May not be perfect - but it's mine! :)

[MrTechie]

May not be perfect - but it's mine! Meaning I put the time
into building the simple arch and then wrapping the lights.

Im proud of me

[MrTechie]

Thanks Jeff! I completely appreciate it.

I am a big fan of keeping the dynamics in play.
After all - that's what this is all about. So adding
different colors for each section was kind of something
that I really wanted to do. I may add one more channel
to it and line the entire thing with white just to give
it that one more 'ooooo' effect to it. We will see.

But - it's mine! And I am happy with it. Was rather
easy to do too.

[Jim Saul]

I think it looks great! Anytime you add color your doing good by me

[paulanator]

That does look great, I like the colors.

[MrTechie]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the kudos. I truly gain more and more
respect for this hobby as well as you guys the more and more
I do with this.

To build out that arch this is what I used.

1 - 2 x 4 70" long
2 - 2 x 4 16" long
1 - 5/8's drill bit
2 - 4' Genova Uncopper PVC Pipe (1/2" CTS) (Cream colored - got at Lowes)
1 - 8" 3/8's (?) Bamboo stick about 6" long.

----------------------------------------------------------

I took the two 16" 2x4's and put them flat on the ground
in a vertical form going away from me, at about 4" in from
the ends of the one 70" 2x4 that was placed in front of
me going horizontally. Then screwed it all together.
This essentially gives me the 'stand' for my arch that now
sits about 4" off the ground. (2" by the 16"'s and 2 by the 70")

After I screwed it together, I than measured 4 feet and marked
it on my 70" board, kind of centering it. I knew that the 'inside'
edge of my 2 4' Genova PVC pipes were going to go there.
So I used my 5/8" drill bit and drilled all the way thru the 70"
board so there was a hole. Those holes were just on the insides
of the 'feet' that were my 2x4 x 16"s.

Then I took one of my 4' PVC pipes and slid it in the hole to make
sure it was a snug fit, and it was. So I then started 'rappin'. Man
I was just singing away! LOL

Anyways - once I got my left PVC and my right PVC pipes done,
and slid them into the holes (leaving about 6" at the end of each
of them, I then took my 6" bamboo stick and slid it into one end
of the pipe (on the top) bent it over, and then bent over the other
pipe, and matched it in the middle. While I didn't quite meet in
the middle with my pvc pipe I did however manage to leave about
1/2" exposed of my bamboo stick between the two pipes. That
short of a piece of bamboo isnt going to snap, plus it would have
the added support of the lights cords wrapped around it to help
take a slight bit of the strain off it.

So all and all, I have an arch, that stands roughly about 3 feet
high, 4' apart at the legs, that has a stand of 4" off the ground
to keep the snow away from the lights, plus a little added room.
I dont have to worry about any ties to the arch at all because
its sturdy enough and completely free standing. And with the
tension on the pipes that is there, I can pick the thing up by
the base (the wood) and move it anywhere with ease!

Over kill? Maybe! Simple to make - super simple! It took longer
to wrap the lights than it did to make the arch.

So thats my story of my arch and how it came to life!

[LORi P]

MrTechie wrote:

It took longer to wrap the lights than it did to make the arch.

EVERYTHING about this hobby takes a long time!

Arch looks great!

[Lee Long]

A big thumbs up from me over here in the uk. I love the different colours :)I am about to emark on arches and this spurs me on

[Denis Chaput]

Great arche !!!Love the colors.

Did the same as you mounted my arch on 2x4 so that I can raise it up if the snow gets to high. Also easier to dismantle for repairs if need be ,but I used poly pipe for sleeves to replace one section if need be. This way can dismantle the whole thing and store easier

[MrTechie]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the kudos! And Dennis, two things. First, the dismantling of these arches are really easy. I just slide the poles out and then I can lay them down and strap it to the stand and stand it up in a corner in the garage. Makes for easy assembly next year too!

And the second being, I thought about making the 'sections' smaller for replacements and such, but then thought, the pipe is only 4' and has less than a 40 degree bend to it. So there's no real worry about this thing breaking. So that's why I decided to go that route. If I was concerned about 'anything' - it would be the 1/2" of solid bamboo that is exposed to the elements and that breaking. But I am pretty certain I have no worries.

And one last thing. I know people have talked about these lights throughout the forum, and have had different opinions about them. But that arch has 600 Holiday Lights that came from Lowes for $2.98 a box.

While the lights do not do well with dimming anything lower than about 14% - they do however do fantastic for the rest of the work. I'm introducing blue this year (as last year it was just red, green, and whites) I do have to say, that I am not sure if I am completely impressed with the blues from Lowes. The reds, green, and whites are awesome. But the blues - eh - no so much. But I figured for now - they are $2.98 a box, just came out in Lowes for the season and there is an abundance of them, so I'm good for now!

But I wouldn't be opposed to recommending those Holiday Lights to people who want to use them.