Diffusing led strips

vwguy16 · Post by **vwguy16** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 9:43 am

I'm using the standard 12 volt led strips to light the nacelles in my enterprise b kit. The issue I have is that you can see the bright spots where each led is, and I want to smooth that lighting out along the length of the engine.

I have the strip of LEDs sitting at the bottom of the nacelle facing up.

Anyone got any tips or methods of achieving this?

Thanks

Andy

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:08 am

Have you frosted the inside of the clear pieces but still have hot spots? Filling the space inside the nacelle with white polyester batting should diffuse the LED lights if frosting didn't do the trick.

vwguy16 · Post by **vwguy16** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 5:32 pm

Hmm what do you mean by frosting? I get what it would look like but not sure the method to use?

Cheers

Chas · Post by **Chas** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 5:47 pm

Typical methods include sanding the parts,or alternatively Krylon makes a frosted glass spraycan that is available in N America.
If you have acces to a sandblaster they work great!

Paulbo · Post by **Paulbo** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 6:53 pm

I've heard of people cutting white plastic straws in half, but haven't seen the results. Might be worth a try.

Max Nex · Post by **Max Nex** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 7:33 pm

1. airbrush the outside of the clear pieces clear flat.
(actually it's not clear , but a bit hazy)
2. go to the kitchen and steal some waxed paper and wrap that around the led strips.
two layers of waxed paper might be required.

vwguy16 · Post by **vwguy16** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:34 pm

Cool thanks all for the ideas guys. Will try some out and post results

MillenniumFalsehood · Post by **MillenniumFalsehood** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:10 pm

Just remember the more layers of diffusing material you use the less light will shine through.

I've had success before using a plastic straw with an LED on each end, which makes a "light tube" that has no hot spots in it. If you can't get rid of the hot spots, try that instead.

Fester · Post by **Fester** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:32 pm

I've used a scotchbrite scrubbing pad to 'frost' the inside of the clear pieces (basically, scrub the inside of the part until it looks evenly 'frosty'). I prefer using that method because there is less chance of some kind of paint/plastic reaction. Then, I put in white synthetic fiber 'fuzz' that came from the inside of a plush dog toy... the dog is constantly ripping the toys apart.

I loosely packed the fuzz inside the clear part so that it was between the clear part and the leds. It worked pretty well... Between the frosting and the fuzz... it spread the light really well and diffused the hot spots without significantly reducing the light output.

CarlGo · Post by **CarlGo** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:40 pm

Fester wrote:I've used a scotchbrite scrubbing pad to 'frost' the inside of the clear pieces (basically, scrub the inside of the part until it looks evenly 'frosty'). I prefer using that method because there is less chance of some kind of paint/plastic reaction. Then, I put in white synthetic fiber 'fuzz' that came from the inside of a plush dog toy... the dog is constantly ripping the toys apart.

I loosely packed the fuzz inside the clear part so that it was between the clear part and the leds. It worked pretty well... Between the frosting and the fuzz... it spread the light really well and diffused the hot spots without significantly reducing the light output.

Tearing up a couple of cotton balls works great too.

SpaceRanger1 · Post by **SpaceRanger1** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:31 pm

Strips cut from a plastic milk carton work.