Mark Showalter Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I used two upside down tomato cages for each of my mini trees. I used rope lights on each. For easy installation and tear down I bent the top 4 to 6 inches of tomato cage down in the center. I hammered 2 ft of a four foot piece of rebar into the yard then placed a one inch grey pipe over the exposed rebar. The bent down centers of the tomato cage fit neatly into the top of the gray pipe. This worked very well for the front yard hillside the mini trees were placed on. Instant leveling for the mini trees. Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Amedee Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Thanks for the info Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKSedg Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Mark Showalter wrote: I used two upside down tomato cages for each of my mini trees. I used rope lights on each. For easy installation and tear down I bent the top 4 to 6 inches of tomato cage down in the center. I hammered 2 ft of a four foot piece of rebar into the yard then placed a one inch grey pipe over the exposed rebar. The bent down centers of the tomato cage fit neatly into the top of the gray pipe. This worked very well for the front yard hillside the mini trees were placed on. Instant leveling for the mini trees.Great idea, Mark. I think I will use this idea this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Showalter Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 The rope lights make the minis heavy enough that they won't blow around in a heavy wind and I don't have to worry about bulbs breaking when I stack them 5 high in the off season. I do plan to make larger minis for the next display. I'm also adding a total of three colors and channels each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMaris Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Hey guys,I just bought 14 of these off EBAY. 4ft pine trees. 9 dollars each, but the nice thing is they have a shipping special for 7 dollars total no matter how much you buy. Everything else they sell is pretty expensive IMO.http://cgi.ebay.com/4-CHARLIE-PINE-ARTIFICIAL-CHRISTMAS-TREE-UNLIT-/370484014796?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5642916ecc#ht_4003wt_1139 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Showalter Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 SteveMaris wrote:Hey guys,I just bought 14 of these off EBAY. 4ft pine trees. 9 dollars each, but the nice thing is they have a shipping special for 7 dollars total no matter how much you buy. Everything else they sell is pretty expensive IMO.http://cgi.ebay.com/4-CHARLIE-PINE-ARTIFICIAL-CHRISTMAS-TREE-UNLIT-/370484014796?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5642916ecc#ht_4003wt_1139Do you have to worry about the "indoor use only"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMaris Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I read many posts about "indoor" trees being used outside on this and other forums. One person mentioned they were still in great shape after three years of use. That was good enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 i just got back from Wal-Mart and saw that they just got their tomato cages in for the year, and if you live where i live at ppl buy them up quickly and most of them are SOLD OUT by June (alot of ppl have their own gardens). Dont think they have priced them yet but I will let you know when they are priced.Just a heads up!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulanator Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 I am adding to the mini trees this year, and needed more to match the 30" Artist easels I bought for last years display.Was at Michaels today, and the local one here in Corvallis had a Clearance sale on the 36" (larger than mine) for $2.49 each, (reg $3.99) So of course I picked up a load of those along with the 30" which were about the same price.Anyway, looks like Michael's is clearing out the 36" artsit easels at a good price.Of course I will probably go to the 36" ones, because the size is really nice, and of course the loved one with me (my mini tree maker) had this funny expression on her face, and asked, "so that means unwrapping the one's I did last year??.." and I said, Maybe Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMaris Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 I saw those easels at Michaels a month ago. I was considering welding 5 together and making a huge star. Good idea on the minis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulanator Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 For anyone who has not seen how to use the artist easels, here is a great quick how to from Planet Christmas:http://www.planetchristmas.com/Build3DTrees.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKSedg Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 paulanator wrote: I am adding to the mini trees this year, and needed more to match the 30" Artist easels I bought for last years display.Was at Michaels today, and the local one here in Corvallis had a Clearance sale on the 36" (larger than mine) for $2.49 each, (reg $3.99) So of course I picked up a load of those along with the 30" which were about the same price.Anyway, looks like Michael's is clearing out the 36" artsit easels at a good price.Of course I will probably go to the 36" ones, because the size is really nice, and of course the loved one with me (my mini tree maker) had this funny expression on her face, and asked, "so that means unwrapping the one's I did last year??.." and I said, Maybe Don't unwrap the 30" ones from last year. Just add more! Isn't that what this hobby/obsession is all about? More, more more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulanator Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 That was why the keyword was MAYBE....You gotta ease those things on loved ones, ya know... lolYou got that right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKSedg Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 paulanator wrote: That was why the keyword was MAYBE....You gotta ease those things on loved ones, ya know... lolYou got that right!Yes, you're right. I tell my future light plans---and how much it will cost---to my wife just a little at a time. She's usually ok with it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale J Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 ya i also used tomato cages but didn't get um that cheap 2.98 during the winter season they had to get a forklift out to get them down i got ripped off oh well, with this nice weather did you get all your stuff put away Doug? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug petschke Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 She is such a good sport! keep her close! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug petschke Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 still not done re doing my storage in the garage yet Dale i have a bunch out of the yard still have upper house lights to do and rest of extension cords. i wanna label the cords first so i dont have to hunt next year for the right ones. i got 20 strings of multi incandescents gonna redo the tree and replace some of the old strings on the roof with new ones. how about te traffic tonite huh you think everyone took stupid pills today. we still have to meet someday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropical Christmas Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 excellent! Will incorporate this idea this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caniac Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 doug petschke wrote: not sure how you all do your mini trees but about the cheapest way i have found is using the round tomato cages up side down and wrapping the lights around them zip or wires ties here and there and presto.thanks for this, it worked wonders for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Saul Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I picked up 3 mini trees from holiday corohttp://www.holidaycoro.com/default.html?corotrees.aspplus i had 3 tomato cage ones from last year.The tomato cage tree's were set too far back last year, no one but me knew they were there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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