Light box tables are used by many professionals.
Light tables serve many purposes. They work well for photographers when they need to preview the negatives of the photographs they have taken. They also work well as drawing tables along with any type of work that requires tracing patterns onto a new sheet of paper. Some have even used the technology for desktops to keep them from constantly getting up to walk over to a light table as a part of their job. The do-it-yourself consumer can tackle this project with confidence as it takes minimal woodworking skills.
Instructions
1. Drill pilot holes 3/8-inch from the ends of the 1-by-4-by-24-inch lumber with a 1/16-inch drill bit. Drill countersink holes on top of the pilot holes about 3/8-inch deep. Next, drill pilot holes 3/8-inch from one long edge of the 24-inch lumber as well as the 1-by-4-by-16 1/2-inch lumber. Drill countersink holes as you did the first ones.
2. Glue the ends of the 1-by-4-by-16 1/2-inch lumber. Set them between the 24-inch pieces on either end. Secure them with the drywall screws and clean up the excess glue with a damp cloth.
3. Brush glue on all four edges of the 22 1/2-by-16 1/2-by-3/4-inch plywood with a small paintbrush. Place it inside the frame built with the 1-by-4-inch lumber. Secure it to the frame with the drywall screws. Clean up the glue as before.
4. Drill a 1 1/4-inch hole through one of the 1-by-4-by-16 1/2-inch pieces of lumber with the paddle bit. Secure a power strip in the center of the 3/4-inch plywood inside the box. Feed the cord through the 1 1/4-inch hole.
5. Measure from the 11 1/2-inch end of the 1-by-12-by-29-inch lumber and make a mark at 2 1/2-inches. These are the legs of the light box table. Mark this end as the top of the legs. Place the framing square on the marks and draw a line across the width of the lumber.
6. Bore two pilot holes 1 inch from the ends of the two pieces of 1-by-2-by-10-inch lumber and secure them to the bottom side of the lines with the drywall screws. Center the 1-by-4-by-18-inch pieces on the opposite end of the legs keeping them even with the end of the legs as well. Drill pilot holes through the 18-inch pieces and secure them to the legs with the drywall screws.
7. Place the 1-by-12-by-24-inch lumber on the worktable. Drill three pilot holes 3/8-inch from the 11 1/2-inch ends. Drill the holes 1 inch from the long edges and one halfway between the two. Secure this to the top of the 18-inch pieces with the drywall screws as a brace between the legs.
8. Set the light box on the 1-by-2-by-10-inch strips inside the legs. Secure the box to the legs through the inside of the box with the drywall screws. Install the light fixtures on either side of the power strip in the box. Drill holes around the perimeter of the Acrylite with the 3/16-inch drill bit. Drill four holes on the 24-inch side with one in each corner and one on the 18-inch side. Install the bulbs and secure the top with the wood screws.
