Light Box Suggestions??
 

My eyes are growing old (!!) so I'm thinking about getting a light box to mark fabrics and for embroidery design placements. I think it would help me a lot...and save me time, too!

If you have one, will you let me know where you bought it? I'm not very handy in making one so don't want to go that route. :( And I have no SO to make one for me!!

I put a light underneath my glass table top and beem it upwards, works great for me

I bought one at Sam's Club it's great: http://www.samsclub.com/sams/lighttr...ci_sku=187380S

Also the Crayola Light Up Tracing Desk is good and is under $20.

I hear what you are saying about not wanting to make one....but will throw this out just in case you
change your mind when you see the prices. You can use a simple plastic tote (clear better than frosted) and a
simple 12-18" corded flourscent 'undercounter corded light. Lights available at walmart in the lightbulb department. for between $10 and $20....plastic tote for $5 to $10 pending size.....
Otherwise lightboxes available at Joanns for between $100-$200....I would assume Hobby Lobby and Michaels would also have them.

I bought mine many years ago at Michael's.

I don't see the exact model there now - mine was a bit larger - but here are some others:
http://www.michaels.com/Projectors-L...efault,sc.html

And more - most under $100:
https://www.google.com/search?q=+light+box&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USofficial

All the clear plastic bins I have found have a ridged circle right in the center or indentation in the bottom of the bin, a paper won't lay flat. The box I bought at Sam's is super nice an attractive for under $50 shipped.

I made a really simple one. I went to the big hardware store and bought a sheet of frosted plexiglass, and a string of LED Christmas lights. Then I bough a cheap wooden frame ( find the thickest one you can), rest the plexiglass on top and put the lights underneath.

What brand of bin do you find that has a flat smooth bottom?

I use the Crayola Tracing Desk. Grandsons outgrew them and I claimed them. That's called recycling :thumbup:

I took an old 1/2 storm window, placed it on 4 cans and put a light under it.....works wonderful

I quite often just tape to my sliding glass door.

You all are so thrifty/handy/imaginative!

Don't forget if you have a table with leaves you can pull it open and lay the glass or plexi- or stormy over the gap and put a table lamp on the floor beneath.

Hey! I bet an old glass refrigerator shelf would work! Mine are smooth on top, ridged underneath.

That's what I do. Of course I'm limited to tracing only during daylight hours :(

If you belong to a quilt guild/group chances are someone has somethign you can use free, even if you have to go to their home. sometimes others want to get rid of their bulky light boxes as they take up so much room to store. HINT: one of the quilt groups I bleong to has a very large light box donated for members' use ... so the owner didn't have to store it anymore.

You can always go the old fashioned and really cheap way and use painters tape and a window with good sunlight coming in.

For the clear portion a number of idea: the acryllic extention table, buy some clear plastic from a local supplier, use the glass from a picture frame [can find cheap at thrift stores,] buy a small piece of glass from a glass store as they may have smaller pieces available from other projects, likewise buy glass from a framing store, use a glass top from a pation table or from an end table [if you have one with such a topper], do you have access to a glass storm window? ... just let your imagination go wild.

Some quilters use a large almost clear plastic bin [Joanns or thrift sttore/garage sale], cut a groove for a light cord on one end, put their light facing up on a flat surface, and then put the plastic bin upside down over the lamp.

For holding up the glass: I use soup cans with my Ott-like lamp under the clear acrylic I have, open table leaves, between folding snack tables [if use acryllic], and more.

I expect you'll get a lot of different answers here.

ali

Bellaboo I have a good supply of flat,clear plastic bottom bins from when I used to get the massive margaine tubs. I use them for all kinds of storage (they are about 10X12)and for light boxes as needed.

Holy moly!
That's a LOT of margarine!

I use a piece of plexiglass that I bought at Home Depot and my folding Ott light. I put 2 plastic shoe boxes on my cutting table, suspend the plexiglass between them, put the Ott light underneath, and it works great. It's also easy to store when I'm done.

