DIY "snap frame" LED lightbox for picture frame and/or repair?

Out of curiosity, I recently acquired a 16x20" LED lightbox that has a front opening frame whereby I can insert a picture. I placed a picture within it, plugged it in, and I now have it on the wall and I impressed with the illumination it provides. Since I got this lightbox from a friend, it didn't cost anything but there's another area on the wall that could use a 16x20" lightbox too. However, when I see the prices online, I am taken aback.

Being a somewhat DIYer in the past, I decided to carefully disassemble this lightbox to see how it worked. To me, it just looks like there are LED strings that were stuffed all along the insides of the aluminum frame with a diffuser behind the picture. I don't see anything behind the diffuser. I see that aluminum or steel "snap frames" are available non-lighted and significantly cheaper than the lightbox. I'm wondering if it just wouldn't be possible to simply acquire a non-lighted 16x20" metal snap frame that opens in the front and then line the inside perimeter of the frame with the LED's and then use a diffuser behind the image. I have three concerns that I'm hoping someone here might address:

1) I'm assuming that the non-lighted metal snap frames, that open from the front to insert pictures, are the same frames used for their LED lighted counterparts. Does anyone know for sure, or are the metal snap frames that have the LEDs made differently?

2) The LED strips I see lining the inside edges seem to almost be like LED chips. Any idea what LED type I should look for? I'm guessing for starters that they have 6500K color temp, and they are definitely using

12 VDC since that it the size of the power supply feeding the frame. Beyond that, I'm not sure of the wattage or output.

3) The diffuser is the last question, not sure what to use for that.

I see DIY plans around the web for lightboxes, but most are much thicker than these 1" thin ones, and I have yet to come across anyone reverse engineering one of the types I have, so if anyone knows please share. Just trying to keep things simple and cheap.

Thanks in advance for any help, Bill

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Bill Stormer
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