How To Make a Custom Neon LED Sign!

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For a recent wedding anniversary, Norm embarks on making a custom LED-lit display that looks like a neon sign. Follow along as we guide you through the process of taking a hand drawn image like cursive text and turning it into a laser-cut display using off-the-shelf flexible LED lights and some patient soldering and wiring. The finished effect looks convincingly like a neon tube light!
Flexible Neon LED Strip Light: amzn.to/3AUKV8K
Silicone End Cap for LED Tube: amzn.to/3kezMck
USB Soldering Iron: amzn.to/2UA9eJB
22awg wire: amzn.to/3D651ik
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Опубликовано:

12 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 315

@tested 3 года назад

Flexible Neon LED Strip Light: amzn.to/3AUKV8K Silicone End Cap for LED Tube: amzn.to/3kezMck USB Soldering Iron: amzn.to/2UA9eJB 22awg wire: amzn.to/3D651ik

@member529 3 года назад

do you know anywhere you can get this with 2815 strip inside?

@HaruHaru404 3 года назад

Is it possible to measure the strokes in the designing process to make it easier to know if the lengths of the strokes will match up with the cuts of the material? Like say how much material will i need for the letter c or the letter d?

@seaneehumanbeing 3 года назад

@@HaruHaru404 , unfortunately no, you cannot measure the length along the path of a given letter in Illustrator. What you could do, is create your design in Illustrator to scale and print it out. Then use a string to measure along your letters to determine the scale length of your word, then multiply that by whatever your scale is to get the full-size length.

@tested 3 года назад

I use the method in this link to measure the total length of selected paths and then divide by 2 for approximate length of LED strip needed: community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/measure-the-length-of-a-path-in-illustrator/m-p/4526937

@orlantia 3 года назад

Hi Norm. This was a great video, but the only question I was left with was: How are you powering the strips? you showed that you made a bunch of parallel connections with your soldering, but never discussed the power supply solution you used.

@goosenotmaverick1156 3 года назад

We installed a larger version of that type of light strip, in a pretty high end house, on some landscape stuff. So far 4 years later it runs 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Pretty cool stuff and you can do all sorts of fun things with

@snoopu2601 3 года назад

Thanks for the information my sister was thinking about putting that kind of lighting around hers swimming pool area, but don't know how it will hold up in the winter time. Just rain here no snow. It would make the area look so much better.

@maxekstrom8037 2 года назад

And where do you get that quality stripe from?

@Midnightmicroscope 3 года назад

Thank you for including the whole build process including the digital design stage. That’s the part that trips me up, so it’s great to see how you do it.

@daviduprichard8343 3 года назад

A good way of getting the tight corners is by cutting a bit of the inside of the corner on the strip to allow it to bend even more without having to cut it fully and more wiring

@ErsatzGhost Год назад

Omg 😱 genius

@jezza_fat 3 года назад

Hey Norm, we do this at work. We cut out a groove with a 3/8" offset on top in whatever material people want and slap addressable RGBs from Environmental LED on the inside from both sides. We then cut a milk white plexiglass to fit on top of that groove and it gets glued in. The milkplex acts as a diffuser anyway and you get no spots.

@DracoOmnia 3 года назад

Aerospace industry does similar with its light plates for the cockpits, though they also rely heavily on painted coatings to either reflect or block light.

@jezza_fat 3 года назад

@@DracoOmnia yeah actually had a project that we ended up just researching what and how cockpits worked and used. ended up buying super expensive fiber optic lights to get what we needed.

@paulnangle2568 2 года назад

@@jezza_fat I noticed you make these at work...how would I go about getting pricing or ordering one?

@franktaccetta784 3 года назад

I’m so glad you brought this new lighting strip that has the look of neon to my attention! What a cool project! It gives me all sorts of new ideas! Thanks

@RabbitsInBlack 3 года назад

New? Maybe for you or that guy. They've been around for cheap signs.

@ryane.3539 3 года назад

Norm, you are the reason I have a Glowforge so I have to say I love when you make videos utilizing it.

