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hoppycalif · 03-22-2008, 09:04 AM

Niko, I am basically a woodworker, so I see solutions to problems as woodworking jobs. But, in this case I planned all along to make this from aluminum sheet, but as I got more excited about the linkage idea I got less excited about struggling with sheet metal and acquiring the hand tools needed to use it. Then I remembered that I could get 2' x 4' panels of 1/4" "hardboard", which is MDF at Home Depot, for $2 each. Being a cheapskate that appealed to me, so I used MDF. I admit that I kind of regret not going ahead with the sheet aluminum.

If that big tank you are making a fixture for sits near a wall the parallelogram linkage would work very well for it. Then maintenance in the tank would get much more pleasant, with the light up and still lighting the tank.

Be sure to take lots of photos and show them here as you go along. Maybe it will inspire me again and I can drive my wife nuts by starting an even better fixture then!

DMH, telescoping struts, similar to what is used for a microphone stand, for example, could be adopted for a linkage too. Once you adopt the linkage idea there are several ways to do this that offer lots of flexibility on height of the light above the tank, distance from the wall, height of the raised fixture, etc., but those ideas are all more complicated too.

I'm still fascinated by the idea of using drawer slides to provide the ability to move a light fixture back, but I can't yet see a good way to raise it and use drawer slides, too.

03-22-2008, 09:04 AM	#27 (permalink)
hoppycalif Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA, USA Posts: 5,208 iTrader Ratings: 20 iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 227345	Re: DIY Cantilevered Light Fixture Niko, I am basically a woodworker, so I see solutions to problems as woodworking jobs. But, in this case I planned all along to make this from aluminum sheet, but as I got more excited about the linkage idea I got less excited about struggling with sheet metal and acquiring the hand tools needed to use it. Then I remembered that I could get 2' x 4' panels of 1/4" "hardboard", which is MDF at Home Depot, for $2 each. Being a cheapskate that appealed to me, so I used MDF. I admit that I kind of regret not going ahead with the sheet aluminum. If that big tank you are making a fixture for sits near a wall the parallelogram linkage would work very well for it. Then maintenance in the tank would get much more pleasant, with the light up and still lighting the tank. Be sure to take lots of photos and show them here as you go along. Maybe it will inspire me again and I can drive my wife nuts by starting an even better fixture then! DMH, telescoping struts, similar to what is used for a microphone stand, for example, could be adopted for a linkage too. Once you adopt the linkage idea there are several ways to do this that offer lots of flexibility on height of the light above the tank, distance from the wall, height of the raised fixture, etc., but those ideas are all more complicated too. I'm still fascinated by the idea of using drawer slides to provide the ability to move a light fixture back, but I can't yet see a good way to raise it and use drawer slides, too.