Accent Lights

A few years ago I made some accent lights for the back yard. I took a map book, traced it on plywood and cut the state out with a jig saw. I put many many coats of paint hoping to seal it from the sun and rain.  I dissected a cheap solar landscape light and mounted the guts on the back.  It gives off a nice drop shadow effect.  I then made another one with the state of Minnesota, which was a bit more difficult to cut out.

Fast forward a few years and the sun and elements have really destroyed Nevada.  So I am going to try and recreate it with cement.

  1.  Make a cast:  I tried making a cast with spray foam but it was too porous.  I bolted 2 sheets of plywood together and cut a new jig out.
  2. Fill with cement:  Mixed some 5000psi concrete with some tinted countertop plasticizers.  Add some wire mesh.  Wait 7 days to cure.
  3. Mount the electronics:  I found a bright 30 lumen LED yard light at Lowes.  Take out of plastic shell and attach to back.

 

Nevada Accent Light.  this is the wooden version which decayed in the sun/rain.
Minnesota Version
Green Accent Light
Plywood jig clamped to a piece of glass
This one was poured face up. I was able to create a textured surface – but I will have to carefully drill the mounts in the back which may crack it in pieces.
This one was poured face down. The Glass base gives a smooth surface. The advantage here is I can mount the bolts in the wet cement and avoid some drilling. This one is finished and hanging back on the wall.
Concrete version is now live