@hypnoticfart 3 года назад

Hey there, what model of glow forge do you have? Would you recommend it for laser-cutting beginners?

@Vickie-Bligh 3 года назад

Happy anniversary, Norm. What a lovely gift for your wife.

@elissitdesign 3 года назад

It’s easier to make a thicker stroke then select “outline stroke” for the channel. You get a better path curve that way. It will create an outline from the middle. Also, I prefer using Command + W, I think it’s that shape merge tool, it’s more interactive for adding and deleting shapes. You have to select all the shapes first you want to augment. Cheers.

@HaruHaru404 3 года назад

Is it possible to measure the strokes to make it easier to know of the strokes will match up with the cuts of the material? Like say how much material will i need for the letter c.

@Matchstiix 2 года назад

@@HaruHaru404 Yep, in the Properties panel in Illustrator you can turn on Object properties, which will show you the length of a selected path.

@400Homes Год назад

@@Matchstiix Kevin - can I contact you about how to do the outline stroke for the channel? i need it to be 5.1mm and I'm having a hard time figuring it out.

@TraceDominguez 3 года назад

I have been wanting to make one of these for my studio! Norm get OUT OF MY BRAIN

@hattabg 3 года назад

Always be testing, as you go along! 18:20 Life advice right there.

@jessechappell2 3 года назад

If this slogan isn't in their merch store they are missing out.

@d0ugparker 4 месяца назад

Looking at life from 35,000 feet, it's the same as, _“Don't make any assumptions, know when you're making assumptions, and test those assumptions.”_ DAMHIKT! ;-)

@HomebrewHorsepower 3 года назад

What do I do if my laser cutter is... nonexistent?

@absolutjackal 3 года назад

MDF and a router?

@absolutjackal 3 года назад

Or have the letters cut out, cut out the channel with a scroll saw or a jig saw and then use a backer board? You could clamp the two sheets together and cut the outline at the same time so they match, then jig saw the channel. That’s probably what I’d do, or the router option.

@kmcmurphy 3 года назад

I just heard the Joann Fabrics near me has a Glowforge available to use by the hour. I haven't had a chance to check into it yet, but am really hoping that I can test it out soon!

@RustyBumbleBee Год назад

Contact me and ill give you a good price

@remiilatte Год назад

I wish I had a glowforge

@curreypanda6640 Год назад

I just recently saw these and you're the only one who shows how to do it. Thank you for that

@thelivingmanpart2 Год назад

the power leads all tied together was such an ingeniously simple inventive idea! It is strangely a "backwards" way to think of it, and it made thinking about the whole idea of a project for a neurodivergent like myself way less anxiety ridden!

@HectorsShop 8 месяцев назад

Finally, exactly what I was looking for! Dollar General has 6 ft sections for 5 bucks in blue green red and white, was wondering if I could of used them to make a neon. This is perfect. Now I don't have a way to make a channel board so that's my next challenge. Thank for the video.

@AdditionalAndrew5916 3 года назад

That is fricken amazing! It makes me want to learn how to work with making electric circuits and put them together.

@arrowguy173 3 года назад

So cool. And that shirt! 😎 Love working with LED strips. And a beautiful name - one I’ve loved since the original Wonder Years…I think she’d love seeing this. ❤️

@MrArron1357 3 года назад

This channel never gets old y'all taught me through childhood

@flaagan 3 года назад

Thanks for sharing this with us, was wanting to make something like this for my sister and her fiancé. Also, happy anniversary to you and your wife!

@gibberishname 3 года назад

happy anniversary Norm and Danica

@thomaspaffett7418 3 года назад

Love the project, something I’ve been looking to do for a while. But don’t carry solder over using the iron, it’ll boil off the flux and make your job a whole lot harder, it takes practice but you can bend the solder to allow you to melt it directly onto the pad. 👍🏼👍🏼

@TheHaydenAlexander 2 года назад

oh yea let me pull out my good old handy dandy laser cutter to cut my acrylic sheets lol

@yatessmyrna 3 года назад

Lighting solutions like this come in so many options.

