DIY light table

[AdamW]

I found a nice wooden wine box on the street. I had some plastic left over from my DIY light box project, so I went to the hardware store and bought two small florescent lights--the type meant to be mounted underneath a kitchen cabinet--for US$20.

I cut an opening in the sliding top and drilled a hole in the side for the power cord. I attached a piece of plastic to the top with staples and foil tape. I didn't secure the light strips to the bottom of the box because I think I might add a third unit.

The light wasn't even enough, so I covered two pieces of cardboard with foil tape and bent them to act as reflectors.

Here's a quick test shot. I cut a thin slice of a yellow plum and only lit it from below. Light from above was diffuse late afternoon window light (east-facing.)

[AdamW]

Here's another-- a slice of blood orange.

[Paul79UF]

Hmm..interesting shots. I'd like to build a quick box like that to play with some fruit slices. :)

What other kind of subjects could it be used for? Bugs?

[AdamW]

Well, of course you could always use it view slides, dental x-rays, and overhead transparencies.:D

I haven't used it much, but it would seem to work best with flat objects that make the most of the back light--semi-transparent, that is.

[kombizz]

Thank you for sharing your experiment with us.

[Nickcanada]

That is really cool! Great idea.