All rights reserved, CR2016 vs CR2032 - Differences and Similarities, Capacitor vs Inductor - 7 key differences. When you are applying self-adhesive to a surface, the more surface area you can cover and make contact with, the stronger the bond is going to be. Led strip lights are used in a wide variety of applications, including commercial locations such as museums and restaurants, homes where they can be used for task lighting, and even automotive applications. This is why it is important for you to clean your surfaces before mounting your led strip lights to them. Mounting LED strip lighting - what worked and failed, I have tried many variations to fasten LED strips. Soap will not only remove any residues on the surface of your furniture, but it will also leave a fresh and clean surface for you to mount your led strip lights on. Before mounting your led strip lights on wood, you should know what type of drill bit to use when drilling the holes for your screws. Consider the diagram below which shows a surface with many imperfections. If your URL is correct, you'll see an image preview here. Then I solderd the resistor onto the end. (My groove was shallow enough that the LEDs are completely contained- if you want them to stick through the holes, you can make a deeper groove with less material remaining.). If you do not have a surface cleaner, water should do just fine. The GOOP grabs the strips pretty quickly, but all you need to do is put a piece of painter's tape every so often as you glue the strip in place to help hold it as it dries. This application of the adhesive will strongly hold the LED module and wiring in place thru out the harshest weather conditions for many years and is a real bitch to pull a failed LED module off the backer for replacement. 8 years ago I tried staples. How long can you keep these on for and can you sleep at night peacefully knowing that this will not cause a fire if left ON overnight? link to Can You Put Electrical Tape Over Led Strip Lights? However, you should never mount these lights to unfinished wood surfaces like raw oak or plywood because the unfinished wood will absorb too much moisture from the adhesive and it could damage your lights over time. Ledlightplanet.com is the ultimate resource for learning everything about Led lights. TC CarrMalheur, Kopperton & Tejas * Sn3 in 1923(the I don't know yet) * Sn2 "Gilpin in Idaho"Anaconda, Oregon & Pacific * S Scale Heavy ElectricMy Blog Index. which will cause many inconvenient during the led strip light working . Can you put led strip lights on wood? This sacrifice of using cheaper materials will lower the quality of LED strip lights considerably.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'electronicguidebook_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',120,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-electronicguidebook_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; So, if a lower quality self-adhesive is used as the backing, it is not going to create a strong bond between the LED strip light and wood. Determine where you want to mount your led strip lights on the wood and carefully measure it out. Drill your holes and place your led strip lights in them making sure the light strip is facing the right direction. I made it at techshop in menlo park (http://www.techshop.ws), using some tools in the woodshop and basic tools like the soldering iron. Otherwise, tape or some other insulator would work to cover the back and ends. I think I saw somewhere where somebody used LEDs on AC by wiring some in both directions. I pressed the LEDs firmly into their holes, and closed up the back by gluing on the thin strip of wood I cut earlier on the table saw. ONLY good for mounting to softwood, not to hard MDF. Once I'd set the blade depth, I set the rip fence so that the edge of the board was about 3mm past the edge of the blade, and cut a groove. The glue will not change yellow for use a long time and also good smell . You may have seen led strip lights on the side of a building or in a showroom. At this point, you can buy a pretty decent LED strip from IKEA, and I'm sure there are dozens on amazon. This will give your wood a uniform look, which is perfect for furniture and cabinets. I just needed to figure out what resistor value to use so we run the right amount of current through the LEDs. One thing that I have been worried about is fire hazard. This will ensure that there are no residues left on the surface of the wood before you mount your led strip lights, which can cause the adhesive to fail. I missed several times, and shorted out lengths of LEDs. ONLY in soft pine. The adhesive on these clips sticks really well to the styrene. You can invest in a good quality double sided tape that will help you stick the light strip to wood. In addition to mounting your led strip lights on unfinished wood surfaces, you should not