BUY vs DIY - Recreating a $200 Gem Lamp

Check out our limited edition charms, available to preorder for the next 20 days! (til March 31st)

🙏 Other sponsors:
Use our link to get $500 off a Pro, $250 off a Plus, $125 off a Basic

Check out the Patreon Aftershow for:
- Who we thought would win before we unboxed it
- Why the light fixture was way more work than we showed
- A sneaky trick we used to get iridescent sheets faster
- The long break in the middle of filming
- How long ago we actually ordered the "buy"
- Our thoughts on having a tie
- Where will we put these in our house?
- Why do companies make lamps where you can't change the light bulb???
- will we ever try real glassworking?

TOOLS & MATERIALS (affiliate & *sponsor links)

Want more E&K videos? We have more channels:

SOCIAL/SUPPORT LINKS
📸 Instagram & 📣 Twitter: @evanandkatelyn

🎥 FILMING GEAR (affiliate)

0:00 Intro
0:40 Iridescent laser tests
8:03 3D model and “small” test
11:08 Making the shade
15:47 Making the light
18:54 Final reveal of DIY
20:12 Reveal of “buy”
22:50 BUY vs DIY comparison

🎼 MUSIC
Investigations, Getz Me To Brazil, Firebrand, Hep Cats, Marty Gots a Plan, Funky One by Kevin MacLeod
Retro Party, Stalker, by Rafael Krux
World Of Embers by Alexander Nakarada
Jazzy Comping 2 by Agnese Valmaggia
Let's Workout Hard! by MusicLFiles

[ez]

I think your lamp looks a bit like a fairy greenhouse, whereas the buy looks like a glowing rock in a mystical cave ❤️ I like them both a lot!!

[raeganelizabethames]

it’s actually made by blowing glass into a mold and that’s why the edges are smooth and rounded. 😊

[WanderingWolfe]

While I do like the smooth seams of the purchase, I find the crafted piece overall more aesthetically pleasing. Your facets seem to show their color individually, the light is far better implemented. Overall, I think yours is simply higher quality.

The only real win the purchase has for me is that it is glass. But that's not a huge factor compared to everything else.

[RevlisHaku]

I personally LOVE the DIY one more, cause the light source kinda looks invisible? and that's pretty magical to me! The infinity effect is also amazing. The only thing the buy has going for it is the finish. but 10/10 I would choose the DIY over the Buy

[CDRaff]

So just an FYI: be very careful cutting plastic film with a laser. Most Iridescent film is PET which is perfectly fine to cut with a laser, but be very careful to not cut vinyl based films as they off gas hydrochloric acid which can not only be dangerous to breath in, but can also ruin the mirrors in the laser.

[Malcadicta]

They're both really good, just completely different vibe. The buy is more of a fantasy-like soft glowing crystal and the DIY version certainly looks fits more in the sci-fi or maybe some cyberpunk-like aesthetics.

The only red flag for me when it comes to the buy one is the lack of ability to change the lightbulb. I mean I'm paying all this money, I'd like my lamp to last longer then life of its lightbulb.

[-leezha-]

if combined- glass shell with your lights- it would be the ULTIMATE lamp

[HappyTeaLeaves]

I prefer the one you guys made. I like the sharpness and how more colors are refracted.

[spinwitch]

They are both beautiful. What I want to see: when the non-servicable light breaks, take the bought one apart and install your kind of base into it. The resulting No 3 would probably beat both in the category aeshtecs.

[littlebellaballoo]

I’ve noticed that the “Quality” category is often kind of ambiguous in this series. I feel like you could split it into two different categories: “Craftsmanship” and “Durability” because sometimes you make something less durable but with incredible craftsmanship like floodle the cloud lamp!! You guys should win quality every time lol

[Hall_Meli]

I was truly torn when I saw the nice smooth edges of the bought one, but like Evan mentioned, there is just something aesthetically pleasing about the sharp edges of the one you made as well. Plus, I love the light base. Gah! Such a hard choice.

[deijix]

theirs looks like you'd find it in a mystical cave full of fairies, yours looks like it would be a source of energy or light on a vibrant, neon alien planet. both equally as beautiful.

[MrCwildeman]

As someone who uses CNC lasers in my shop for around 7 years, I may be able to answer a few of your concerns about the laser. Highly reflective materials can degrade the cutting ability since less of the energy is being absorbed by the material, but it won't reflect back into your tube or damage your machine. The focus length is determined by the lens but power and shape of the beam rapidly diverges and diffuses like a cone on the other side of your focal length. It can't travel back across the mirrors once it goes through the lens because its no longer a cylindrical straight beam like it was before the lens. It can of course damage your eyes so make sure to wear your eye protection with proper filters for the right wavelength as usual. Co2 is 10.6 um and some lasers have filters on the glass viewing window too. As for the "flashes" seen at 6:49 the honeycomb table is reflecting some energy back upwards as the light passes over each metal cell in the honeycomb. Sometimes these reflections can score the underside of your work depending on the power/speed. It can mean that the power is a little too high for the application since a lot of unused energy is remaining after the work is done and the cut is finished. For higher powers, blade tables are good for heavier cuts and remove the frequency of this "backflash" on the underside of your work. Lasers are fun but deserve respect so your cautious approach around them is healthy!

Happy making!

[pinkbuninja]

Rather than one winning over the other, I recommend making more in different shapes and putting them all around your house like you’re living in a fantasy cave.

[LiminalQueenMedia]

I genuinely like the lamping system you all used over the manufactured one.

[zimnizzle]

I’d say that for $200 that lamp was worth it. Your lamp is one of a kind and very modern and a totally different, awesome look! AMAZING WINS for both!

[shaunacorrigan]

I gotta agree, this one is definitely a draw. Both are beautiful, each has its own pros and cons, and I would be thrilled to have either (or both!) in my home. I do think E&K's looks better in the dark, though, despite not being as bright. It just looks SO COOL!

[teddyboomabc]

If the bought is glass it might be blown into a mold and there is a a coating for glass specifically for iridescent affects. Very hard to compare the make and buy cause they are both so nice and made in very different ways 😍

[jefffu]

I love how nonchalant Evan is about answering Katelyn's questions while holding iridescent film in his mouth, total pro. :)

[maryshane]

thanks to this video i got so intrigued by the lamp and bought it for myself. was it expensive? yes. was it worth it? omg yes!! the lamp is by far my favorite night lamp. i can't sleep without it on and i would literally cry buckets if anything happens to it. idk i guess i just wanted to come back here and say thank u :>