Making your own Spiral Trees

[JonB256]

My local stores didn't seem to over-order their basic 3ft or 5ft spiral trees this year so there weren't any to snatch at 75% off.

Has anyone made their own (for pixels, not incandescent)? If so, how did it work out and how did you do it?

[Gilrock]

I just use normal 3ft artificial trees we got on discount a few years ago.  I have 85 pixel strings and I just wrap one string around the tree in a spiral.  I model it as a spiral and it ends up looking pretty nice.  You can see them in the right side of my display.

[JonB256]

Gil, I don't know why but my wife thinks the white spiral trees I pictured are "christmas-y" and has asked me to add them for several years. After seeing a few in videos, I do like their see-through visibility and their "coiled spring" look when animated since you can see front and back equally. A nice 360° prop. They should collapse down to nothing, also. A big plus.

[Gilrock]

Well in front of my little trees is what I call my pixel tower.  It came from a funeral flower arrangement and the way the wires travel the pixels run in a double helix shape.

[bwinter]

My local stores didn't seem to over-order their basic 3ft or 5ft spiral trees this year so there weren't any to snatch at 75% off.

Has anyone made their own (for pixels, not incandescent)? If so, how did it work out and how did you do it?

Yes, I used these extensively, replacing the LEDs they come with, with bullets.  Works great!

[bwinter]

Gil, I don't know why but my wife thinks the white spiral trees I pictured are "christmas-y" and has asked me to add them for several years. After seeing a few in videos, I do like their see-through visibility and their "coiled spring" look when animated since you can see front and back equally. A nice 360° prop. They should collapse down to nothing, also. A big plus.

Yup, storage is great!  They all just collapse down into a short disk

[robbiet]

I’m about to switch mine over to pixels. Did you just use cable ties to secure each pixel? That is my plan so far unless someone has a better way to tie the the plastic coil.


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[bwinter]

I’m about to switch mine over to pixels. Did you just use cable ties to secure each pixel? That is my plan so far unless someone has a better way to tie the the plastic coil.

I didn't need to use ties.  The bullets fit firmly in-between the railing with a snug fit.  Hasn't cause me any problems for two years.

[robbiet]

Sweet. That would certainly make maintenance easier. Thanks.


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[greg s]

I have had mine for years, first as incandescent now as pixels.  They are simple tomato cages each tree is two cages offset by a quarter turn.  I cut and re-welded them to get a better cone shape then wrapped them in chicken wire for support of the lights.  I originally had them also wrapped with green garland but have since removed the garland and painted them black.  They work pretty well and are fairly durable.

[bwinter]

Sweet. That would certainly make maintenance easier. Thanks.

Here's how they look

[Boof63]

3mm steel rod x 1.3m high. welded washers on top of each rod- zip tie to hold together.
use 3mm rod make a circle the diameter you want your  trees to be , weld it together,
fit over top of tree- aim for half way down- zip tie to each arm of tree.
wrap around 1 x 5m of strip = zip tie as needed.
when packing up remoce strip, undo x5 of the ring/arm zipties, leaving one attached.
arms all fold ion and whole prop is only width of the ring as it too folds up into 2d not 3d
Cheers Boof63

[robbiet]

Sweet. That would certainly make maintenance easier. Thanks.

Here's how they look

I like the simplicity of that approach but I don’t want to put that much strain on the plastic coil. I’m in a cold climate and I’ve already cracked a few of these. I’m thinking of laying the bullets on their side and using small cable ties to fasten the bullet to the plastic rails. Lights are still on order from China so have to wait and see. Having all my controller boxes built with no lights is killing me!


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[JonB256]

3mm steel rod x 1.3m high. welded washers on top of each rod- zip tie to hold together.
use 3mm rod make a circle the diameter you want your  trees to be , weld it together,
fit over top of tree- aim for half way down- zip tie to each arm of tree.
wrap around 1 x 5m of strip = zip tie as needed.
when packing up remoce strip, undo x5 of the ring/arm zipties, leaving one attached.
arms all fold ion and whole prop is only width of the ring as it too folds up into 2d not 3d
Cheers Boof63

Not getting a visual in my brain. What arm of what tree?

[Gilrock]

I used to have those spiral trees and I threw them away.  Guess we all like different things.  I love my little mini trees and I can pack all 5 in one plastic container.  You can see them up close at the 4:00 minute mark in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuQrlbFTi7I