Concrete LED Light Cube

[@Jesse-xb7mp]

I'm making this right now. I'm making 2 garden-lights. So the bottom part is 30cm and I have to say, It's really easy to do and the results are fantastic! Everyone who likes this video should try this project! Thanks for the amazing video!

[@สราวุธยศพังเทียม]

Love this book! kzbin.infoUgkxpCNxqmAkyjN6NPx1fyB7QiEFWyO5mUWL it is simply one-of-a-kind! I really love it, because karah explained all tools required to have the job done, not mentioning the fabulous diy pallets ideas. I'm pretty sure this will be a fresh start in my new endeavour. Amazon was great, they delivered on time. Thank you!

[@goodgoat6019]

Very, very, cool design. I could see a similar but taller design with a central support made of PVC pipe, a 12 volt LED strip with a wall wart, and an in line dimmer. Or even an RGB LED strip with one of those trick controllers. Very cool as is.

[@ellsworth5841]

I love this. Just the way it is. It's a beautiful mix of industrial, practical, modern, geeky, minimalistic, inexpensive and utterly functional... plus it's cute. An easy project, low in materials count, and looks great when completed. I wouldn't change a thing, were I to make this exact version. So I think I shall. But I I'll also make a taller, skinnier cylinder to match. Bravo, Ms. Orvar.

[@darbinorvar]

Thank you - let me know how it turns out!

[@cnl1213]

I like what you've done with your lighting projects using LEDs. LEDs puts out a rather harsh and unpleasant bright light, but you have a way of treat the light and pairing with concrete here, and wood in your desk lamp that creates a softer tone of light and inviting ambiance. Great project. Thanks Linn!

[@PunakiviAddikti]

The light is absolutely stunning. For future projects, you might want to know that there are premade micro USB breakout boards that consists of a small piece of PCB that takes all the pins and spreads them out a bit to standard through hole pads with the standard pitch, found in LED legs and pin headers. Some even come with male pin headers that you can solder in.

[@resbalonso]

Perfect! I think sinking the lexan into the wet concrete was a great call as you can't see a gap. Wasn't sure why you'd want to go through the trouble of using a mini-USB connection, but when you looked it up to the power bank it made sense. Not that a concrete lamp is super portable!

[@T70781]

I enjoy the variety of project types that you explore. I probably won't build a concrete accent light but your creativity opens my mind. Thanks for sharing!

[@darbinorvar]

Thanks for watching Tony!

[@mattburrows2615]

Such a versatile design and would be great for making decent solar garden lighting too. Thanks for making this video.

[@andrewshaman4306]

Girl with soldering iron is "something"!!! Keep on!!! Thumbs up, all 4! Hello from Siberia! 🙋

[@RolfeDlugyHegwer]

Lovely design! Thanks for inspiring us! To save on power consumption, eliminate the paper, frost both sides of the lexan, spray silver/white paint on the inside surfaces of the concrete, and use fewer LEDs. If the individual LEDs still show, create recessed cavities in the concrete and embed them there.

[@AlaskaSkidood]

That looks super cool. It would be interesting to do it with some blacked out stripes or maybe blacked out corners.

[@alexaxline6093]

Wow. Lots of things one could do with this. Tint the concrete, put texturing sheets in the mold for a textured surface to the concrete surfaces. The possibilities are near endless.

[@everythingexplained]

Very cool build! Paper behind the lexan was very clever for diffusion. I've made some lights with opaque plexiglas, but unless the glass is about 5 cm or more away from the LEDs the single light sources are visible.

[@gohoulden]

It's brilliant, the USB jack was a great touch. I never thought of sanding the lexan to achieve frost. Well done, I wouldn't change a thing.

[@brendanhay5788]

Using multi colour LEDs to get different colours of light along with the other suggestions of putting designs behind the lexan and using wood instead of concrete would look nice.

[@arnljotseem8794]

Very cool. I'm think I will make some for my Italian terrazzo, but I think I will integrate a power bank into the build so that I don't need power to use them. Of course this will require a different USB for power and charging. Thanks for a great channel with lots of good ideas.

