Ikea Light Hack (flexin Your Light)

When i decided to improve lighting on my desk i turned to Ikea. I got the Ikea Jansjo (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10128748) and the Ikea Lack (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60124272) and mistakenly threw away the receipt. I did like the Jansjo because it was small and convenient, but the Lack didn't give me the results I was looking for. So, I converted the Ikea Lack bookcase lighting into a Jansjo look-a-like. The modified Lack turned out to be as convenient as the Jansjo light and it was less expensive.

For this project you will need to get:

- IKEA LACK bookcase light (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60124272) $24.99
- USB bend a light. I got two at Fry's electronics (http://shop3.frys.com/product/5421199?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG) for $4.99.
- Stuff you should have on hand: Epoxy, drill, wire cutters, soldering iron, screw driver, thermal compound, liquid tape

Disassemble your new Ikea Lack lights. I found a dental pick pops the lens straight out. Unscrew the two screws, pop white cover out, and your are looking at the LED. As for the usb flex light, I had to use brute force. Squeezing the plastic with pliers worked wonders. Once the plastic cracked, it came right off. Cut or unsolder the LED and save it for your next project. I decided to make one of my modified lights usb so it's left intact. If you feel that you have to remove it, cut it open with a razor and remove the plastic casing. You should be able to remove wires off the plug at that point. If you're having problems pulling out the wires heat up the tube with a lighter and then pull on wires.

Now that everything is in bits and pieces, you can start making some modifications to your light.
At this point you will need power tools. I'm going to use a drill press with a .25" bit to drill my hole, feel free to use what you have. Just make sure your hole is about the same size of the flex shaft.
Next you are going to get your washer. I used about 3/8 washer with a hole no bigger than the screw that came off the top of the light. Use a file and make it square so it fits inside of your light.

You will need to extend wires so get your soldering iron to solder on extra wire or replace the wire altogether. If you are planning on using the same power supply that came with the lights, you don't need the resistor. Insert the flex shaft in to the casing. Screw your washer in place, and put in a drop of epoxy. Cover your connections with liquid tape, and solder on the led. Before you screw it on, make sure your glue has dried, and don't forget thermal compound between your led and and the rest of your light.

There you have it. Finally done. I made one to be USB, so i can plug it in to my PC or any other USB type charger, and the other was rewired to work with original power supply.

This concludes my very first instructable.