I have been making some stuff to make orbs, but have run into a few problems either with not enough power to light the bulbs well, or way too much power and immediately blew them out. What do you guys use for power and lights when making your tools?

I really want to make some stuff and would like any ideas you all have for inexpensive cool light stuff.

I have to admit I haven't done any DIY lighting in a while - what are you using for your orbs?

So far only used a friends set up. LED x-mas lights cut up so there are about 10 bulbs, long wire to a battery pack. Not sure what he used for a battery pack, but I tried one with a 3 AAA flashlight as a power source, and it wasn't as bright as i wanted. Added about 25 lights and used a 18volt flashlight, and promptly blew out the bulbs. I should have known it would be too powerful for those, but oh well.

I was just hoping some wonderful folks out there had some methods that worked for them, or maybe knew a good place on line to order cheap parts, or something like that.

Check out the light junkies group on flickr: http://www.flickr....htjunkies/discuss/
There are tons of good discussions on light tools and techniques, just use the discussion search feature. Here is the info on orb tools: http://www.flickr....%40N25&q=orb+tools
The tutorials are very useful also

cheers

for orbs I just use battery powered xmas lights, tape them into a tight bunch

http://www.ebay.co...ash=item1e6ae62286

Go to dollar store (or euro store, whatever)
Get a pair of AA powered LED lights (I have it in red, blue and they sold a yellow one but I didn't like the color)
Extend the wires
etc... here, the flicker group has tutorials and stuff, just scroll down. http://www.flickr....oups/lightjunkies/

I just did this (sort of).

I bought a flashlight from dollar store, strung 5 x-mas lights together and then a long wire. as the light was one with just one light bulb, I was able to run the wires through the area where the bulb goes and that way I had a switch. I like that it isn't too bright, and gives a nice warm look to the lights.

I also cut up a 6 LED flashlight and ran the lights away from the body on the end of the wires. I like to have the switch to turn them on/off, but it is really bright. I did try making some covers from colored gels so that I could shoot a few orbs of different color, and it toned them down a bit so they weren't too bright. I may run out to the desert this weekend and see what I can get out of that.

Oh, anyone know a good place to get some LED bulbs in different colors?

I was thinking of a lightbar project. I got a nice solder gun this weekend, but didn't find any cheap LED bulbs.

And EL wire. I need that too. Found some for 3.50 on Amazon, but it was like $10 for shipping, and it said to allow 17 business days. screw that.

I think I am hooked.

Posted by Jonno23 Oh, anyone know a good place to get some LED bulbs in different colors? I was thinking of a lightbar project. I got a nice solder gun this weekend, but didn't find any cheap LED bulbs. And EL wire. I need that too. Found some for 3.50 on Amazon, but it was like $10 for shipping, and it said to allow 17 business days. screw that. I think I am hooked.

www.dx.com has only let me down once with over 20 orders... and that one let down, they replaced for free.

Posted by unlisted www.dx.com has only let me down once with over 20 orders... and that one let down, they replaced for free.

Yeah, and now "dx.com"? I'll bet that cost them a bit....

Not sure why I didnt think of DX. I love that place too. Just put in an order for about 100 LEDs of various color.

Found some cheap EL wire on amazon too. Now I just have to figure out how to best use the stuff. lol

Posted by Jonno23 Not sure why I didn't think of DX. I love that place too. Just put in an order for about 100 LEDs of various color. Found some cheap EL wire on amazon too. Now I just have to figure out how to best use the stuff. lol

I expect no less than pure awesomeness

Posted by bonnie&clyde I expect no less than pure awesomeness

Thanks buddy. No pressure there.

This is a little out of my price range, but it sure does look like a pretty fun toy!

It lets you paint 198-pixel high (and arbitrarily wide) images off of an SD card, right into thin air:

http://www.kicksta...t-painting-evolved