What are we making?
I've taken it upon myself to decide on this months Make-N-Take. It's one of my favorite things in the world - LEDs! We will be making all kinds of LED lights. Everyting from micro spotlights to lights that can illuminate entire rooms.

How will we make them?
Any number of ways can be utilized to make LED lamps. I will demonstrate the following:

different LED components available to the average haunter and the benefits and draw-back of each type of LED component
simple way of making circuits using perf board that can be found cheaply and easily at any Radio Shack store
how to properly use a soldering iron
what is solder, flux, and flux-core solder
how to properly maintain a soldering iron tip
basic principles of DC
basic electrical design theory

What do I need to bring?
Since most of the components required to make LED lamps are special order (unless you feel like buying two while LEDs from Radio Shack for $5 and overpaying by $4.98) I will provide all materials at cost (as always). I will also have available Luxeon LEDs in very limited quantity and colors (mostly red and amber as this is what I use for experimenting with for motorcycle lighting) and a few commercial drivers for these high-power LEDs. If you would like to create a lamp using Luxeon LEDs, let me know what you are envisioning so I can ensure that I have the components available ahead of time. And, "YES", they will cost more to make that lamps that are made using T1 LEDs but they will also produce much more light - 3 Luxeon 1 LEDs in cool white will produce about the equivilent light output as a 45 watt incandescent bulb. For the true DIYer, I have professionally etched driver boards and all the components required to make a driver that will run 1 to 3 Luxeon I LEDs from a 12v power supply...
If you are concerned about cost, ask me when you RSVP me and I can get you a good estimate based on what you are hoping to make.

SOUNDS GREAT! Where/When are we meeting?
We will meet at my house on February 2th, 2008 at 12:00PM. Google map can be found Here.
If you will be attending, please by January 20th so I can plan accordingly.

12:00 PM? But that's my lunch time!
I will provide pizza and drinks for lunch. Please bring money for ordering food in case we end up building through dinner.

I really don't need any LED Lamps. Can I come anyway?
BITE YOUR TONGUE! You can NEVER have too many LED lamps. If your Haunt is so bright that your guests think it is still daylight, you STILL need more LED lamps... If your zombies start sporting California Surfer tans, you STILL need more LED lamps... If your vampires start smoking the moment they enter your haunt, you STILL need more LED lamps... If the werewolves start changing back into mortal men, well, then maybe you have enough... Ok, Seriously - You bet! The more helping hands the better. Besides, you may have a few tips and tricks for the rest of us.

Hi. My name is Jack and I'm 13...
Hi Jack. If you would like to attend that is fine, but you will need to bring a parent with you.
Anyone under 16 must bring a parent/mentor with them to supervise their use of power tools. Yes, I consider a soldering iron a power tool.

If you need other specific information
Hope to see you Saturday!