Monkhouse Tree Poly Banding

[rainyoregonchristmas]

I'm building a Monkhouse styled pixel mega tree and I will be buying a roll of poly banding which will have WAY more than I need.  Wondering if anyone else is making one this year who might need poly banding.  I'd be willing to cut 20-25 foot strips ( if you need smaller I'd do that) for like $0.50-0.75 each strip them mail them to you in a flat rate box ($5.80-12.35 depending number of strips and which they will fit in).

 

Anyone interested if I do this?

 

-RainyOregonchriStmaS

[Ron Boyd]

Dude, you should have said something about 2 months ago. I have 2 rolls of it. Dont know how much I'll need, but im using it on everything.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Ron Boyd

[TonyD]

What do you use poly banding for?

[rainyoregonchristmas]

LED pixels by their nature and design are not able to withstand the tension that happens when you hanging them.  So you have to support them somehow on something that will take the strain instead of the wiring.  That's where the poly banding comes in.  You tape the pixels to it and it allows the strings to then be tensioned without hurting the wiring.  The banding I am going to use has a tensile strength of 1,400 lbs.  Over kill, but it adds durability and eliminates the need for guy wires.

 

I figured between the two family displays I'm putting up this year, I MIGHT use 2,000 ft.  Which will leave some 3,800 feet to find some use for.

[Ron Boyd]

If you're using the lay flat/square pixels, I found it's a great deal faster and easier to use 2 4" zipties per pixel. If you use a ziptie tension/cut tool, set it on .5 and it tensions about perfect. I've done over 400 pixels like that. 1 string of 50 and a half of a roll of the 88 tape, and I was over it. Plus, the zipties are very inexpensive. I got 2000 4" from monoprice for under $25. I got 6 rolls of the Scotch 88 tape for $50. That was going to be enough for 12 strings. I still have 16 strings to go.

 

Look here and you can see how I did it: http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/boydchristmaslights/slideshow/Pixburst%20Photos

[LORi P]

I am interested. I'll follow up with you on the banding when I place my rainy tree order. :-)

[gmac]

I'm interested in getting some from you ...could you tell me how wide it is and is it black?

[bdeditch]

I'm building a Monkhouse styled pixel mega tree and I will be buying a roll of poly banding which will have WAY more than I need.  Wondering if anyone else is making one this year who might need poly banding.  I'd be willing to cut 20-25 foot strips ( if you need smaller I'd do that) for like $0.50-0.75 each strip them mail them to you in a flat rate box ($5.80-12.35 depending number of strips and which they will fit in).

 

Anyone interested if I do this?

 

-RainyOregonchriStmaS

I know what you mean, I bought 2 rolls of 5000 feet each.

[HiTechLights]

If you're using the lay flat/square pixels, I found it's a great deal faster and easier to use 2 4" zipties per pixel. If you use a ziptie tension/cut tool, set it on .5 and it tensions about perfect. I've done over 400 pixels like that. 1 string of 50 and a half of a roll of the 88 tape, and I was over it. Plus, the zipties are very inexpensive. I got 2000 4" from monoprice for under $25. I got 6 rolls of the Scotch 88 tape for $50. That was going to be enough for 12 strings. I still have 16 strings to go.

 

Look here and you can see how I did it: http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/boydchristmaslights/slideshow/Pixburst%20Photos

 

Great job Ron!  Do you have any more pics and materials list for putting together your pixel tree.   Thanks!

 

---Michael

[Ron Boyd]

Thoae pics are for my pixburst. I havent actually built the tree yet. Go to magicchristmas.com and look for the Colormotion tree link and you will get all the info and pics. The only thing im doing different is im using 1 1/4" galvanized instead of 2". I made the necessary adjuatments to the portable hole 2 on his website also. I am using his write-up and instructions for mine. Oh, I'm also using a different topper. Just a 16 hook from CLS.

[rainyoregonchristmas]

Ordered today. Black .025 x 5/8 in 900 lb test.

[Frybread]

I really like the Monkhouse idea for the Pixel Tree, Seems to make lots of sense. 

But I had and idea (which is scary in its own right). Instead of using the Poly bands and the Bolts and all.  What about Ratchet Straps.  They already have the hooks on them and the Ratcheting Mechanize would work great for the tension.   

I see that Harbor Freight as a set of four for $13. they are 1" by 15'   that would be long enough for most trees.

What am I missing here.. what are the issues.

I did see the same straps in black.

[rainyoregonchristmas]

One, the fabric will stretch, something pixels might not appreciate. The banding does give some support for twisting, also in the design you weave banding around it to form a lattice.

[rainyoregonchristmas]

I will hopefully be starting a kickstarter project process tonight for a new component for monk house trees that will make the process even easier...and it involves the banding.

[Frybread]

Yes, I thought about the stretch factor.  and that can be an issue. plus I read that the real cheap ones. are prone to some failures.   Looks like it is back to getting the hardware and the Poly bands.

[rainyoregonchristmas]

I think I have what I needed for my projects,  Those of you that wanted some PM me and I'll talk details.  I'm going to move this topic to the Vendor section where I'm listed now.  If you haven't seen the project I did with some of the banding, check it out there.

 

-RainyOregonchriStaS