Hey guys, like many of you, I plan to use LED strip lighting for my new layout. It is a shadowbox construction, so a self-contained top "lid" is the sensible place to fasten the lighting. I've got a bunch of foamcore laying around and I'd love to use it rather than more expensive (and much heavier) lumber...my questions are:
-Does the LED strip lighting give off enough heat to make this an unsafe or just bad idea? (will the foamcore hold up, melt, or just plain burst into flames :o) ?
-How would you fasten the strip lighting to the top...is hot glue ok? I used thumbtacks last time but it was a different kind of setup (all wood) and it was kind of sloppy looking with all of the tacks. Again, maybe this relates to heat...if it's an issue, what other method would you recommend? maybe double sided tape of some sort?
Also, can you simply cut off portions of the strip if it's not the right length for your application or will that destroy/damage the whole unit?
Thanks in advance for any help,
John
Good evening John,
To answer your questions the LED strip light gives off very little heat so it shouldn't be an issue with foamcore.
Here is a photo of the LED lighting over my staging yard.
LED Lighting-001.jpg
As you can see I have three rows of LED light that I cut and soldered together with wire.
They are attached to the wood with the 2 sided tape that was already applied to the LED Strips. These one were only installed last year but I also have some at one section of my main layout that I installed over 10 years ago and there have been no issues with them not sticking.
As you can see in the photo you can cut the strips at every third LED. You cut them where the copper pads are. You can cut the strips to any length you want as long as you cut them where the copper pads are.
My LED strips come with a variety of temperature ranges but I have set mine for daylight (5000k) Brightness will depend on how many rows of LED strips you install.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Ron...looking at mine to see where the "cuttable" areas are....are you cutting right through the copper pads, next to them, etc?
I use staples wide enough to straddle the LED strip to attach them to my layout space ceiling. It's drywall, and I didn't want to get involved with tearing the paper covering & having to repaint if I moved an LED strip.
Quote from: cuse on March 28, 2026, 08:03:30 AMThanks Ron...looking at mine to see where the "cuttable" areas are....are you cutting right through the copper pads, next to them, etc?
I cut right through the middle of of the copper pads.
Thanks Guys...the staple thing is worth a look for me...I like the idea of being able to recycle them, if needed. I'll have to see if they'll hold to foamcore. The strips do have an adhesive backing and I've resisted using it so far.
People here know I blow things up in a hurry ;D but I DO re-use everything I can from lumber to track nails and everything in between when I can.