[@MrSandman982]

Really cool project! I'm going to try and make a smart one with usb C. Good hint for the concrete molds is use cooking spray instead of paint. Comes off really clean.

[@Excalibure666]

Beautiful as usual! Thanks for the share. A humble tip about concrete, you can use vibration sander over the wood mold to achieve super smooth surface as vibration removes air bubbles on the surface. 😉

[@noxim_]

Gökmen Emre Keskin I actually prefer the look of the bubbles

[@JasonAguirre]

Ya I like the bubbles too but that's a really good tip!

[@philindeblanc]

vibration removes the bubbles by having the lighter airbubbles float to the top as the more dense material settles...But of course that's likely understood.

[@dataspa]

Great project. Just wanted to mention, if you sand down one side of the plexi you are using and put the sanded side facing the led strip, it will go from clear to translucent and you won't need to add the paper.) Nice job Darbin!

[@DerKater85]

Hey, this is really a brilliant idea. I think the mini USB plug represents an extra point. I come from Germany and here we have to comply with much more stringent guidelines with regard to working with electricity. But this solution is easy to implement. Thanks for the Insperation. Just awesome

[@1402teddybear]

Nothing to change! Looks very nice!!

[@hansroemerszoonvanderbrikk7626]

The lamp is very cool, straightforward designed. An idea came form your last scene in which you can see some blue remained inside the concrete pores. A thing that should be tried is to play with air bubbles by mixing the concrete with more water and more power. Then paint two different ways the pores and the surface. This could be obtained by sprying the inner paint, sanding the surface and then painting it by a different technique like stamping or somewhat similar.

[@RedfishInc]

Love this project and the look of industrial simplicity.

[@estbeta]

The best cement for casting is tile cement, it dries relatively fast and makes a very smooth cast. As it is a wet mix it can get into very intricate shapes

[@pnwmeditations]

That's a gorgeous light! I'd recommend a couple of slight design tweaks to improve longevity: 1. Don't encase the connector/wiring in the concrete. Reasoning: As soon as the connector wears out, the light is functionally "bricked". Maybe carve a channel through the concrete and feed the wire through. 2. Go with a 12V system instead of a 5V USB system. Reasoning: there's more power available. It's less versatile, but you're also not limiting yourself to 2.5W, and 12V adapters are easy to find. 3. Instead of coiling up the the LED strips, stick them to a thermally conductive surface (for example, thick gauge steel/aluminum sheet metal or PC heatsinks. Reasoning: LED longevity is highly dependent on keeping the diode junctions cool. By conducting away the heat, you keep the junctions from overheating over the long term. Keep up the good work!

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Wonderful idea, Lynn! I have to try this, but with some acid stain on the concrete. I will likely have some mortar mix left over from fixing the stucco on my house this summer. And thanks also for the links to the components as well! I really appreciate the diligence you show in providing links to all of the necessary parts.

[@darbinorvar]

Thank you!

[@ZhaoYaoLong-nc7ct]

Nice

[@rafaelx.418]

Nice job! Btw. for projects like this, I like using self-leveling mortar, usually sold for floors. It floats like a thick syrup. No need to sand.

[@richyardades]

It is a beautiful piece of art with a resistent material. And you are very creative with good ideas. Thanks for sharing.

[@tobiaskarlsen4386]

I do actually think that's the best build you have ever done Linn, it look's soo nice :D

[@darbinorvar]

Thank you!

[@Bence507]

Search for usb breakout board. They are premade connectors on a tiny pcb with solderpoints, much easier to handle than the bare pins :)

[@ericvauwee4923]

Like these ones www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-CJMCU-Breakout-Power-Supply-Module-Micro-USB-Interface-Power-Adapter-Board-USB-5V-Breakout-Module/32789480622.html they cost like nothing, 10 of these for 2.33$

[@techobsessed1]

I was going to suggest the same. Also, because those connectors can be annoyingly delicate, it might be a good idea to construct the lamp in a way that allows the wiring and socket to be added after the concrete cures. A straw could be used to make an interior tube, or a scrap of acrylic could be used to form an open channel in the top or bottom of the block.

