2 hour between coats to dry

Step 4: Wiring It Up/Finishing

  • Insert the on/off switch
  • Solder the LED's to the wires using shrink tubing
  • connect the LED's in parallel using the switch
  • Use Shrink Tubing on all connections
  • Hot glue the LED to the bottom of the marbles
  • Use epoxy to attach the marbles securely to the candle stick holders
  • Put self-adhesive rubber feet on the bottom to protect furniture