diychristmas.org wiki - User contributions [en]

Trunks/Posts

2020-05-20T15:11:26Z

Techplex:

See [[Trees/Tree_Wraps]]

HDPE/PEX Arches

2020-05-20T14:44:41Z

Techplex:

See [[Arches]]

Witches' Brew

2020-05-20T14:44:04Z

Techplex:

[[File:Witches.jpg|500px]]

It's easy and inexpensive to make a backlit display like this. It's also a good way to reuse those old incandescent mini-lights that you retired from your light show years ago.

'''Materials:'''

* Large cardboard box (I secured an old refrigerator box from Lowe's for free - they normally recycle them.)
* 2 cans of spray automobile undercoating or truck liner. (This thick paint protects the cardboard from weather while also covering any box printing)
* Graphic of witches and a cauldron scraped from the Internet.
* A couple strings of 100-count incandescent mini-lights. I mixed strings of yellow and orange.
* A few strips of 1"x 2" lumber (the backing for the cardboard to hold it up and staple the mini-lights to)

'''Tools necessary'''

* Box cutter or other sharp tool for cutting cardboard
* Staple gun and staples
* Marking pen
* Disposable drop cloths for painting
* Optional: video projector for enlarging the graphic onto the cardboard for tracing it out

'''Basic assembly'''
:* Cut the cardboard box open so it can lay flat. Straighten the corner bends as best possible and tape it to a wall.
:* Use a video projector to enlarge the chosen graphic onto the cardboard box. Trace the outline of the image.
:* Cut the image out of the cardboard
:* Use the staple gun to mount the cutout onto strips of 1x2 wood.
:* Spray the front of the cutout with the undercoating or truck liner paint. Spray the back for extra protection. Let dry.
:* Carefully staple the light strings onto the wood strips on the back side.
:* Stand it up against the garage door and plug it in.

For an extra effect, you might use an ultraviolet LED light strip attached to a 1/2" PVC tube and mounted on the eave above the door to provide a contrasting purple glow, or use a smoke generator to pump smoke from behind the display. Both of those effects were used in the photo above.

Arches

2020-05-20T14:43:18Z

Techplex:

Arches, or leaping Light Arches are a great first prop or addition to any display. There are a number of construction methods used by members of the community. Some use pixels and some use AC lights. Some use inexpensive plumbing parts available at most home improvement stores and some use more expensive HDPE pipe for a more professional look.

== PVC Arches with AC Lights ==

To achieve a chase effect across an arch multiple strings of lights are wound around the PVC arch in sections and wired to a multi-channel controller.

The Davis Family Christmas Light Show has great documentation on how they made their arches:
http://www.davislights.org/leaping-arches/

== HDPE Arches with Pixels ==

Matt Johnson created the seminal video for HDPE arches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pjHDMx92TI
The HDPE tubing costs about $2 per foot and the shipping costs from McMaster are not cheap.

Matt's Bill of materials:
1. EMT tubing (1/2" from Home Depot) (70")
2. 2"OD, 1-3/4" ID HDPE Tubing (http://www.mcmaster.com/#50375K64) (cut to 9-1/2')
3. Pixel strips. These are the ones I use (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1921783413.html). Cut each 5m strip in half and make two arches with it.

== PEX Arches with Pixels ==

A less expensive alternative to the HDPE tubing is using white PEX tubing available at most home improvement stores. Home Depot sells 1" white PEX that works great. The PEX is less translucent than the HDPE and will require the pixels to be set to a higher brightness than the other pixel props in the display.

Techplex found that the 1" white PEX from Home Depot (https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-in-x-10-ft-Straight-White-PEX-Pipe-U880W10/202033021) works great. Rubbing Alcohol (70% IPA) removes the printing on the outside of the pipe.

One can build either a PVC base or use EMT conduit to form the arches' base.

Jeff from the Canispader Christmas youtube channel used pvc to make the base of the arch with two pieces of wood to keep the arch upright.

[[File:Canispader_Arch.png|500px]]
He talks briefly about the arch in this video: https://youtu.be/C6Ay_4sOCOg?t=187

File:Canispader Arch.png

2020-05-20T14:41:23Z

Techplex: Screen Capture from Canispader Christmas Video https://youtu.be/C6Ay_4sOCOg?t=187

Screen Capture from Canispader Christmas Video https://youtu.be/C6Ay_4sOCOg?t=187

Arches

2020-05-20T14:38:48Z

Techplex: