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Below are the steps in making a LED lit sandstone base.
| Pick Your Rock |
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Stones can be picked according to the size of glass being used.I try to get as close as possible to the glasss size so
you don't have any excess groove showing when finished.
| Wet saw |
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I use a 7" Husky slider saw.It is designed to move up and down to control depth or cut through tile .It also tilts up
to 40 deg for angle edges of tile.
| Mark your cut |
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Set your glass as square as possible and mark with a pencil,then take a black sharpie to make a bold line that the water
from the saw won't wash off during your cut.
| Ready to cut |
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THe saw has a laser light on it to help keep your cuts straight.I also use drawer liner on the deck which helps keep
the stone steady while cutting.The deck has groves in it for water drainage as well as the drawer linning.
| Check Width |
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Cut the stone 1/2" deep and 3/8"' wide.This is done by making several passes through the saw.Some creativity will be
need here to keep the cuts straight and to cut out the center of the groove.Check to make sure that the groove is wide enough
for the LED strip before going to the next step.
| Drill Hole for wire |
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Once the groove is cut you'll need to clean up the bottom of the groove using a flatblade screw driver to "chip out "
the pieces left from the cut.They make blades to cut the groove to desired width which is on my wish list,but for now this
method works with just a couple of passes through the saw.Don't worry about making the bottom perfectly smooth at this point.Just
chip it out so you don't have any high ridges.Now drill the hole using a 1/4" masonary bit to feed the wire through.
| Back side of wire hole |
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Be careful when comming out the back with the drill bit to avoid"blow out" of the stone.Sandstone is somewhat soft so
it does not take alot of pressure to drill the hole.Make sure you use a good bit,spray a little water in the hole as you drill
helps the use of the bit.If your bit starts turnnig blue it means it has been over heated and won't cut properly.It's hard
to tell in the picture but you will also need to drill the hole at an angle.This helps feed the wire into the groove and gives
a nice clean exit of the wire without sharp bends.When completly done wit the base fill the hole around the wire with silicone.
| Componets |
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Check the strip for length.Also notice the male and female connetions that are used.
| Solder Connections |
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Feed the wire from the back through the hole and line up with your LED strip.Now your ready to make the solder connections.As
you can see I have it taped down on a piece of glass to hold it steady while soldering.
| Cold Heat |
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Ok,here's a little promotion for the Cold Heat soldering iron.$19.95 at Radio Shack and most other box stores.I spent
$60.00 on another stlye and brand,the typical 110volt plugin model you have to wait for it to heat up.With the Cold Heat
soldering iron all you do is set the tip on you wire and insert the solder into the groove of the tip and it completes a electrical
connection at the tip.It instantly melts the solder to make the solder connection.The tip cools in just a few seconds after
use.Be carefull not to put alot of pressure on the tip,it is made of grafite and will break easy.The use of this type of soldering
iron is important because you don't want to overheat the LED strip which will ruin it.
| Install strip |
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Now that the connections have been made put in a thin bead of silicone into the groove and pull the wire and strip through.Set
the strip into place being carefull that it is centered.
| Install Felt |
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Cut the felt strip 1/2" wide and a little longer than you groove.Install the felt to the inside of the groove first.The
felt should be self adhesive and will stick to the sides with a little pressure using a 1" wide piece of metal.I use the
handle end of a wrench that came with my wood router to do this step.Run the metal along the top edge of the groove
to help round the corner then stick it down to the top of the stone.If it is uneven just use your razor kinfe to straighten
the felt line.
| Plug it in |
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Install your glass,plug it in!!!
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