[@rippermcguinn]

This project is SO GREAT. I have done some mortar work myself - I made a salt cellar and lid using LEGO for the mold. LEGO is great for prototyping but I'd probably go with plywood if I was going to make more than one (Great idea to spray paint the inside). I like Karl's comment about perhaps using a small piece of PVC to support the lights - it could be molded in to the base for stability.

[@ZhaoYaoLong-nc7ct]

Nice

[@techobsessed1]

Nice! For future reference, if you apply the orbital sander to the mold with the wet concrete, the vibration should help reduce the small voids in the concrete. This includes the obvious bubbles, but I think it will also bring more of the fine particles out so the sides are smoother, even with drier concrete.

[@dawsie]

Loved the idea that you used a USB port for powering the light it would be a good light for taking camping as well using the power bank

[@njrworkshop]

Turned out nice! You can also use super plasticizer or water reducer to increase the workability of the mix without losing much strength as you do with adding more water.

[@darbinorvar]

Thanks for the tip Nick!

[@maximilianibel]

Very nice and easy to replicate or modify. Might be fun to add some color to the concrete itself, like titanium dioxide pigment etc.

[@elementaryFlame]

Fantastic. I'm going to give this a go this weekend. I think I'll embed a copper plate in the top which, with a microcontroller will allow me to simply hold my hand over it to turn it on/ dim it.

[@darbinorvar]

Let me know how it turns out!

[@stevewalker7822]

Really neat idea. Seems it would be a good way to use some scraps of wood too.

[@anthonyi6572]

Nice project. I like how your project videos are not only about the end product, but also about the step to the end.

[@КириллСидоров-л2б]

looks so cute and gorgeous. i think it could be formed in triangle by example thanks for this! maybe i’ll try to do domething like that

[@SycPaintMan]

Wouldn't change a thing. Looks Awesome!!

[@goodgoat6019]

I had a thought about the diffusers for this project. Home Depot and other big box stores sell several varieties of acrylic diffusers that are normally used for the grid dropped ceilings under fluorescent lamps. They are 24" x 48", are available in frosted and clear material with a variety of molded in textures, and sell for about $10.00.

[@OldManTony]

Great job! To get a smoother finish with your concrete a wetter mixture is better and also try vibrating the mould with an orbital sander or similar, this will remove the bubbles. You could also line the mould with cling film (Saran wrap in the USA).

[@hajarmohamedshebl8094]

Can you tell me what are the exactly components to get concrete like in the video please .. I wanna make it

[@sjscreations2608]

Well done Linn, very creative and you explain how in simple and clear terms, you must be wrapped with the end product!!! 😀😀😀 Cheers Sean

[@stevedoubleu99B]

You even moulded the concrete yourself!!! That's what I call dedication to the task.

[@OverlandOne]

Very nice! What a great project. Now, if you added a Joule Thief circuit in there, you could run it off of dead batteries that other have thrown away. Well done.

[@zevsiegel4456]

I would calk inside joints with silicone, let dry, then add concrete mix. this gives pre-rounded edges on blocks, saving sanding time and preventing the edges from chipping.

[@darbinorvar]

Good tip!

[@alexworks9659]

Nice work Linn! Simple with great results. I didn't know about the 5 volt LEDs. That's a great solution.

[@dsbeesapiaryupdate8759]

Yes, this is so cool! Yes, I would do this differently. No, I have no idea how differently I would do it. Looks great!

[@JustinDeRosa]

Love this project! So easy imagine modifying to either scale up (or down) or mix/swap concrete with wood or even add some facets to change the geometry. Oh my gosh... might be my favorite thing I've seen in 2017 so far!

[@darbinorvar]

Thanks Justin!

[@varneyivideos]

I really really liked this idea and video. I found a stained glass spray paint at Lowes and it could be added to the frosted lexan for color splash. Paint is translucent.

[@Armosus]

This lamp is so simple and beautiful!

[@emccox3]

Looks great Linn! I like it. Although it could throw off the symmetry of the concrete sandwich, you could use a dark or intensely colored wood (such as wenge, bloodwood, padauk, or desert ironwood) for the top of the cube. Either way, the light looks great! Keep up the good work.

[@darbinorvar]

That would be a cool contrast.

