Make a Lamp: Lighting Design and Woodworking

About the Course

Lighting is an exciting product category, with the opportunity to play with color, shadow, and form. In this series, working through a pre-designed object, you will learn the basics of wiring LED lights to play with the RGB color spectrum. You will also learn some fundamental woodworking machines and processes, as well as gain knowledge of different techniques to bend wood for organic shapes. By the end, you will have fabricated your own unique and playful desktop light fixture, and have the base skills and machine knowledge to tackle some more advanced wood joinery and construction.

Note: All materials are included in the price. Some independent work, outside of class sessions, is expected.

NextFab’s Maker Series is a three-month program that gives you 3 months of membership, 5 classes, unlimited shop access, and a cohort to learn alongside. Registration Opens: Monday, August 28th at 9 a.m.

Monday, September 11th, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Electronics Orientation
Monday, September 18th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Group Session: Wiring Demo and Soldering
Monday, September 25th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Woodshop Orientation and Table Saw I
Monday, October 2nd, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Group session: Wood Bending and Lamination
Monday, October 9th, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Group Session: Assembly

To enroll in these classes, please complete an Ultimate-level membership agreement and select “Maker Series – Lighting Design and Woodworking.”

• Day One: Electronics Orientation
  • Electronics department introduction, analyze project components and circuit concepts and finish by practicing soldering.
• Day Two: Group Session: Wiring Demo and Soldering
  • Implementation of Soldering Skills, Protoboard planning and preparation, trimming and insulating wires, and circuit diagnosis.
• Day Three: Woodshop Orientation and Table Saw I
  • Cut down pieces of pre-milled wood for the lamp base, drill holes for electrical components, and assemble with dowels and pocket screws.
  • Wood Orientation Article
  • Table Saw I Article
  • TS and MS Blades Article
  • How to Avoid Kickback article. 
• Day Four: Wood Lamination I
  • Discuss various bending techniques, mold, and material types, and complete a lamination glue-up.
  • Wood Laminating article
• Day Five: Group Session: Assembly 
  

What’s Next:

• Finish-coat the lamp or embellish it as you desire!
• Take Wood Milling I or Router Table I to gain more certifications in the Woodshop
• Take Circuits I to expand your electronics knowledge
• Move towards your next project to take advantage of the remainder of your 3-month membership promotion, try the Wooden Plant Stand project