mount them on rough wooden surfaces either. In this article, I will talk about if you put led strip lights on wood surfaces. hold Formica to wood counter tops it will surly hold a LED strip. Then I moved it a bit further over and brought the blade up high enough to cut all the way through the board, and cut it off. When solidify the PU glue, it will lead to some low molecular compounds, which is toxicity , it is bad for health when workers inhalation. There are several things you could do to improve on this design, like adding a base to make a desk lamp, using a DC power supply, adding colored LEDs, etc. These woods are very soft and do not hold up well to the heat of led strip lights. VHB (very high bond tape) to the back side of each module but as a standard sign industry practice we also run a bead of silicone adhesive along one side of the module where is meets thebacker panel. I'm very interested in blending wood with LED technology. You can put led strip lights on wood surfaces that are smooth or non-porous but if you are expecting the led strip lights to last long term, make sure that the wood surface is finished. You can get both at the local big box stores or Amazon, I haven't yet found anything this won't stick to. E6000 is great for attaching aluminum to masonite, but not so great for LED strips to wood. https://nixtrainz.com/ Home of the Decoder Buddy. I have LED strip lighting over my workbench, fastened to the bottom of MDF board shelves. Ledlightplanet is compensated for referring traffic and business to the above company. As with the self-adhesive of the light strip, invest in a hot glue gun and glue sticks. Start with a low grit sandpaper (120 240) to remove and abrasions, and finish with a higher grit (800 1200) to smooth the surface.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'electronicguidebook_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_1',123,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-electronicguidebook_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')}; Remember to clean the surface after sanding. Get yourself some sandpaper and sand the surfaces that are not smooth. Strength of LED strip light self-adhesive As mentioned above, this comes down to the quality of the light strip which is heavily correlated with how much you pay for it (however on odd occasions you find cheap things that are of high quality). I would just like to go a step further and make sure my projects are safe, otherwise what's the point. If you opt to use duct tape, just make sure that you do not cover the LEDs when taping the light strip. A simple jig keeps the spacing even: clamp a piece of wood to the drill press table and put some kind of peg in it, a certain distance from the drill bit. NEITHER are the same stuff as Walthers Goo or Ambroid. Wipe the wood with a damp cloth that has been rubbed in rubbing alcohol. One of the most popular surfaces that led strip lights to get mounted on is wood surfaces like doors, beds, desks, and cabinets. It is far easier to do with two people. Mounting LED strips upside-down is a pain. on Step 6. Last time I mounted them with their own self adhesive backing to a wooden L channel so they pointed straight to the back of the layout. I then moved the fence over a bit and cut another groove, repeating until the groove seemed big enough to house the LEDs (about 3/8 of an inch). Having selected a resistor, I soldered the LEDs and resistor into one long chain. No matter how strong the self-adhesive the LED strip light uses, if the surface of the wood you are sticking it onto is not smooth, it is not going to create a solid bond. Use a pencil to mark where you want your holes for screws and drill them out making sure they are not too big. Many features may not work properly without it. They were not reliable at all. plastic J-bead molding for dry wall applications. The clips make contact by pressure, they do not pierce the copper like the waterproof clips. They can be used as backlighting for cabinets, under the cabinet lighting, and even as outdoor accent lights. If you have MDF, do not use plastic clips. The plastic clips shown below are for waterproof LED strips. I found the best answer is to glue a styrene strip onto the wood first. But, how will you know what is a good self-adhesive without testing it out? If you want to get sampel for test , welcome to contact us ! Nice project, I am thinking about doing something like this under our kitchen cabinets. If the wood surface you are going to stick the light strip onto is untreated, it is going to have bumps, cracks, and pieces of wood fibre sticking out making it harder for the LED strip light to adhere to. on Introduction. I am having to put up my LED strips again. Cheap glue sticks do not provide a strong bond. Yes you will be able to stick LED strip lights to wood. LED strip lights are very versatile when it comes to