Antler Head Sculpture with LEDs (work in progress)
Feb 6th, 2009 by admin
I was recently compelled to add blinking LEDs to stone. I had a limestone rock that I carved and it really needed some eyes. I liked how light shines through marbles and wanted a similar effect. But once they marbles are set into stone, the marbles become less shiny. So how can I light them? LEDs, of course!
- Using a masonry bit with a drill press, I drilled some holes in the bottom of the rock that intersected the eye holes.
- Then I fed some wired LEDs through the eye sockets.
- And soldered pins to the LED wire.
- Next, I glued the marbles into the eye sockets and plugged the LEDs into a bread board with an attiny22/44/84 chip and “Presto!” my Antler Head has glowing eyes.
This is not a finished piece, as I am going to build another part to place the electronics into. A real LED controller board needs to be built, and I will also recondition the antlers and cover them with a protective layer of polyurethane.
But I love the luminous effect of the blinking, glowing eyes coming from a heavy, solid, rock. LEDs & rocks…together at last! To see a grainy version of what this sculpture looks live, check it out here, or below.
