Has anyone used these http://www.phantomlighting.com/strip-lighting.htm or similar to run vertical mini-track lights inside the face frame stiles for bookshelves? I’m trying to avoid just lighting up the top shelf:
http://finelinesmaine.com/portfolio.cfm?cat=6&row=1&photo=4&img=158
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Replies
1. Look closely at your picture. This shows why we do not use solid shelves inside any cabinet that is lit. Use tempered glass shelves. Then the light becomes a decorating item. Which is also affected by what type of things are on display in the cabinet. Solid ceramic bowls - not so good. Crystal/clear glass items - nice.
2. Yes, in the form of linear lights, but used under the cabinets. Inside of the cabs, I've used halogen puck lights because the light beam penetrates deeply into the glass shelves.
3. Next time, I'm inclined to use these linear lights in more locations. They are more flexible, the right color, dimmable, and low voltage. These truely are some nice devices.
Pete, I don't need to look too closely to see that only the top shelf is lit...that's exactly the reason I want another solution. Glass shelves would be a great idea for some things but I don't think I'd want them supporting books....
Your glass shop would be able to provide you with a product that will eliminate that worry. Mine store some very heavy piles of plates.
But still, these linear lights are the best thing since Edison invented the bulb.
Glass shelves, no matter how strong, will help get the light past a shelf full of books..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Huh?
I'm assuming you mean the opposite of what you typed, which is what I wuz thinking.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
No. I meant what I said.I did have to look again, but I often type slower than I think and the NOT will often get lost..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Ok, but I still think it makes more sense the other way round. How much light can get through a shelf if it's covered by books? Glass makes sense when there's a few knick knacks on the shelf, but if they're full, why bother since the contents blocks all the light anyhow?
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
"How much light can get through a shelf if it's covered by books?"Exactly. That was my point..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Glass shelves, no matter how strong, will help get the light past a shelf full of books.
Bill, I think you forgot to insert a "not" in there somewhere....
That is one of those sentences that could be written both ways and still be right, but has to read in context.You said that glass would not work as the shelves would be full of books.He responded that the problem could be fixed by using stronger glass."Glass shelves, no matter how strong, will help get the light past a shelf full of books."The problem is not the strength of the glass. It is the books blocking the light..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
OK, maybe it's been a long day, but . . .
"Glass shelves, no matter how strong, will NOT help get the light past a shelf full of books."
At least that's the page I think we're all on.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I must be dense--MikeH too--I just don't understand.
If I rephrased the sentence as,
"No matter how strong the glass shelves, they will help get the light past the books"
does that mean the same thing to you as your sentence?
"No matter how strong the glass shelves, they will help get the light past the books" No. The way that you have it it would have to be structured as a question.No matter how strong the glass shelves, will they help get the light past the books? And the answer is No.Or this;Increasing the strength of the glass does not allow more light to get past the shelf full of books..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Anyone ever use ribbon flex?
http://www.environmentallights.com/categories/1303_2334/led-ribbon-flex
Mike. I used a different supplier but the track/wire clips in and the "fixtures" pierce the wire-install bulb. We ran them up the backside of each stile. Inserted lights at each shelf location. Looks good. Wood shelves.
I'll look for a picture-not sure where....
We also did pucks once w/glass shelves and put them top and up from the bottom. That filled the cab. interior well.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Calvin, what I'm having a hard time with (other than understanding Bill's semantics) is that the smallest lighting strips I can find are 3/4" wide. If my center partitions are 3/4" thick, that means the face frame has to be a minimum of 2-1/4" wide to cover the tracks on both sides, and at certain angles the track and/or lights will still be visible.
With your clip-wire at least the track wouldn't be visible. 2-1/4" stiles are wider than I usually like but maybe it's time to branch out a bit....
Mike,
The ones we used had the plastic track that the wire snapped into. The track was maybe 5/8's wide. After the track/wire/and clips w/bulb, you could make out the points of light (behind) at the stiles. However, these cabs had doors which further blocked the view of the lighting (full-overlay doors so it blocked by maybe another 3/4'').
I'm digging for a picture.
edit: With the volume of LED lighting coming around, would there not be something small that would fill the bill? I don't know of any, but have you contacted some ritzy lighting gallery?
A caution on the lights we used. They are zenon bulbs and do get HOT. I'd be cautious in a bookshelf situation.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Edited 2/12/2009 11:17 pm ET by calvin
Nice kitchen! Looks like a Zephyr hood?
Good point about zenon bulbs. There are a couple of pretty good lighting shops nearby--I'll see what they have to say--
Thanks ;-)
do you work w/ FineLines?
beautiful stuffmy lunch break turned into an hour instead of my planned half hour today
especially enjoyed millwork section / very very nice
Thank you for the compliment John. I do work at Fine Lines, or more accurately Harborside Design, the sister company. I used to do finish carpentry and supervising for Fine Lines, now I design and PM jobs. Thus my position of trying to find the perfect lighting for these darn bookcases.
I looked at the cut sheet on the VM series.And they come with a number of different trim styles which controls the light spread.Looks like they might be a good options..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
I've done that in cabs with stained glass doors. A&C design. I thought glass shelves would be out of character, and I didn't want puck lights on every level. So I held the shelves back a bit and ran rope lighting just behind the face frame, in the corner. It plugs into a switched outlet in the cab. Worked well for me.
Don't have pics now, but could scare up a few if you want 'em.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Mike, I've done that too when using doors (mini tracks though, not rope), but this is for a library full of bookshelves with no doors. Maybe I should try to talk him into using doors...he might just go for it.