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I have looked at alot of topics on the mega tree. I see alot of poles, bases, guywires, pulley systems and other things. I have questions on a few of them.
Question 1:
On the pole - the best way to build a pole with poles that have internal threading so there is a micro seam - What is the best material and ideas on putting it up.
Question 2:
The top of the tree - I have noticed alot of people use a pulley system to raise the lights to the top from the bottom. How do you build that, and are there other options other than that, and how well would they work on a mega tree that is not on the ground but 12 feet in the air?
Question 3:
Turnbuckles - How do you use them and are they useful for keeping guy wires taught and secure? Also can you use them on the strands of lights themselves?
Question 4:
The Strands of lights - would it be in the best interest to put 1/8 or 1/16 in wire with each strand and have then zip tied together on the mega tree? Or would that be overkill?
I know these can sound like somewhat obvious to many here at PC but I am attempting to do something unconventional.
I will inform you that this tree will be 40 feet tall and the base will be 16 feet across. Oh yeah, it's going to be 12 feet above the ground over my driveway with NO center supports of any kind.
I will be running guy wires to the ground at each corner of my driveway and also to my house and garage roof. If you can think of any other points I should put guy wires then please let me know
Custom Christmas Displays wrote: I will inform you that this tree will be 40 feet tall and the base will be 16 feet across. Oh yeah, it's going to be 12 feet above the ground over my driveway with NO center supports of any kind.
Not sure I am understanding how you are doing this, but the above statement caught my eye.
As an Engineer, I am concerned when you say it will have no center supports. Bear in mind that guy wires are only a backup to supporting any vertical structure. The center support is your primary support (i.e. concrete footing, 4 x 4 template, etc). Without that, you are creating your own demise.
I can answer all of your questions, but will need more information on how you intend to support the pole "center" itself. A sketch would be handy.
nmonkman wrote: Custom Christmas Displays wrote: I will inform you that this tree will be 40 feet tall and the base will be 16 feet across. Oh yeah, it's going to be 12 feet above the ground over my driveway with NO center supports of any kind.
Not sure I am understanding how you are doing this, but the above statement caught my eye.
As an Engineer, I am concerned when you say it will have no center supports. Bear in mind that guy wires are only a backup to supporting any vertical structure. The center support is your primary support (i.e. concrete footing, 4 x 4 template, etc). Without that, you are creating your own demise.
I can answer all of your questions, but will need more information on how you intend to support the pole "center" itself. A sketch would be handy.
nmonkman wrote: Custom Christmas Displays wrote: I will inform you that this tree will be 40 feet tall and the base will be 16 feet across. Oh yeah, it's going to be 12 feet above the ground over my driveway with NO center supports of any kind.
Not sure I am understanding how you are doing this, but the above statement caught my eye.
As an Engineer, I am concerned when you say it will have no center supports. Bear in mind that guy wires are only a backup to supporting any vertical structure. The center support is your primary support (i.e. concrete footing, 4 x 4 template, etc). Without that, you are creating your own demise.
I can answer all of your questions, but will need more information on how you intend to support the pole "center" itself. A sketch would be handy.
Custom Christmas Displays wrote:
>On the pole - the best way to build a pole with poles that have internal threading
>so there is a micro seam - What is the best material and ideas on putting it up.
Huh? What's a "micro seam"? If you are making a 40 foot tree you should use steel pipe. You don't want micro anything. You want heavy duty!
>Turnbuckles - How do you use them and are they useful for keeping guy wires
>taught and secure? Also can you use them on the strands of lights themselves?
It depends on what you mean by turnbuckle. If you mean the device for tensioning a cable then I think it might be good on guy wires but would be a bad idea on strands of lights. You do not want to stretch a light string!
>The Strands of lights - would it be in the best interest to put 1/8 or 1/16 in
>wire with each strand and have then zip tied together on the mega tree?
>Or would that be overkill?
You could but I haven't heard of anyone doing this. It might be overkill.
>Oh yeah, it's going to be 12 feet above the ground over my driveway
>with NO center supports of any kind.
Then what are you going to do with poles, bases, pulleys, and guy wires? Guy wires support a central structure. If you don't have a central structure then there's no purpose for guy wires of even anything to attach them to. If you don't have a cental structure then what are you using the pipe for?
>Oh yeah, it's going to be 12 feet above the ground over my driveway
>with NO center supports of any kind. Then what are you going to do with poles, bases, pulleys, and guy wires? Guy wires support a central structure. If you don't have a central structure then there's no purpose for guy wires of even anything to attach them to. If you don't have a cental structure then what are you using the pipe for?
TED
I think he ment the entire Mege Tree Will be elivated 12' over his drive way.
and there will be no support under is so you could drive/walk under it.
I am sure he fully intends on having a center pole -
Last edited on Saturday January 26th, 2008 01:08 pm by Dave99gst
On the pole - the best way to build a pole with poles that have internal threading so there is a micro seam - What is the best material and ideas on putting it up.
Question 2:
The top of the tree - I have noticed alot of people use a pulley system to raise the lights to the top from the bottom. How do you build that, and are there other options other than that, and how well would they work on a mega tree that is not on the ground but 12 feet in the air?
Question 3:
Turnbuckles - How do you use them and are they useful for keeping guy wires taught and secure? Also can you use them on the strands of lights themselves?
Question 4:
The Strands of lights - would it be in the best interest to put 1/8 or 1/16 in wire with each strand and have then zip tied together on the mega tree? Or would that be overkill?
Suspending the tree from a wire is a bit unconventional, but it could be done. I would use PVC painted green for the center pole.
There are pictures that have been posted reagrding the pulley system. You will need to build a plate for the top. There are many ways to do this. I built a square one made out of 3 pieces of 1/2" plywood screwed together. Then I painted it black. I drilled holes along the outer perimter for U bolts that got through the template. You could attach you pulleys directly to that. I don't use pulleys I just use a 12' step ladder to hang the lights manually.
Turnbuckles are designed with two eye bolts. One side is a right handed thread and the other is a left handed thread. Once you get you guy wire to the right length, fully open the turnbuckles. Secure the guy wire on both ends so that it is slightly taught with just a little slack. THen, while holding the two outside eye bolts, turn the center piece to tighten the wire. I would not use them to secure the lights. You need to allow the wire to expand and contract.
I think zip tying and wire on each strand would definitely be overkill. Not only are you restricting the wire from being able to expand and contract, you are also adding a significant amount of weight to the tree. Being that your tree will be suspended the additional weight would allow it to sway more in high winds.
