Desk Lamp and Fan From Old Fibre-tip Pens

I had a bunch of old fibre-tip pens (we'll call them Dollar Pointers, because this is how they're known here) lying around, so instead of throwing them away, I decided to reuse them. And this is what I made! A desk lamp + fan! This creation of mine will be useful during the summer, when I sit at my desk for long hours - reading, tinkering, e.t.c.

So let's begin!

Here is a list of things required for making this desk lamp + fan.

1. Fiber-tip pens (I used 3 of them)
2. Curtain runners (they are obsolete, so you may use pieces of plastic, or you may make a hole in the pens themselves.)
3. The cap of a jar or the cover of a box (This will serve as a base for the lamp, so it has to be broad and balanced)
4. Connecting Wires
5. Super glue
6. Soldering iron
7. Solder wire
8. Battery (I used a 4V/1.3A one) or an adapter of suitable specifications
9. White LEDs (Any type will do, make sure you do not use a battery or adapter which gives a higher voltage than what is required by the LEDs)
10. Regular DC motor
11. A bendy steel strip or a tin can
12. A fan blade (any type will do)
13. 3-4 screws + nuts

• We will use three fibre-tip pens (two of them with a curtain runner at one end and the other with runners at both ends)
• Take a fibre-tip pen (referred to as a pen from now on) and cut off the area around its nib/point.
• Repeat this step with the other two pens.
• Now fix the curtain runners or pieces of plastic at the end and add a few drops of super glue.
• Allow it to dry.
• Repeat this step with the other two pens.
• On the third pen, fix a runner or piece of plastic at the other end and glue it as well.
• The arms of our lamp + fan are ready as shown in the 4th picture.
• Now fix a runner or a piece of plastic to the LEDs as shown in the picture with the help of super glue.
• Bend the steel strip around a motor to make a motor mount as shown in the picture.
• Or if you do not have a steel strip, then cut a thin strip out of a tin can and repeat the above step. (WARNING: THE CAN MAY CUT YOUR HANDS, SO EXERCISE CAUTION!)

• First of all, we need to make two holes in the base/platform in order to fix the pens/arms.
• Insert the stopper in the hole from the underside of the base and fix the pen from the top.
• Repeat this step for the second pen.
• Now attach the third arm (pen) to the second one, using a nut and screw as shown in the picture.
• Fix the LED strip in a similar manner.
• Then secure the DC motor in the motor mount that you have made from a tin can or a metal strip and attach it to the second pen (arm) with a screw and nut.
• Ensure that you have already soldered the wires to both the LEDs and the motor.
• Neatly tape the wires to the arms but leave some slack in them so that the arms can be moved easily.
• The wiring diagram can be used as a reference while making the connections to the switches.
• You may use a dremel or a soldering iron to make holes in the base for the switches, or you may make a direct connection to the battery/adapter, eliminating the use for a switch.
• Now check the circuit by turning it on. If everything works then move on to the next step. If it doesn't. then check your connections and the powers source.
• Your own desk lamp + fan is ready!

Set it up on your desk or workplace and enjoy the light and the breeze!

Good Work!

(NOTE: I didn't turn on the light while taking the pictures because of its sharp glare which would have made the picture useless. But I assure you it works fine!)