Using a $7.99 IKEA Lack Table To Build A Lightbox

Ever seen those IKEA Lack tables? They feel suspiciously light right? This is because, as this tutorial will demonstrate, they are not made of wood. They are just a covered honeycombed piece of cardboard. But for this tutorial’s sake, this is actually a good thing. If you are looking for someone to thank to, Jack Watney is your man.

If you come from the digital era, you might ask what a lightbox is. Well, essentially it is a backlit translucent surface that you can place film on and inspect it before sending it off to print. Or, you can use it to view slides. On the non-photography side, you can use this table for tracing.

From the bird’s eye, the idea is to remove that cardboard honeycomb fake wood, dye the inside of the table white, fill the inside of the table with a cheap LED strip and cover it all with a sheet of translucent plexiglass, though drilling down on the job, Jack has some great pointers.

The first step is probably to get a Lack table, they don’t come any cheaper that this, nor any lighter. And you’ll have to get some plexiglass and a 12V strip of LEDs.

Next you would have to take the cardboard out, recess the corners and paint it white

Lastly, you’d add the LEDs and place the plexi:

For the complete instructions visit the instructable by Jake Chutney.

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