[@AndrevwZA]

Very nice indeed. A tall cylindrical one would be nice for a living room.

[@thomasverga469]

Excellent video. Have you thought about tinting the concrete/ mortar mix. You could do either contrasting or complimentary colors for the room it is in or the furniture it is on.

[@darbinorvar]

That could be cool.

[@Larstube]

I would not change it. Perfect simplicity design and very cool with concrete!

[@akilfoderingham2944]

I love your creativity! Beautiful design.

[@johnaurand4090]

I think it would look good with the concrete colored different colors like some kind of pattern. you could even seal the concrete and then airbrush stuff on the concrete that is really nice.

[@danharold3087]

Great idea. Thinking larger version would be nice as outdoor pathway lights. Maybe even larger ones that can double as a place to sit.

[@philindeblanc]

I thought of that too, or even a coffee table, but the corners would need more support, and even clear arcrylic would cast darker shadows in the corners...What solution can you think of other than changing the look and closing corners?

[@jcmakes5977]

Love it as usual! Going right to the shop to make a few with some scrap wood....

[@alexwhite4523]

I like how it has the little air pockets in it maybe with LEDs have different changing colors.

[@swabby429]

Great idea. I would use a standard light bulb socket and household wire so an enclosure safe LED bulb could be used. Of course the dimensions would be increased and I'd figure out a way to have the top removable.

[@pepepepe7054]

Nice project. Will make them for outdoor garden and will send pictures .. Thanks

[@JoelHudson]

I'd make 3 Hexagonal lights all different heights, and I'd control them with an arduino using PWM outputs to allow dimming, oh and I'd use RGB LEDs to allow for colored accent lights, but that's just me :-) yours looked great too!

[@videojoy88]

Good project and nicely filmed too!

[@sendenschneider]

Very beautiful. I have also rebuilt it, but something bigger for the garden. 40x40 cm (15,7")

[@dporrasxtremeLS3]

This is a Great idea! My goal now is to make these for the top course, spaced at 10,' of my block wall that is going to be built next week! Thanks!

[@Kyle-uu4mr]

you could use the pvc sprayed with grease or spray paint as a mold for cylinder ones!

[@a.k6839]

This is video that will make boredom go away .i made circle one with glass stand to hold it took my whole day for this project but its really cool now although the led you used are not sticking to my usb neg side so i used the whole wire so i can wrap that wire inside or out.

[@Andersss]

Very, very cool design! If you already have 12V led strips lying around: 5V USB -> boost converter -> 12V. Not as sleek, but probably cheaper since 12V is so common.

[@joshallen7785]

I think this is awesome! When I first saw this I thought of it as coffee table size, I think that I may try one.

[@vandrangivenkatesh2836]

Good diy, I would include a variable resistor such that the knob comes out of the concrete and yahooooo I can control the intensity of the lights!!!!!!!!

[@MidwestManMountain]

Cool project! I appreciate the mixed mediums.

[@darbinorvar]

Thank you!

[@anitamavlyanova5252]

Really good idea! With some changes, I think, it would be perfect for my porch or my backyard. Thanks for sharing this.

[@ramaroodle]

Still don't understand the thumbs down for an original and unique idea. Nice job!

[@lamoule74]

original and smart Darbin, I like it ! If I may so, don't blow on the solder it could create a solder joins... Does the epoxy resists to the heat created by the LEDs? cheers

[@vicentesalinas8259]

Thanks! Gonna do this but with a longer bottom to use them outside for the pathway!

[@alexanderg9106]

Hi, I like your idear. One cool addition would be to add a powerbank to the lamp and a Switch near the USB connection. Then you can power it by battery and recharge it later. With this you could take ist to your garden desk or use it inside.

[@HypnologicQualm]

You could add epoxy mixed with colour dye or other additive to fill in the air bubbles and give it a nice accent

[@greyareaRK1]

Cool project. I'd be tempted to play with the forms, or perhaps create an illusion of some sort, with the light inside a form, like the 4 elements objects used in the climax of 5th Element.

[@mouradmir8399]

Wonderful artwork at the top

[@gerhard11apr]

Nice lamp. Does it matter if you would use a different kind of plastic glas? Like plexiglas.

