POSE-ABLE” PUP” USB POWERED READING/ NIGHT LIGHT

This is a “Dog- gone cute” light for a child’s or animal lover’s night table. It is powered by any USB outlet or adapter eliminating worry about heat build up or electric shock since the LED light uses low voltage. It can be “Posed” in any manner of positions.

Materials:

Any LED light source that uses 3 AAA or AA batteries = 4.5 volts. Mine happens to be the shape of a light bulb but any puck light or similar will work.

USB-A to Mini USB cable

3” x 3” x 3” approx. open end wooden box (or, sized for your light)

9- Paint sticks

2- 2” bolts with washers and thumb screws or wing nuts

2- 1/2” wood screws

sandpaper

Pencil

white glue

Paints and brushes

Tools:

Scroll saw

Drill with various bits

screwdriver

Hot glue gun

Soldering iron and solder

Wire stripper, wire cutter, needle nose pliers

Glue 4 pairs of paint sticks together to get 4 of double thickness.

When dry, cut two of these to 8.5” making two body halves. the short pieces will be the neck and tail.

Cut the remaining double thickness sticks in half. these will make a pair of front and a pair of rear legs.

Cut the single thickness stick into 3” pieces for ears. Also, for an optional whimsical touch cut a 2” piece for a tongue.

Round over both ends of the body halves. Drill at each end on centre with a bit slightly larger than your bolts.

Round over and drill one end of the left over pieces. Leave the other end of one piece flat to make the neck. Cut the end of the other to a point to make a tail.

Round over both ends of each leg. Drill one end of each on centre.

Round over both ends of each ear. Drill one end of each on centre.

Round over one end of the tongue. Leave the other end flat.

Drill a hole dead centre in the closed end of the box for the USB cable. Drill a pilot hole in each side for the ear attachments.

Assemble the head by gluing the neck to the bottom centre of the box. A small scrap of wood on each side of the neck will help to stabilize it. Glue the tongue in place to the bottom inside of box.

Sand everything till smooth. Paint your desired colours, sanding again between coats. I went with a B&W colour scheme and added some pink on the tongue.

Push a bolt through one front leg and another through one rear leg.

Push one body half over both bolts.

Push the tail over the rear leg bolt.

Push the neck over the front leg bolt.

Push the second body half over both bolts.

Push the remaining front and rear legs over their respective bolts.

Attach a washer and thumb screw (wing nut) to both bolts.

Attach the ears with the wood screws.

NOTE: Make certain the legs are on the outside of the body on both sides!

Adjust till you attain enough tension so parts can move but stay in position.

Cut the end you don’’t want off of the USB cable. Strip about 2” of insulation and cut off all but the black and red wires. Strip the ends of these.

Push the cut end of the USB cable through the hole in the box (head).

Disassemble the light. Remove the batteries. Drill an entrance hole in the housing for the cable. Feed the wire through the hole.

Solder the red wire to the positive terminal and the black to the negative.

Test. Reassemble. Put a bed of hot glue on the base of the light. Push it in position hold it until the glue solidifies. Make sure the switch is accessible.

After you’ve built this, folks will be “Hounding” you to build one for them!