@onthewayup Год назад

thanks for the heads up about where to cut, leaving that 1/8" makes a lot of sense. ive been wanting to play around with this stuff, my order will be here soon. very interesting video

@didnt_ask_for_handle 3 года назад

Gosh all I could think of is how delicious they look. I really need to grab a bag of gummies next time I'm at the store

@jamesonfilston4065 2 года назад

I was thinking the same thing!

@terryatadrenalinsgarage5021 2 года назад

Somebody buy this man some glasses! Love this LED neon light idea! Now I have to figure out what to make! Thanks for the vid! 👍

@cleomaddiem3581 2 года назад

Clicked on the video as my mother's name is Danica! (Croatian background!) Great vid! Warm regards from Melbourne, Australia.

@pearltimes12 2 месяца назад

Sooooo basically I'm going to have to buy one. LOL

@dNIKS18 3 года назад

whoa I’ve been thinking of getting my name in a neon sign & would’ve never expected to come to YT to see this on my recommended 🤯

@darby5170 Год назад

That is so cool. Thank you for sharing! I learned a lot.

@NewmNetwork Год назад

OH I wish my cricut could cut acrylic! I love these

@janjaganjac4315 3 года назад

For LED projects I like to use 24 AWG wire because it is thin which allows me to solder more easily. Maybe you should try.

@dahlbergt 3 года назад

The end result looks really nice!

@trav3rsy 3 года назад

Norm: this tubing cant really flex that well so were gonna have to curve those angles... also norm: heres a lightning bolt. XD

@liamcollins8692 2 года назад

You can parallel the strip as long as the strips are constant voltage, not constant current. Good video cheers

@SD-xo3im 3 года назад

I had the same issue with the little copper pad after sniping them in half. What I did that helped was put some hot glue over the solder to assure the solder wouldn't snap off while putting in the LED.

@candamorgan 3 года назад

Brilliant idea and very well executed - Norm, this is awesome :D

@EikiMartinson 3 года назад

Love the classic EPCOT t-shirt!

@Astro1derboy 3 года назад

Very cool, Norm. 😎👍🏻

@3DLL. 3 года назад

This is cool, i make 3d printed signs with a box and lid then put neo pixles in them.

@kzookid2051 2 года назад

Great info on how to make a sign like this. These would work well for making seasonal window decorations, house numbers and all kinds of things. Thanks, Norm!

@MakerCuisine 3 года назад

Those lights are great, definitely want to give them a try

@Standbackforscience 2 года назад

This is exactly what I needed - thanks Norm!

@jahrjahr24 2 года назад

I used the 22 awg wire for my first attempt and I regret not getting something a bit more durable. The fact that it's a solid core and already so thin makes it really easy to break the wire right at the solder joint while positioning the wire afterwards.

@WarrenKingDudeface 2 года назад

This is amazing, I love all the projects on this channel. I definitely want to make this for my daughter. I can see this being slightly awkward getting her to sign a few times on the ipad. "Don't worry honey I'm only going to forge your signature." 😄😋😁

@atkearns 3 года назад

Cool project, and happy anniversary!

@EndLess1UP 3 года назад

Thanks for making this video! I have been looking at these online and you just motivated me to just build it now.

@billdodson207 3 года назад

thanks so much for this - great explanation, great shooting, fun idea

@alexb1426 Год назад

Exact same way I made mine, those strips are really nice

@skaughtmc6591 3 года назад

I have a few strands of this stuff that was sold as Christmas rope lights at Lowe’s a couple years ago. Mine are white and blue. The white is blindingly bright.

@RR_1138 3 года назад

Hi Norman, what’s up dude!! Happy Anniversary to you and your wife !!

