Ralph D Posted June 7, 2012 Posted June 7, 2012 I'm involved with my child's project graduation for her high school, sorry but I can't divulge the theme it's top secret. But I can tell you what they've asked me to work on, there is this one part of the building that has a smokestack that I have to put the lights on so it looks like the year. So going down the smokestack its going to have the numbers 2012 Just in lights. I'm going to use a four way controller so each number can light up individually and then at the end all the numbers will flash several times and then the sequence starts over again. I was trying to think of a very simple way of putting the lights on the smokestack so I don't damage it, I was contemplating drilling holes in the smokestack which is made out of really thin wood and inserting c9's in the shapes of the numbers then I thought maybe it would be a little easier would just to put some LED rope lighting in, but then how would I connected to this really flimsy wood. I'm looking for any ideas that are pretty simplistic yet effective. So if anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear. just so you know the numbers are going to be about 12 inches tall, maybe a little taller but not much so it's pretty straightforward.thanks,Ralph
Tim Fischer Posted June 7, 2012 Posted June 7, 2012 So this "smokestack" is a model of some sort? Sorry I'm a little confused by the post. Up until the "flimsy wood" I thought we were talking about a real building/smokestack.
Ralph D Posted June 7, 2012 Author Posted June 7, 2012 hey Tim thanks for chiming in, all the parents of the senior class have to chip in their time then we come up with a theme for the party and we build some fantastic scenery. this smokestack is about 12 feet tall, not real, made out of cardboard and wood.
scubado Posted June 7, 2012 Posted June 7, 2012 What about drilling holes and using minis or leds pushed through from the inside?
Ralph D Posted June 8, 2012 Author Posted June 8, 2012 Morning Jim and thanks, i was thinking about that too. I could do c6's i have those on hand, i don't have any minis but am thinking of your idea more and more. I don't have any experience with installing minis into wood or cardboard which is what this project is going to entail. If I do the minis, any suggestion on spacing between bulbs, and maybe some suggestions how others have installed the minis through thick cardboard, this is a one-shot deal of I screwed up they won't have the smokestack there. the more I think about it I think minis are the way to go, just a little installation help or thoughts or comments would be great
rescue_653 Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 On the cardboard draw it out first this includes the spacing you want to use between the lights. Once you do that all you have to do is punch the holes with something that is just slightly smaller than the light itself.
Ralph D Posted June 8, 2012 Author Posted June 8, 2012 wow sound easy! were is a good place to get minis quickly
Ralph D Posted June 8, 2012 Author Posted June 8, 2012 the smokestack is a 12 foot cardboard, wood framed structure. my daughters Senior high schools lunchroom is being totally rebuilt into this fantastic scenery that the senior parents choose to build. The parents have had meeting for well over a year planning this. we takeover the lunchroom and start production next week. every year the senior parents come up with a new theme for that year's senior graduating class members, this is my third one over the last five years and they just keep getting better and better. so I'm pretty nervous I don't want to make any mistakes, I think I'm leaning more towards using the mini lights and drilling small holes in pushing the lights through the backside, man I just don't want to make any mistakes to mass up the smokestack, anyone with past experience you're more than welcome to give me your tips and tricks how to do this right the first time.
kzaas Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 How about hot glueing the lights to the smoke stack, then you could use whatever lights you have handy. You can reheat the glue with a heat gun to remove them when graduation is over.
scubado Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 Hobby Lobby, if you have one near you might have some on hand. They have Christmas stuff year round. Your spacing depends on how big the numbers are and how many lights you plan to use per number. A 100 count string can be split to make two 50 count strings. A 70ct led string can be split into two 35ct strings.
Ralph D Posted June 9, 2012 Author Posted June 9, 2012 Nice, I'm going get this going tomorrow, thanks everyone. if you have anymore ideas please share.
Ralph D Posted June 14, 2012 Author Posted June 14, 2012 id like to show everyone how this came out but i don't know how to load a video. could someone tell me
Ralph D Posted June 14, 2012 Author Posted June 14, 2012 by the way Tim thank you for the tip on the hot glue gun, it saved the day.
Ralph D Posted June 14, 2012 Author Posted June 14, 2012 OH and i should say thank you to everyone for your help. you guys are the BEST!
Ralph D Posted June 15, 2012 Author Posted June 15, 2012 is this right, i set up a free vimeo account.
Ralph D Posted June 15, 2012 Author Posted June 15, 2012 wow you can teach old dogs new tricks! I did it, got the video up. lol
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