[@MichaelScottPerkins]

Cool idea Linn... I think that concrete is an awesome material, but I feel like it could be taken more "seriously" if it didn't always come out looking so...DIY. For example, your lamp, while it is cool, it has hundreds of tiny bug-holes in the concrete. Also, the color is totally uneven and, well... concrete-like. And if that is what you are going for, then that's awesome. But I would like to learn more about how to fill in bug-holes, and how to color concrete so that it is all one homogenous color. For example, I wonder if you took the motor mix, and put a small amount through a sieve as if you were sifting flour to bake a cake. This would remove a lot of the sand, and any larger aggregate. Then add a small amount of water into a slurry. If you pack this slurry into the dried/cured concrete surface, would it fill the bug holes, or does concrete not "stick" to concrete very well once it's cured? I'd also like to learn about acid stains or other cool concrete coloring ideas. I think this lamp could be very very cool!!!

[@josephbrauer2573]

I was thinking of a walnut top and keep the concrete base. I like the concept . illuminating Idea. hehe

[@sr5u]

you know what , after watching this video I got an idea to make light box like this project . Nice❤ project, I appreciate your idea .Keep posting. So we can improve it with changing led light with remote .🤘

[@dgidgi6]

OMG, another amazing project!!! Congrats in yours skills and amazing creativity, you rock!!!

[@darbinorvar]

Thanks Gilian!

[@bluestone-gamingbg3498]

Gilian Lopes I love your accent

[@dgidgi6]

I'm sorry, Bluestone, you meant Darbin accent, right? (I actually have some videos on youtube & I'm also not american or british, so it sounds a little confusing to me that you marked my name and reply over my coment... )

[@bluephreakr]

I dislike how high-pitched she can get sometimes, but that's something she can't help when she speaks so excitedly.

[@bryangilbert5999]

I love her accent!

[@shootinblanks007]

First love this idea!! I gotta learn soldering... suggesting maybe pvc pipe to wrap led around and add 3/8" strip of lexan (plastic) to the cement form ... this will allow your cement to have seating for the plastic

[@MCsCreations]

Really beautiful. Try using black eva to put in the bottom of some project. It's a really great material. :)

[@rosserobertolli]

Nice project! You can alos buy usb sockets on a breakout board for easier soldering! It also makes it slighly beefier making attaching it easier.

[@benblank609]

You should have added an internal battery and a switch that activates the light when you turn it over. Sit it one way and the light is on. Turn it over and the light turns off. Just have the connector in there for charging the internal battery.

[@adrianabshire]

Very cool! I may build this but larger for a coffee table...

[@Kyle-uu4mr]

I love it! you could get the ones that change color, and resolder on a LED color changing receiver!

[@Renaldo015]

Beautiful! Oh the lamp is beautiful too.

[@mattinthisstrangeworld9569]

How did you fix the concrete with the glass I didn't get you...and it was a fantastic job... well done

[@BM-mf7kz]

It is a nice finished item. I would suggest to wrap the led strips around a cardboard tube, ie, paper towel or toilet roll for stability.

[@dlednirg]

I love it. WOW! Concrete and LEDs! It's very unique and so cool. Tnks

[@mikebeacom4883]

David Grindel

[@gingercholo]

this is a great little lamp! great work!

[@ronaldconrad3627]

Very nice accent light for a bedroom nightstand. How about adding some concrete dye to change the color of the two pieces? Thanks for cool idea !

[@augustinusbayuindrawulungg214]

Simple yet beautiful

[@jamesbuchanan3439]

That design is nice; I wouldn't change a thing. But I wanted to mention a sort of funny story, that might also be cautionary. When hot glue guns first became available, decades and decades ago, my dad started using his new one for everything in his shop, including lots of little pine screwdriver shelves, small boxes, and so forth. All was good until a severe heat wave in mid summer, when everything "let go". (So I recommend that you use some malleable wire or epoxy putty or instant cyanoacrylate, such as FastCap 2-P10, or some other such thing to hold the LED coil in place, and perhaps in other places that you have been using hot glue lately that could conceivably become warm at some point...)