mounting them to surfaces. As others mentioned, Shoe Goo and other rubber cements are successful and you use tape to holdthe LED strips in place until the cement dries. One popular option is led strip lights. Ledlightplanet.com is owned and operated by Toba Horombo & Musa Mwenda. Use a screwdriver that is appropriate for the type of screws youre using to secure your led strip lights in place. The MDF was so hard, I had to drill itty-bitty pilot holes for thescrews, holding the power drill upside down. Materials: Pine board (section of a 1x12, about 19 inches long) 25 white 5mm LEDs 1kOhm resistor power cord Tools: Table Saw Drill Press soldering iron (and solder) clamps and glue multimeter (optional) Precautions: Power Tools Mains voltage, For the wooden housing, I basically created a U-channel by cutting a large groove near one edge of my board, then cutting the whole thing off from the board. The basic idea here is to put all of the Light Emitting Diodes in series along with a current limiting resistor, and then connect that to the alternating current from the wall. But, just be cautious when using a hot glue gun, as touching the hot glue can be quite painful. 9 years ago Simply mark out where your led strip light will go and simply put them up and apply moderate pressure to secure it. Reply The tiniest movement - like mounting the strips - would break contact. If you want to drill holes into your wood, it is best if you use a drill bit that is designed for wood. Please update us if anything blows up. Just remember to let the surface dry before sticking the LED light strip onto it. The led strips have held for a couple years so far. If your led strip light does not come with adhesive, choose one that is suitable for wood like the Double-sided Foam Tape. No comments have been added yet. When it's time to stick the strip in place you will only get one shot at it. This is the final check to ensure you create a strong bond between the LED light strip and the wood you will stick it to.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'electronicguidebook_com-banner-1','ezslot_0',122,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-electronicguidebook_com-banner-1-0')}; So, you have a strong adhesive, and the wood is smooth, but if the surface of the wood has any dust or dirt, this is again not going to allow the self-adhesive of the light strip to adhere to the surface properly. If I do it again, I will definitely use the tape. If your wood is any type of pine, fir or yew, I would not recommend using led strip lights on it. Then just to experiment, I removed the tape and tried the clips. You can mount them on walls, under tables, around poles, on the floor etc. and use a 120vac-12vdc xfmr from a thrift store to prevent flicker and help w/ safety. You should group the LEDs in blocks, like each 4 LEDs in series, and then connect these blocks in parallel, it would make repair easier, because if they are all in series if one breaks down it will be hard to find, especially if you have a 100 or more of them. The plastic clips were an absolutemisery to install. I cut one conductor longer than the other to up with one end of the wire at each end of the housing. Full disclosure: I am the inventor of the Decoder Buddy and I sell it via the link above. People seem to be unsure if it will damage the light strips or if it will cause any other problems. We are Enthusiastic about Led lights and love sharing our experiences on all the new and cool things we learn about them each day. Looking at the specs for a similar product (http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/component-leds/5mm-white-led-30-degree-viewing-angle-18000-mcd/256/), the current rating is about 30mA with a 70mA peak, and the voltage drop is around 3.4. In this instance, using the self-adhesive backing of the light strip or double sided tape would be a better option as these methods are hidden away and are a neater option. If you require a semi-permanent solution, that can be removed without leaving any residue, go for the mounting clip and cable tie options which wont leave a mess. Just line the drill bit up with the center line to get a nice row of evenly spaced, centered holes. Had to re-do them with GOOP, and they're still up. