Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Light box

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
old blue

01-29-2005 17:33:00




Report to Moderator

Hey guysI was wondering if theres anyone out there that could help me out here. My uncle recently contracted me to make a light box for him. I'm just wondering if anyone out there has any clue what size and kind of light i should be using.The light box will be 22"X 18", should it be floresent, or just a plain irridescent blub(s). Also should the light be just one in the center or should i have two one at the top and one at the bottom ( opposite corners if using irridescent). For those who are sitting there saying what the hecks a light box, its something an artist uses to trace an immage. I'm going to be using a quarter inch thick piece of plexiglass if that makes a difference in the light. I was originally figuring on using one florescent light. Any help will be greatly appertiated


thanks in advance

give me any advice on what size/ type of light i should use

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
msb

01-30-2005 14:43:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
If color is important,use daylight tubes .They are the most near the light spectrum of the sun.Also used in inspection rooms in factories and in exam rooms in doctors offices and hospitals.Used to be only electrical houses carried them but more and more hardware stores now stock them.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere

01-30-2005 11:55:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
Electrinic ballasts throw off less heat than magnetic ballasts. And they weigh far less which will aid portability.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old blue

01-30-2005 09:10:56




Report to Moderator
 Re: more questions in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
Ok now that ive determined that im using florescent lights can i get away with just one or should i have two? Also woudl it be a good idea to paint the inside white to reflect the light back up or is that a really bad idea? Is it ok to just drill a line of 3/8 th inch holes aroudn the sides towards the bottom or should i have larger holes in the bottom? Does the glass or plexi need to not be clear? should i rough the surface of the plexi up with a hand sander, id hate to do this as the piece of plexi glass was 13 dollars all by itself. I've seen several light boxes that used just regular glass or plexi. This light box when its used is going to be used for tracing purposes only so that means that your going to have a double layer of paper over its surface. thanks again all

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere

01-30-2005 19:59:56




Report to Moderator
 Re: more questions in reply to old blue, 01-30-2005 09:10:56  
You can't get the lights too close together to avoind light/dark/light/dark across the surface when reading. It's better to keep the lights back from the plexi as this will reduce light/dark bands across the plexi. Been There made the vital point of white plexi. As heat rises, the vents should be located bottom and top. The top/exit will need a little more airflow area than the cool air entrance. If the plexi gets too hot it will sag.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Been there

01-30-2005 04:15:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
I made 2 of these several years ago for a freind who was going to school to be a Chiropracter. Used 2 small florescent lites that were designed for under a kitchen counter top. The key is what George said. I used frosted plexi for the first one and it didn't work real well. Had to change it. You need white plexi to diffuse the lite and create an even glow over the entire surface.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hemit

01-29-2005 20:04:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
You might want to look around at auctions, doctor's or dentist's office or surplus stores for an old x-ray negative reader. It would have everything you need and might be in the right size.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jim K

01-30-2005 07:06:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to Hemit, 01-29-2005 20:04:11  
I work for a hospital and have thrown many a view box away you can build one quite easily all you need is white plexy(opaque)The lamps are special and you can purchase them from any electrical supply house. although I think you can use regular T8 lamps and ballasts. set the lamps about 4 inches apart.make the box out of sheet metal and make it so it will dissapate heat well. ground the metal when wiring it, sepperate the ballasts from each other by about the same as the lamps to help them keep cool,most view boxes are about 4 inches deep so that you can set them into a standard wall and they will be flush.
we also have them about 4 foot tall. with 4 foot lamps but they are about 8 inches deep.
email me if you have any questions.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
wilko

01-29-2005 19:40:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
As RayP says, the incandescent bulbs will be way too hot. Use fluorescent bulbs with built-in ballasts, like the type sold to replace light bulbs in standard lamps and fixtures.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
george md

01-29-2005 19:19:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
Old,

I have a factory built one of what you want to
build. It is a tracing table 3.5 X 5 ft , has 6
3 ft flouresent lights under a 1/4 inch plate
glass , has one support pin in the center and the
glass is covered with a piece of white plastic, which
is the surface on which to draw (trace).

george



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old blue

01-30-2005 09:01:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to george md, 01-29-2005 19:19:06  
George, I realize now that i failed to mention a very important part of the project my uncle wants this light box to be highly protable so he can use it all over the house or out in his studio after we get it done. Right now he has a stationary light box thats about 24"X 48", and an old slide sorter that hes using as a portable light box but the slide sorter is in pretty bad shape. Can i get away with just using one 18" florescent bulb for this? also my uncle would prefer the plexiglass, so do i need to rough the bottom side of the plexi up? I saw a similar light box to the one he's having me make at a local high school and it used just eigth inch plexi and it was unaltered and seems to work fine.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
george md

01-30-2005 19:02:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-30-2005 09:01:59  
Old, The reason to use glass rather than plexaglass
is that the glass doesn't flex as much and the reason
for the white plastic cover is to remove the glare from the light source. I do think one 18 inch tube would light it, you
can always add another one .

george



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RayP(MI)

01-29-2005 19:01:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to old blue, 01-29-2005 17:33:00  
Depends a lot on how much light you need. Incandescent(s) will produce lots of heat, especially in enclosed space. You might consider using 1/4" glass and sanding the inner surface with a sand blaster, or hand sander and very fine abrasive. I've made small "ground glass" using scouring powder and a second (smaller) piece of glass, to abrade the surface, by hand. Another thought about incandescents, you can control them with a light dimmer, to allow lower light levels. you may have to experiment with this to get exactly what he needs. What's the purpose og the lightbox?

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old blue

01-30-2005 08:55:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Light box in reply to RayP(MI), 01-29-2005 19:01:34  
The purpose of this specfic light box is so that my uncle can place something thats hes designed on paper and copy it to another sheet of paper and get the same exact design. It's basically a hand held copy machine. thanks for your input



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bill Drew

01-29-2005 19:35:37




Report to Moderator
 HOT!!! in reply to RayP(MI), 01-29-2005 19:01:34  
Don't even think of using incandecent lights unless you want melted plexiglass. Even with flouresent lights, put in some vents. Block the light from the vents, but not air movement, with some black baffles.

The number of bulbs needed will depend on how deep the box is. My guess is that you could get away with one bulb if the depth (to the top of the bulb) is at least 9" for an 18" wide box.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy