Thread: Attempted bendy light

I would do it in 3 laminations, first the inside curve, second two smaller ones to the outside leaving a gap for the wiring and third a final lamination on the last side. This way you hide the power cord to the light. At the foot I would drill a hole for the power to go through and fix it so it came out the back.
Hope this helps.

SB

Thanks SB

I actually routed out a 9mm channel after the first stage.

Second layer drying now

Off the jig

Bloody cable gets stuck half way down

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are you pulling the cable or trying to push it? Pushing won't work, Pull it through is always best.

Yes, you need to pull.

The way I used to do that with poly pipe was to push though a piece of high tensile wire with the end bent sharply back on itself so it doesn't snag on the material. Then you can attach whatever and pull your wire back through. High tensile wire works well because it doesn't want to bend.

I have seen my electrician friends use the plastic tongue from chipboard flooring for threading conduit. They cut a point on the tongue and drill a small hole to attach their wire. The tongue from VJ board will do a similar job. However I think both those tongues would be a little too wide for your 9mm channel. You may be able to cut one down a little or improvise with something similar.

Regards
Paul

3 hours later and I got the cable through. Spent most of the time with a bent coat hanger in a drill to try and remove the glue that must have filled the cavity

Turned out ok

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Nice work. Looks really good. Is the base a different timber to the body?
Trav

Originally Posted by Trav

Nice work. Looks really good. Is the base a different timber to the body?
Trav

Thanks Trav, the whole thing is made from 90x45 framing timber from bunnings

Out of my depth here but, would it be easier if you put the cable or a pull string in before the final lamination?

TT

There is a thing called a 'fish' used for pulling cables through walls etc. Two types, one is basically a chain with a hook on the end, only useful if you are dropping it down a hole. The more useful one is a coil of spring steel strip about 5 x 2 mm (3/16" x 14 ga.) again with a hook/clip on the end. Being fairly rigid it works pretty well pushing or pulling, up or down etc. From memory Jaycar sell them and some of the bargain tool places that show up at WWWood shows have them too. If the hole is not too long or small a 'drain snake' from the plumbing section can also be made to work, and you used to be able to buy continuous tightly coiled wire spring intended for hanging light curtains but I haven't seen it for years sold by the yard/metre.

Originally Posted by Twisted Tenon

Out of my depth here but, would it be easier if you put the cable or a pull string in before the final lamination?TT

Hi TT,I did try it that way on one of my practice attempts. The problem with this method is that the cable is then constantly in your way which can be really challenging at times

Bit of a design flaw in the above.

Built a new bigger base, set the light further back on the base and lent the light back a few extra degrees

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