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/the-credit-valley-railway-v5-0-12213893?pid=1331432632, RandyCincinnati West - B&O/PC Summer 1975, http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/17997. So if you have an unfinished or engineered wood surfaces, then I would not recommend using led strip lights on it because the moisture can lead to mold growth and damage the led lights. The purpose here is to remove all of the excess chemicals that are on your surface. I used 25 LEDs, and my housing was about 19" long, so I tried to space my holes 3/4 of an inch apart with a little space on the ends. Is there any issue with heat in this application? If you are using the adhesive correctly, then your surface should be free of dirt and debris. Also, you can paint the wood and finish with polish to further smoothen the surface (but this step is optional). Thanks. on Introduction. I wanted to keep this one simple, but I may do some fancier wiring in version 2. Awful. Smoothness of wood If the surface of the wood is not smooth fear not. Then the strip sticks to the styrene really well. Have fun! So, you should solder them in pararel. On the non-waterproof strips, I use slide-on clips. Joe FugatePublisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine. on Introduction, don't forget a diode, by exemple : 1n4007 thanks! A: The best adhesive to use is Double-sided Foam Tape. The most successful fasteners have been, Foam double-sided tape holds just as well as rubber cements, and adheres instantly. A: No, I would recommend waiting until the paint or stain is dry or cure to not damage the wood. The first option to mounting the light strip onto wood if the self-adhesive is not good enough, is to use mounting clips. However, its price is higher as well as the toxicity. You will be able to see if the light strip uses a 3M self-adhesive as it will be written on the back of the LED light strip. So, check the surface of the wood you will be sticking the lights to and ensure it is smooth. They come in a variety of colours, and lengths (which can be altered to your desire), so you have plenty of options when selecting the right LED light strip to enhance a living space. However, there are a few Dos and donts that you need to know about before mounting these lights on your wood surfaces. Modeling the Credit Valley Railway Circa 1900 in N scale. I placed the LEDs in their holes upside-down so they'd be spaced properly and easy to get at. I had some LEDs sitting around, but no simple way to make a circuit board for them, so I make a wooden housing to hold the LEDs and make a simple lighting strip. So if you are looking to use led strip lights on freshly finished or freshly painted wood surfaces, then I would recommend that you wait until the paint or stain is dry or cure. To do this, I first removed the blade guard assembly and lowered the blade so it wouldn't cut all the way through the wood. But, will LED strip lights stick to wood? https://www.facebook.com/LEDsMagazine?fref=ts, https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/leds-magazine/. Silicon glue , it including the all advantages of PU glue and epoxcy glue ,which with good heat resistance , good low temperature resistance , good yellow degeneration resistance and low toxicity . It is sometimes used to fix problems on aircrafts! This is important because fresh paint or stains can hold a lot of moisture in them and it could damage your led strip lights. Can someone knowledgeable address my issue please, I would be forever grateful. Very easy to use. Reply Participated in the Woodworking Challenge. I tried wire paper clips fastened with screws, and they worked OK. non-waterproof strip clips do not have an arc., used the same way. It is important to know that not all adhesives are created equal. After I drilled the first hole, I put it over the peg and then drilled the next one, then moved the 2nd hole to the peg and drilled the 3rd one, and so on. A: No, I would not recommend using led strip lights on unfinished or engineered wood surfaces. Next, I flipped the housing over placed the LEDs in, aligning them with their holes. Good instructable, but you shouldn't have soldered them in serie, because if some LED breaks down, all of them are going to turn off. YIKES! I first mounted the LED strips to MDF board with foam double-sided tape. The coating covers most of the surface of the copper contacts, leaving a very small sweet spot exposed for solderless clips. These lights are flexible and can easily be bent, cut, or mounted in any manner you choose. 6 years ago. Start by drawing a pencil line down the center of the housing so you can line up all your holes. Dirt and debris on wood If you have dirt, dust, or any sort of debris that is present on the surface of the wood, you are going to want to remove it. I don't know if that would change the characteristics of the light, but I think it leads to more efficient use of the current. I discovered the non-waterproof strips have a thin, very tough plastic coating. 3m also makes an industrial level silicone adhesive #IS800 which is a very obnoxious and irratatingone that will require very good ventilation while using but it will hold and last for ever. on Step 6. However, there are certain things to consider. Home Depot, Menards or just about any hardware stores sell DAPor Loctite White or Clear silicone adhesive in caulk gun type tubes. Cable ties are a great option when the piece of wood is small enough that you can wrap the cable tie around the wood and LED strip light to keep it in place. I used an outlet strip with a circuit breaker which would shut off if there was a problem with the wiring, but luckily it worked fine. This site requires you to register or login to post a comment. The type of wood that your led strip light is mounted on can also dictate what kind of screw should be used. The little plastic clampswith very very tiny screws worked excellently. 