Yes, thin wood lets light through - and this reveal lamp shows that in a beautiful way. Although 0.5mm thin birch wood is opaque, light does come through when you place a light behind it.
Turn on the light and let the drawing on the inside come to life! Want to make a lamp like this, too? Below we share the template and instructions.
The reveal lamp: materials and design
This reveal lamp consists of a laser-cut outer layer of 0.5mm birch plywood and a sturdy inner layer of 6mm poplar plywood.
This is the construction drawing for this lamp:
Template and download instructions
Want to make your own reveal lamp? You can download the templates designed specifically for Adobe Illustrator here. The design does not include a socket, so you can choose which loose bulb to use.
Click here to download:
- Reveal lamp template inside (sheet thickness 6 mm)
- Reveal lamp template exterior (sheet thickness 0.5 mm)
Tip: Use the Shape Builder tool in Adobe Illustrator to seamlessly integrate your own design with the lamp's frame. More about the Shape Builder-tool.
Material Advice
- Inside: use poplar plywood 6 mm thick, or another type of wood of the same thickness.
- Exterior: use 0.5mm birch plywood or 0.5mm bamboo plywood.
More about thin sheets of wood
How many layers does thin plywood have?
Thin 0.5mm plywood, such as birch or bamboo, consists of three cross-glued layers. That's why these thin sheets are also called plywood. This construction makes the sheets flexible and strong: you can bend them without them breaking easily. Thin plywood sheets are ideal for model making, as veneers or for flexible designs. You can also use them for their light transmission. Perfect for a lamp, for example.
How flexible is thin wood for laser cutting?
Plywood boards of 0.5 mm, both birch and bamboo, are flexible like stiff paper and do not break easily. Because of the cross-glued layers, they are slightly more flexible lengthwise than widthwise.
Below you can see an example of a butterfly lamp made with thin bamboo plywood - it illustrates well how pliable this material is:
Rate yourself
Want to see these woods in person first? Then order a sample necklace, then you can judge for yourself whether the light transmission of these materials works for your project.
Have fun making
With the reveal lamp, you can experiment with the translucent properties of thin wood and create a unique mood light. Good luck and have fun with your project!
