Receptacle Plug-In Nite Light with a Scrolled Dragonfly Shade

[FrankEV]

This project is my own design, and this finished product was an experiment.  I was asked if I could make a small plug in Nite Light with a Dragonfly Shade.  I told the lady that I thought I could, and she should get back to me after she returns home up north, and I would show her what I come up with.

The panels are 4” square.  The Dragonfly Image is from a bundle of Dragonfly SVG files I purchased from Etsy.   I added some cattails for background and positioned the image in a surrounding, 1/4" wide, perimeter border.  The panels were stack cut face to face out of 5/32” solid core Maple Ply from my, ever growing, pile of cut offs. I mitered one edge of each panel where they will be joined together to form a 90-degree open shade.  I cut a triangular piece of the same 5/32” thick material to act as a base for the bottom of the shade.  

Glue up was a catastrophe.  When I do more of these, which I plan to do, I will need to make a jig to hold the panels while being glued along the one mitered edge.  And, also, to hold it while gluing in the triangular piece for the bottom.  For this one, I wound up using AC glue because there was no way to clamp the parts together. 

After it was finally assembled, it looked OK and I should have just applied a clear coat to finish it, but I decided I wanted it to be darker, so I decided to Air Brush it a darker color.  The first coat I applied looked horrible, so I did a second coat that made it a darker muddy Brown.  Now it was too dark so, I added a light purple color just to the Dragonfly.  Admittedly not well done, and it needed touch up that I did not do well, as is very noticeable in the photos.

OK, after finally applying a Clear Gloss Acrylic protective coating, I glued in, the Orange plastic which I had previously applied a velum sheet to the inside to make translucent.

The Nite Light itself is a product from Florida Shells and Gifts.com but I originally ordered them on Esty.  They don’t appear on the Florida Shells and Gifts website.  However, you can find them by searching Esty for: 3 Pack: Night Light Base Set - Standard On/Off Switch - complete with Bulb and Mounting Clip - DIY Night Light Parts. They are also available as a Single or 6 Pack. They each come with a clip that you can use to attach something (like the shells they sell) to act as a shade.

I first tried to cut the shape of the clip out of the bottom triangular piece, but it had no give, so it would not slip on and when I opened it up just a little it became too loose to hold the shade in place.   So, I opened the cutout area more, I created a slot for the clip, and then secured the clip to the wood with AC Glue.

All in all, when viewed from a distance during the day when unlit, it looks OK. When it is in a dark room, and it is lit, it looks great!  The cutting took less than an hour.  The assembly and finishing took much longer than I will admit to.  

Unlit

 

Lit

 

Inside

 

upside down showing the glued in clip

Comments and critiques are not just wecomed, I really need to hear them.

I’ll post just the Pattern of the Dragonfly panel in Pattern Exchange.  However, if you decide to try and make one, you are on your own after that.

[Scrappile]

Very good, Frank!

[Stretch]

Very Cool! it might also scare away houseflies

[barb.j.enders]

Nice cutting. 

I would consider adding a top panel as well.  Don't know if that would make it too dark or not.  

For odd shapes to glue, I will use elastic bands.  They make great clamps!

[daveww1]

awesome job

[FrankEV]

6 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

Nice cutting. 

I would consider adding a top panel as well.  Don't know if that would make it too dark or not.  

For odd shapes to glue, I will use elastic bands.  They make great clamps!

I thought about a top panel as well.  I'm not convinsed yet that it is needed.  A bottom panel would not be needed if there was another way to connect the clip to the shade. Most  of the shades, like the holiday kind, are just in front of the light.

I tried rubber bands, but there was not enough rigidness for the bands to work against.  Just collasped the assembley when I tried.

Edited November 11, 2023 by FrankEV

[jollyred]

I like this and am thinking of making one.  I will use masking tape to make the corner joint, in the same manner that is used for making boxes.  Lay a strip of tape, adhesive side up, on a flat surface.  Put the two pieces on the tape with the bevels up and facing each other and touching.  Apply glue to the two bevels and then fold the two pieces into a right angle.  The tape will hold the joint tight.  Put some glue on the edges of the triangle piece, set it in place and tape tightly.  

Tom

[FrankEV]

20 hours ago, jollyred said:

I like this and am thinking of making one.  I will use masking tape to make the corner joint, in the same manner that is used for making boxes.  Lay a strip of tape, adhesive side up, on a flat surface.  Put the two pieces on the tape with the bevels up and facing each other and touching.  Apply glue to the two bevels and then fold the two pieces into a right angle.  The tape will hold the joint tight.  Put some glue on the edges of the triangle piece, set it in place and tape tightly.  

Tom

Exactly what I did.  While you are trying to fit the bottom piece in the corner joint opens up. One joint at a time just did not work for me.

Just thinking of what you said, maybe if you lay the three pieces flat on the bench with the tape attached for each joint, like you do for a box, after applying the clue you should be able to fold up the three pieces into the open shape and the tape should hold all the joints in place.  I realy should have thought of that when I did mine.

 

[FrankEV]

OK, I think I may have a solution....on paper anyway.  I've posted another pattern in Pattern exchange  of a Mushroomfairy (a S. Good Pattern) that I mde into a shade for another NiteLight. 

Along with the cut panel patern I've shown a plan of the bottom as well.  Also, the mitering needed so it can be assembled with tape like making a box. 

I have not cut it yet but I will start later today.  Just thoght those who may be following might want to look at the new try.