9 years ago One mistake that many people make when putting led strip lights on wood surfaces and other surfaces is failing to clean their surfaces before mounting the light. Nice simple project though! In addition to rubbing alcohol, it is also a good idea for you to clean your surfaces with soap and water. Will_Annandmentioned Gorrilla hot glue gun which i know will also work great for your application in which i also use for other application on the layout and structures but the only problem with hot glue is those stringy hairs of glue that you get when you pull the gun away from where you just applied the hot glue. Q: Can you use led strip lights on newly stained or painted wood? Lastly, if youre mounting on a very hardwood, then you should definitely use screws that are longer. So it is not better to operate in workshop, Thats why it has less share on the market . Since the LEDs are 5mm diameter, I used a 5mm drill- it's a tight fit, but the wood has some give, and once the LEDs are in, they'll stay put. I ended up buying the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun and a package of glue sticks. They are a reputable company known for creating high quality self-adhesive that create strong bonds.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'electronicguidebook_com-box-4','ezslot_6',121,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-electronicguidebook_com-box-4-0')}; The higher quality LED strip lights will use 3M self-adhesives which means that it will stick better to wood and other surfaces. Its also important to make sure that the type of wood is not porous because some led lights are not damp or water rated and do not like water or moisture. Led strip lights are long strips of led lighting that come in various lengths. - There are Can You Put Electrical Tape Over Led Strip Lights? -- Doug -- Modeling the NorwottuckRailroad, returningtrails to rails. We make custom! On the waterproof strips that had a thick plastic cover, I used non-solder clips that pierced the strips and made good electrical contact. If you want a uniform look, then I would recommend that you use. Also, you can use led strip lights on your wood surface provided the right adhesive is used. The mounting clip uses a screw to tighten the mounting clip and keep the LED light strip in place. How long do batteries last in fairy lights. The strips are up, now to run the wires to the power packs. Large images may take a few minutes to appear. I've used both E6000 and GOOP. Share it with us! If for some reason you cannot follow the steps above, there are other options you have for mounting an LED light strip onto wood. However, there are certain things to be aware of that will affect how well the LED strip lights will stick to wood which include; the strength of the self-adhesive, how smooth the wood surface is, and how dirty the wood surface is. 10 years ago If you do not use the right drill bit, then this can cause your wood to splinter. I use 2" sections every few inches. Double sided tape can be a great option if you already have a set of LED light strips but cannot replace it. Once everything was hooked up, it was time for the smoke test. Q: Can you mount led strip lights on unfinished wood? So if your piece of furniture is not smooth, then it may be best for you to wait until they are refinished before mounting your led strip lights to them. You will need to make sure the strip is well protected from moisture and water damage because wood can hold a lot of moisture in it. I didn't want to press them all the way in yet; just gently seat them in their holes so they stay put. Others use various heat shields etc.. But working upside-down, it was a bother to drive the screws. If however, aesthetics is one of your top priorities, having mounting clips, and cable ties all over the place is not so pleasing to the eye. I have made some LED projects using caps, sensors, etc incase people are planning to make some BE EXTRA careful, since you are dealing with AC Mains (both 110V or 220V). Simply mark out where your led strip light will go and simply put them up and apply moderate pressure to secure it. A surface cleaner and a cloth should do the job just fine for removing dirt. Q: What adhesive should I use for led strip lights on wood? Again, be careful with the electrical wiring, since we're using straight wall current. Did you make this project? This is one of the biggest mistakes that people make when putting led strip lights on wood surfaces.