@jdamlinsthename2260 2 года назад

I just had the idea of getting little brass brads(small finish nails)or use single strand house power wire (sharpen one side solder the other and soldering them to the wires and just piercing them into the silicone.to make contact from behind/under into the copper pads and finish up with a dab of super glue or epoxy instead of going through all the trouble of soldering

@albetaylormade7400 2 года назад

Appreciate the video Norm. Nice signs as well. I'm looking to make 1st sign today actually. Something small as a trial 🤔 maybe something for the desk top. Thanks for sharing. Now let me get to it 😆

@neobigd 3 года назад

Look on Instructables for how to make some other signs too, like logos and stuff. There is a cool Daft Punk helmet one up there. If you don't feel confident in something complex then do as I did, make the Star Trek delta logo. I bought some in "golden rod" color and it looks great and was fairly simple!

@KnoxParanormal 2 года назад

Greeeaat video! Thank you. You picked up another subscriber. Can I ask, what brand/model is your laser cutter? Thanks again!

@ChrisLoew 3 года назад

Norm, you make normal things interesting, keep it up!

@wesplybon9510 3 года назад

I see the "n" had a troublesome curve. What was the minimum bend radius you were able to achieve without risking damage to the strip?

@ariyanadumon4549 3 года назад

What a fun little Projekt. I could use this stuff to do interior lighting on the hotrod. That would be sick.

@ricopornea6596 6 месяцев назад

Nice name draw

@gilliansheppard5383 3 года назад

Very nice project!

@sargentrowell81 3 года назад

Loving the Epcot shirt!!

@marklytle3046 2 года назад

Howdy norm..great turorial...still a little sketchy on the letter length. The strip i got gets cut every 1" like yours...what did you do on the ends that were to short or to long?..super thanks for the video

@conorfitzpatrickdesign9616 Год назад

You only need to have wires at one end of each strip so the other end can be cut anywhere. Say you have two strips, I would orient them “Back to back” so the wires are together in the middle.

@marklytle3046 Год назад

@@conorfitzpatrickdesign9616 super thank you for the reply....i meant the strips ive got canni ly be cut every 1/2"...possible link to your leds?...ty again

@Fiona2254 3 года назад

This looks like a great project 👍🏽

@jimbobtheimpaler8403 3 года назад

That is an awesome product. Hell Yeah buddy!!!

@tonyvtech25 2 года назад

NEXT TIME YOU CAN TRY COPPER MAGNET WIRE. I THINK IT GONNA LOOK ALOT CLEANER ON THE BACK. BTW, NICE JOB, LOOKS FREAKING AWESOME.

@brandonyoung-kemkes1128 3 года назад

Happy anniversary.

@Mando5 3 года назад

Love these vids! Thanks Norm!

@hj4569 2 года назад

Thank you good sir. I'm attempting to make one!

@amberfox9543 3 года назад

Neon signs are so pretty I swear-

@luke_almquist 3 года назад

Why do you end what you say with “-“

@djbachataben9036 2 года назад

What a great tutorial! Thank you!

@LiviuRo1 Год назад

Awesome tutorial

@Apixdan 3 года назад

If you had UK Amazon links too that would be very appreciated 😍

@mahmutozer854 3 года назад

I got you mate. Flexible Neon LED Strip Light: amzn.to/2YfFpzC Silicone End Cap for LED Tube: amzn.to/3mPOdGw USB Soldering Iron: amzn.to/3DBnGTu 22awg wire: amzn.to/3gLMLRW

@JonMadsen70 3 года назад

Happy Anniversary :)

@IsanHawke 2 года назад

Hi Norm, Great video. What kind of laster cutter did you use to cut the acrylic board? Thank you.

@SF_Curious Год назад

Can you make a tutorial on how to use the laser cutter w/ any design, how to specifically input parameters etc?

@jamesoloughlin 3 года назад

Dam Norm, this is awesome.

@danielbigelow2193 2 года назад

I made an LED neon sign similar to this (using the same LED strip) and soldering was def a bit challenging lol yours looks a lot cleaner than mine tho

@Segundo_Grande 2 года назад

Excellent video. Just a quick question - what about us pre-millenial peasants who don't owe a laser cutter? Any suggestion how do we make a lead channel, but on budget? Thnx in advance!

