Did you know that you can make wood look like lightning struck it? The effect is quite beautiful and can make a unique statement in your home. It's called a Lichtenberg figure, which looks like elaborate branches that have been burned into a surface.
They're actually electric discharges that come from an extremely high source of power. So, please be extremely careful during this project and make sure you follow all safety protocols when working with this high-powered device. Check out the video below for the full guided instructions.
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Directions
1. Gather your materials. Most of the wood for this project can be found for very cheap or free. Try salvage yards for old coffee table glass with beveled edges, which will be sturdy and resist scratches.
1. Gather your materials. Most of the wood for this project can be found for very cheap or free. Try salvage yards for old coffee table glass with beveled edges, which will be sturdy and resist scratches.
2. Rip the slats from the pallets with the claw end of your hammer, and use it along with the pry bar to loosen any nails and screws or old staples that may still be stuck to your pallets. Make sure all metal pieces are removed safely. Don't forget to wear your safety gear throughout any project, especially ones involving woodworking and saws.
3. Sand all the slats until they're smooth using heavy-grit sandpaper and working your way up to fine-grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.
4. Measure and mark eight boards to equal length to form a rectangle of your desired size. Lay two boards of equal length next to each other and join them with braces cut from pallet wood using a nail gun.
5. Drill pilot holes on the corners of the rectangle and join the boards together using a power drill and wood screws.
6. Once you have the outline of your rectangle box, measure and cut boards to fit horizontally across the back of the box. Sand everything very well, and attach them using an air gun.
7. Then, flip the box over so the open side is facing up. Measure and cut your legs to your desired height using a 4x4 piece of wood. Use a jigsaw to notch out several spaces for the sides of the box to fit into. Sand the legs as well.
8. Apply wood glue to the notches and fit the legs onto the corners of the table. Then, reinforce them with wood screws.
9. Cut and sand eight more pieces and attach them to the outer sides of the table legs you just added. Make wood dowels for the corners for added strength and durability. Now you should have what looks like a rectangular box inside another box.
10. Lay your recycled glass in the center of the middle box. Dry fit your floor boards around the edges of the glass, measure, cut and sand them. Notch out spaces on the edges of the boards so they fit together precisely.
11. Before attaching these top boards, to create Lichtenberg patterns you are going to need to follow some serious safety precautions. Break out the fire extinguisher. Get a partner to help you. Don't ever touch anything electrical while it's plugged in, and keep one hand behind your back at all times, in case you do touch something, you will want to be grounded and not touching two leads at once.
12. Now, remove the transformer from an old microwave, rewire it, and attach it to nails driven into the wood using alligator clips.
13. Do not plug the transformer in yet. Mix baking soda and water together and brush it on your wood pieces. Then, standing back from anything touching the wires, plug it in. Do not touch any part of the wood, transformer, or exposed wires while it is plugged in.
14. Your wood should start burning with patterns everywhere you applied your baking soda mixture. Don't apply the water anywhere you don't want to have burn marks.
15. Then, without touching anything, unplug the transformer and step away. Let the wood rest for a couple minutes before touching, as it will be extremely hot. Wear safety gloves.
16. Once everything has cooled and you've removed the transformer from your work space, sand the sides of the wood. Cut out a notch in the side of all the wood pieces to hold the glass.
17. Clean the wood you've burned using water and a scrub brush. Then, mix up some glow in the dark paint and apply into the dried crevices.
18. Sand everything again once the paint is dry. Apply wood glue to the notches of the wood for the top and attach them securely to each other only and not the whole table. Sand everything you've just touched with a fine-grit sandpaper.
19. Tape off the glass and paint a coat of polyurethane on the entire table. Attach four accent pieces to the interior of the box before securing the top to the rest of the table.
20. Drill a hole in one corner and adhere LED strip lights to the inside of the box using a stapler. Attach the top of the table to the base using three hinges and wood screws along one side. This will allow the table to be opened easily. Remove the tape from the glass and plug in your LED lights!
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