Everyone has such great ideas (which I knew yall would!) I may look at the Crayola Light Box and at Sam's. I kinda like the ones that are flatter and closer to whatever it's sitting on. I've used the old "hold it up to the light" and try to mark it but usually get it out of whack!!

Edited to add: searched for the Crayola and I can be "cool" with Cars, Hanna Montona, Elmo, etc.!! LOL

I bought a piece of plexi glass already cut at Lowe's. I put a tap light in a card board box and plexi glass on top. But I may have my daughter in law get me the light box from Sam's. I do not have a membership with them.

I purchased a light box at JoAnn's using one of her coupons for 50% off. It ran about $25.00 after coupon.

I know you don't want to make one but I made mine for les than $10. Scrap piece of plexiglas, scrap 1x4s, and a six foot strip of rope lighting.

I just got mine from Nancy's Notions catalog. I didn't opt for the LED version but I got the larger size and am glad I did.
I am studying digitizing designs for computerized quilters. It has been very useful for working with my own designs. I hope to graduate to digitizing for others. I really enjoy the process.

Another possibility is to use a drawer for your box (or a cardboard box works too!)
... then plexiglass for your top.
Any of the different light options will work ... electrical or battery operated.

I took the guts out of an old scanner, took the lid off and then just put a bulb in it. It works great and is easy to set up and work with.

This thread shows a picture of how I improvised one using a clear tote.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...2-t145622.html

I lay a piece of glass across some piled books, stick one of those round tap-it lights under it and trace away. About $3 cost.

Jan in VA

they can be bought at Keepsake Quilting for $10.00

I bought a "Joe Boxer" light box at K-Mart years ago for $10.00 and was quite happy with it. Recently, I have been using my lucite extension table to my sewing machine with battery operated "press" lights underneath. It's easier and faster - no plugging in. I think the extension table surface is smoother and bigger than a light box.

I have a light box I inherited from my sister. No name. Had to cost about $25. She bought it from teacher's supply store.

I do the same thing with the dining room table for tracing applique designs....works great! Years ago I found a homemade light box at a garage sale for only $3.00. Perfect for small projects..

If you have a glass shower door, that can be used like a window any time of the night.

Use a dome light and a sheet of plexiglas over your top loading washer. or under a glass baking dish for small things, lots of free options out there!

That is really smart and can be taken apart and put away when not in use!

I do something similar - tape to my large living room window. I place it at arm level that way my back does not hurt after a while of tracing. Problem - does not work well at night time! LOL Also it's great for big projects since it's a large window and even though I broke the applique down to small shapes (I made an applique of a Welsh Dragon) you still need the larger image intact.

I got my mom one at Hobby Lobby and she uses it to trace her embroidery all the time, it was well worth it. If you don't want to make one Hobby Lobby and Joann's have them and you can use a coupon which does make it affordable. If that isn't an option - Christmas is just around the corner, put one on your list! Or maybe Santa is handy and can make one

I found the Crayola light box at a garage sale for 2.00...lucky me...but before that I was using an old refridgerator veggie bin with the glass top, I put a stick up light (battery) It worked find for several years...was a bit bulky to store though.

I have had one for years. I don't use it much but when I do, it's just what I need for the job. They have a new LED model out now,and if I needed another one, I'd get that. It's not too expensive and is another good tool to have. I'm sure lots of people will tell you to use a piece of plexiglass over an open dining table etc. etc. etc. But, like any other good tool that's specific to one purpose, it's nice to have.

I put a plexi (sp?) glass (about 30" square) with a spot light under it. I use two tables (sewing tables from Joann's) and move them apart about 2' and put the plexi glass on that. There is nothing to "make", just two things to put together.

I too started out by using my glass top coffee table. Great as a light box but hard on the back.
I bought a LightTracer2 light box. I got the larger one 12"x18". Have been very happy with it.