@allinmyhead666 2 года назад

How to Make a Custom NEON LED sign with thousands of dollars of devices and programs. lol

@guido69x 2 года назад

There are propper junction boxs to attache the strips together after beeing cutted ;) theres no need to solder!

@WilliamFisher-kb8gr Год назад

This is cool! What kind of wire are you using to connect each led section? Also, what kind of battery power supplies are available, and how do I connect the led strips to the power?

@gauss2025 2 года назад

hello, a question, what kind of wire do you use to connect the led strips? I guess it's copper, but what thickness?

@saikumar-oy7oc 2 года назад

very nice work

@tallgirlswagg Год назад

Very informative video. Ty

@emi.mp4 9 месяцев назад

did he switch from solid core wire to stranded? it looks like solid at 16:17 and stranded at 17:54 and definitely 19:29

@arashmohaghegh4908 2 года назад

Great job, but one question As far as i know neon leds can be cut into 2.5cm pieces meaning that each segment should be a multiple of 2.5cm in terms of length, how can i measure that when im designing the sign? Because i cant cut the strip at middle of those 2.5cm parts so its gonna be short or excess if i don’t design the acrylic sheet grooving length right

@martinharker6954 2 года назад

you can get 1cm cut neon flex

@kirkswater Год назад

Hey Norm - great job on this! Did you find that the end caps added width dimension making it harder to fit into the graphic channels? Or not really a problem?

@davidllenado9036 2 года назад

How do you account for the length between cut points when creating the vector channels?

@jirilagenstreepje 3 года назад

You schould buy glasses with nosepads on it, ive noticed you constantly pushing your glasses up, i had the same problem once. You can ADD silicone pads to the current glasses, or buy new glasses with little adjustable pads that realy pinch on your nose

@etaney 2 года назад

Not sure if it's just the red version of the same strip; but be aware that there are hotspots in the light. It's not perfectly diffused.

@lonewulf0328 3 года назад

Love my TS100 soldering iron. This looks like a fun soldering project, but without access to a laser cutter or CNC, I wonder if I could make a router jig to cut those channels and not teat the plexi to bits?

@trinidadbanks1582 Год назад

thats love!!!

@adamgoad4131 3 года назад

Norm is there somewhere to get a custom piece cut, that I can add the led's to myself? Not all of us have access to the fancy stuff hehe.

@jordandescend156 2 года назад

Good job 👍

@willch1337 3 года назад

Hey Norm, have you heard of EL Wire? If so, I wonder what you'd consider the pros and cons of using that material rather than these LEDs. I feel like EL wire would make a lot more sense for this project, seeing as it's basically a tube, like a neon sign, and is arguable more flexible than the LEDs here.

@tested 3 года назад

Yep! El wire is much more manageable, but doesn’t have the same brightness and thick glow that these do. Both are fun to use in projects!

@ClintonAllenAnderson 3 года назад

@@tested My experience is that EL wire is wicked fragile though.... Mind, it has been a few years since I worked with it.....

@vaultery9936 3 года назад

El wires are pretty noisy too

@Thee1Muffin 2 года назад

Instead of the end caps, some clear hot glue would be easy and support the wires and isolate them too

@AGeekNamedRoss 2 года назад

Tin the wire. Tin the pad. Heat the work, let the work melt the solder.

@janeshore8542 10 месяцев назад

Have you ever seen a 3 to 4 second delay from plugging in the LED strip to lights on? I am trying to add this to an automated Lights-o-Rama show and need a consistent on/off time. Maybe a higher Amp P/S?

@bialyabnormal Год назад

For anyone looking for a free tool that is capable of actually changing a raster to vector (if you'd want to scan an image) - you have InkScape. It's a bit complicated at first but with Google you will easily find a tutorial how to use this software.

@d0ugparker 4 месяца назад

Nice! Have you found any sources for RGB programmable LED faux neon strips?