Somebody gave us this tin last chrymble. I think it originally contained tasty yet nutritious festive bisquits.
The lid is actually a thin hollow tin with three layers of thin card stamped with a woodland scene, and separators between each layer to make a sort of three dimensional effect.
I thought it would look nice if somehow it could be backlit, so I bought this.
It has a switch on one end and the plan was to have this poking out through a hole in the side of the main tin so it could be turned on from the outside. The wire/light string came out a hole at the same end as the switch, so the first job was to relocate the outlet to the side. Lucky I have a box of assorted holes, so it was just a case of selecting the correct size and sticking it in place.
Just a quick blob of hot glue to hold the wire in its new position.
Now with the wire out of the way I could mark the switch position on the side wall of the main tin so I could install another hole there.
I don’t know if there is a name for it, but the trianguloid shape is a result of drilling through very thin metal that flexes and causes the drill-bit to move.
It’s very light weight so double sided sticky pads should hold the battery box in place without any problem.
All nice and secure.
I needed another hole fitted into the back of the lid assembly to feed the wire/light string through. I then needed to secure it all in place so it wouldn’t move, but with enough slack that the lid assembly could be removed when the batteries need changing. The white disc is the moon that forms the background to the woodland scene.
Belt and braces. I put a blob of glue where the wire comes through the tinware to stop it chafing, then more glue to hold the wire in place so it couldn’t accidently get pulled out when the lid assembly is removed.
Test firing successful.
Inserting the first layer of card.
Second layer and separator.
Third layer and tin-lid, then back on the shelf where it normally lives.
The whole thing only took me a few hours, and it cost under a fiver. My Lovely Cousin didn’t even notice it was missing, and now it’s back you can’t see the switch, so it will be a surprise when she comes down on chrymble day to find it lit up in the kitchen.
The photo doesn’t actually do it justice due to reflections, but you can still see the moon. I’ll sneak a piccy laterer when darkness descends.
