Following the common impulse of spring cleaning, it’s time to clear out some of the stockpiles. Because I cannot bear to toss anything with a potential use away I must invent some projects that will use cool old bits of scrap. In this case, that means a couple of absurdly thick (one inch) plates of Lexan that are used to calibrate radiological equipment (CAT scanners or MRI machines I think), some cedar joist off cuts, and an LED light strip kit. So I decided to build a bright, brutalist wood and acrylic lamp.
LED Light Strips are making unique home lighting solutions a real possibility for just about anyone. They can be ordered in a variety of temperatures (colours) and brightnesses, and good kits will supply a suitable transformer (or you can find your own by reading up a little and doing some math). In my experience, these strips have one of two types of adhesive backing. A black one which is excellent and sufficient to most uses, and a transparent one that could use a little argumentation – so plan accordingly.
Making a brutalist wood and acrylic lamp
As with most of my projects, I’m using reclaimed wood, so the project starts stabilising some knots and checking with epoxy. Then laminating some stock together to make the pieces I need.
The next step is to rough everything out. Cut the Lexan. It’s no easy feat – it ruined the “fine” blade of my new pull-saw. Build a little frame for the LED strip that is the exact thickness of the Lexan. Then put together a test assembly to ensure it all works before glue-up. Finally, prepare to glue the whole thing together with epoxy. I had to rearrange my cauls and clamps three separate times to get the pieces to sit in reasonable alignment. So putting in a little more preparation than I did, will serve you well.
Once the glue is set, head to the table saw to re-trim it and then sand it all down. Recently I’ve favoured cabinet scrapers to sanding, but the sanding is what gives the Lexan its foggy, diffuse quality. I then finished with a thin coat of poly. Tape off the Lexan to protect it from the solvents in the poly and stop it from being smoothed by the finish.
A beautiful, bright, brutalist wood and acrylic lamp, made of scrap and a seven dollar LED kit.
