Advice on buying one of those new thin lightboxes, please
 

I would like to hear from those of you who have purchased one of the new thin led light boxes, what you like and dislike, where you bought it, how much it cost, would you buy the same one if you had to do it over, etc. Thanks in advance!

Do you have a particular brand and model in mind?

No, I don't, am open to all suggestions. :)

I bought this one from Amazon a year+ ago. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Very happy with it - use it for applique tracing. Easy to use, easy to store. MUCH better than my old lightbox...a cast off X-ray lightbox!

Hope you find one you like!
Donna Mc

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got this one from Amazon. It works great and the price is reasonable. I mainly use it to weed vinyl that I have cut on the Cricut. It can be used for anything a lightbox is needed for.

I made mine. I went to the Dollar Tree and bought a clear box, about 3 inches high, 9 by 11. and a push button light. Dollar each. lol works for me.

If you look in Amazon’s Lightning Deals section they always have them extremely inexpensive. I got a big A4-sized one last year for about $12. Love it.

I live nine gave my old one to sister

If got mine on Wish for around $17. Love it.

And I got the crayola one which works fine for my purposes.

My favorite SIL gave me a gift certificate to JoAnns for Christmas. I saved it until I really wanted something. I do a lot of hand applique so I use mine all the time. I bought the Artograph LightPad 920 xl . It was 1/2 off and I used my gift certificate. I do love it but wouldn't have bought it if I didn't have the gift card.
https://www.amazon.com/Artograph-Lig...1-3&th=1&psc=1
I probably would buy the one for $20 or so.

I have used a Daylight Wafer 2 in a paper piecing class earlier this spring at QuiltCon, the instructor even put it on the floor and stood on it to show it’d durability.

I have also seen the CutterPillar light box and cutting mat demonstrated at a LQS. I have not purchased either yet but have it in my Christmas wish list.

This is what I use as well. However, I sometimes use painters tape and a window.

My kids got me one years ago for Christmas about 15 years ago. It was an inexpensive light box they purchased at an art store. I use it for a variety of things that require tracing. It is a part of all things used for sewing in my sewing studio.

I bought one at JoAnns a few years ago to use with applique that I was doing. found it near a bottom shelf in the art canvas/clay department. Even with a 50% off coupon it was around $20. Works great for what I need it for.

Mine came from Hobby Lobby. It was all I wanted for Christmas several years ago. I really love it. Before I had it I put a light under a glass topped table which worked very well..just not as easy to use.

Yes, this is the one I have as well and it works great

I have a Cutterpillar Glow Premium, and I lovelovelove it. It was a Christmas present from my mom, so more expensive than I probably would have picked, but I'm much more happy with it than I would have been with a lower-end one. The main advantages over other ones I looked at are:
- it has a battery, so I can use it at workshops where there are limited outlets available.
- multiple brightness levels - I didn't think this mattered, but it's invaluable.
- it has a cutting mat, which is amazing for paper piecing. The mat is made of a soft material (like a proper self-healing mat, not those hard plastic white mats). Being able to cut right on the light box is really nice, but I have also used the mat over top of a yellow fat quarter when I just wanted a yellow cutting mat for contrast. The clear mat is basically an any-colour mat - you just put it on top of fabric the colour you want the mat to be.
- it's quite big, which isn't necessary, but has been very nice.

If something happened to this one, I would buy the same one again in a heartbeat!

I have a Cutter Pillar Glow Premium, and I love it. I think I paid around 100.00 for it at lqs, don't remember exactly. Would I buy again? Sure, if I had the money.

I have the thin large one. It was from Amazon on a Prime day deal. It was under $15. It's nice but has to be charged or plugged in. That is a hassle for the most part. I use the Crayola one the most. It's really all I need. No cords or charges and the perfect size for a 8 x 11 1/2 paper. I haven't changed the batteries in it since I've had it. Worth having a back up. I heard they were being discontinued.

I purchased the same one as osewfast did and love it.

Just so happens I just ordered one from Amazon...Plugged it in once and when I went to use again hr later it wouldn't turn on. Faulty wire I guess. So bk it went. Honestly I wasn't thrilled with it and will buy another reg sized Light box where I got my other "Michaels". It's pricey at 64.00 but I have a 50 off coupon to use Today...The reason I need another is we have a second hse we go to every mth and I don't want to drag bk/forth.

That is why I purchased a couple extras when I bought mine. I was afraid they would stop making them.

I bought one
 

I got one from Amazon for full price!!! (Didn't know about those great sales!) I paid about $100 for mine. I consider it a luxury, since you can certainly find others much cheaper, but I love it and am glad I got it. 3 different light settings that really help when the template is very light.

I don't mind paying full price when it's something that I use and it does a great job and I need it now. I find enough bargains on other items so it equals out.

I bought the A2 size (I believe it is 18x24) and love it! Well worth the $79. Large enough for most applique pieces (you don't need to do them in sections and piece pattern together). Bright, lightweight and easy to store. Go as LARGE as you can. You may find the A4 is a bit too small for what you want to do. JMHO

Thanks, everyone. I was hoping to find one that can be used plugged in or with battery, but so far the only one I found like that was the Cutter Pillar one, and I'm not sure I want to spend that much money on one. I was also interested in having a long electrical cord, not a short one like some electronics have these days. So I am still undecided....

Just in case anybody is still “on the fence” about the Cutterpillar Glow... today is the last day of their 40% off sale. Order from their website using the code 40%offall. I ordered the big one - Cutterpillar Glow Ultra which i am waiting for UPS to deliver today! Yes, you do need to pay shipping and handling - but the savings are still substantial! Today i decided that i saved so much that i would go ahead and order the glass mat and a replacement cutting mat since today is the last dat of the sale!

I have an Artograph. I received it a couple of years ago for Christmas. I choose this model for the cool blue light and ability to shine through 300LB paper. I originally purchased it for needlepoint but I’ll probably use it more for patterns.