Laser-Cut Bike Light by Jin Tsubota

Laser-Cut Bike Light originally posted on Instructables.



video and words by Jin Tsubota

These are instructions on how to make the custom DIY LED bike light that I made when I was an art student. While shopping for a new bike tail light, I couldn’t find a single cool design for my beach cruiser. Unlike my hipster friends and carbon-fiber-loving classmates, I was always more interested in the style of Copenhagen’s Cycle Chic. With no good bike lights to buy, I decided to create my own custom beach cruiser light.

Unfortunately, my bicycle and light were recently stolen. I made this instructable with the few images and videos that I had saved. By entering the Instructables Epilog Challenge, I hope to win the Epilog Zing laser cutter so that I can make another tail light for my new ratrod bike. If there’s enough interest in my laser cutter project, I plan on starting a small business making bike light mods and laser cutter art.

Watch the 2-minute video to check out the design process, from concept design to finished product. And if you happen to see my stolen bike anywhere in the Oakland area, please let me know!

DIY Cycle Chic

When I was very young my mother taught me all of the basics of making clothes. By the time I was 4 I was very adept at threading her sewing machine and making button holes with it. I still remember the smell of her sewing machine oil and to this day it is one of my favorite scents. She also taught me how to knit and crochet. Those are the skills I followed through with, mostly because it was easier for me to acquire the tools needed to create all kinds of things. Most recently, I have made myself skirts to ride in the colder seasons.

In the knit category, we have my brown "tweed' skirt. It has little bits of orange and metallic silver in it.

In the crochet corner, I just finished a twirly skirt. It is made with a bamboo and wool blend yarn. Bamboo bikes, bamboo skirts.... I sense a theme.

Now, I just need to knit myself a bike. Heck, they make bamboo yarn, so why not?