Mini Tree Construction

Last year my mini trees were purchased mini trees from target. They were incandecent and had about 50-60 lights per tree. This year I am making LED mini Trees that will have 180 lights per tree.

Hopefully these new Trees will be brighter. Next Year I am planning on adding White Lights as part of a multi channel Configuration on them.

Folowing the break will be detailed info on how I made them.

To build a tree:

• Start with 2 Tomato Cages and stack them, Offseting one cage by 1/6th of a turn to make the support wires of the bottom cage fit in between the support wires of the top cage
• Tie Wrap the second from the bottom ciruclar wire with 3 - 8" Cable ties 8" ties are used for strength
  • For added support the top circular wire and the remaining wires may be tied with 9 - 4" CTs
• Tie Wrap The 6 Wires together at the top to provide the top tip of the Tree, using an 8" CT.
• Trim Excess cable tie length
• At this point you may want to paint the tree using a rust preventative paint to ensure your tree will last through the years
• Starting at an arbitrary strut on the second ring tie wrap you frrst light on at that point using a 4" CT.
• Start wrapping the Lights around the Tree, A tie wrap was necessary for every loop around the Tree sometimes more once I got above the upper ring.
• Gauge your wrapping as best you can to be left with a single Light to Tie to the very top of the Tree
• after all the lights are on Cut the support wires as close as you can to the very bottom circle wire, this will provide built in stakes to shove into the ground.

Another Thing I learned when doing this, is if you get paint in your garage clean it up without trying to wash it away with the hose, it just left Green streaks on my drive way, Now i have to paint the driveway, and Get that epoxy stuff for the Garage.

I should have just painted in the grass Like i did for touch up after I messed up the garage