DYI Driveway Arches

[chris]

This is the first year for me on having driveway arches and I really like them. I thought they would be difficult to make and have them hold up to the weather, I was wrong!
This is a simple project. for me to do projects I work good with pics:) so I thought I would share my step by step with you.

Materials list:

3 pieces of 10' 3/4 inch conduit $1.97 each
2 cans of spray paint (gloss and flat white) $0.99 each
4 box's of 100 count mini lights $0.33 box (after christmas price:))
1 bag of zip ties about $2.00 to $5.00 a bag
1 8' 1/2 inch rebar $4.67

Tools:

hammer
zip tie cutter
metal saw ( Home Depot can cut the rebar if needed:))


Second pic shows the rebar in the grown. I cut it at 3' pieces and hammered it a foot into the ground with 2 feet showing.
third pic shows the conduit connected to each other. One of the pieces I cut at 5', there is no glueing involved for easy setup and take down.
After hammering the rebar into the ground I placed the conduit over it.
4th pic shows painted. I used flat white paint first for better stick and less runs. Next I went back over it with gloss white( for the shine:))
Last step wrapping the arch with lights. I used 4 box's of 100 count mini lights. First string of lights I wrapped bottom to top center and plugged second string into first string and continued to the bottom . repeated twice.
As I went along I zip ted every foot.

This is a inexpensive Christmas Prop for the Christmas Decker.idea:

[Sickie Ickie]

How far apart is the rebar?

How cold does it get where you are?

Do you use couplers for the conduit?

Is it pvc conduit?

[chris]

How far apart is the rebar?

How cold does it get where you are?

Do you use couplers for the conduit?

Is it pvc conduit?

Sickie it gets sometimes 30 below.

No couplers each 10' piece has a male and female end.

Yes it is PVC conduit i used.

I spaced the rebar 15' apart.

[theedwin]

Hmm, great idea and looks very nice! May have to try a few of these for my new driveway! :D

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks for answering the questions, Chris. :)

[chris]

Thanks for answering the questions, Chris. :)

Sorry I have not done a step by step before. Yes if there is something anybody doesn't understand let me know:)

[Elvira]

Nice Chris, inexpensive, and simple but effective decoration. I think I need a couple :) By the way your step by step is awesome.

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Hmm, great idea and looks very nice! May have to try a few of these for my new driveway! :D

You know I've always said to myself: "That's what Las Vegas needs---MORE LIGHTS !!" :chappy:

Thanks for the how-to, chris! Those do look simple.

[Smokyturtle]

Neat idea thanks for the how to

[theedwin]

You know I've always said to myself: "That's what Las Vegas needs---MORE LIGHTS !!" :chappy:

Thanks for the how-to, chris! Those do look simple.

Well EG, if it's more lights you want, it's more lights you get!!!! (I do have a spare Gemmy light show...) Hilarious! I am still laughing!!!!

[EnlightenedGrinch]

I'm gonna try my Gemmy Light show box this year for the first time. I've used the Mr. Christmas box the last two years.

[Sickie Ickie]

Chris, can we expect a how-to on your fence??? It looks awesome!

[chris]

Chris, can we expect a how-to on your fence??? It looks awesome!

I was thinking thatidea: I can break it down and keep it very cheap on price.

[Growler]

We did the arch last Sun. It was really easy, about 2 hours worth of work, and we were getting compliments as soon as it was up. And that was it being unlit!

On a side note, we used 250 led lights and only used one. I tried the 99 cent white paint at Lowe's but, all that did was make the ink run. I put on 8 coats and it still wasn't covering it. Next year I'll spend a little extra and get the good stuff. Also, we are going to make two arches, use "T"'s instead of the reg. connectors and make a huge one. It will look more like a playground monkey bar setup. This way it will be more stable and we will hang icycle lites from the top down since it can hold more weight.

Thanks for the great idea and how to.

[Just Whisper]

http://www.dogmall.co.uk/smile/sign/sign0101.gif (http://www.dogmall.co.uk/dog-books/dog-training-books/)

Okay, so I guess this is as good a place as any to ask this question...sorry Chris. But I know you won't really mind, and it does sort of pertain to this thread.

What is the difference between conduit and pvc? Is it mostly just the wall thickness?

[chris]

Growler I may have forgot to mention for the paint I used flat white first before the gloss so it didn't run sorry.

[chris]

http://www.dogmall.co.uk/smile/sign/sign0101.gif (http://www.dogmall.co.uk/dog-books/dog-training-books/)

Okay, so I guess this is as good a place as any to ask this question...sorry Chris. But I know you won't really mind, and it does sort of pertain to this thread.

What is the difference between conduit and pvc? Is it mostly just the wall thickness?

JW I used conduit for easy bend, PVC doesnt bend as easy.

[Sickie Ickie]

Chris also drilled a hole where the conduit joined and used a cotter pin to make sure it didn't spring apart. I had to restate that in interest of safety.

[Growler]

Yeah, I skipped the flat even though I did see that you posted it. Thought the paint would be thick enough but, it wasn't. I'll just stick with the Krylon.

Tonight we are supposed to get 20mph winds. I'll see how well it holds up. I put 4 fish lines into the ground to the base of each one but, since it's leaning toward the road I think I'll add one more to each side much further up.

I also used the pvc instead of the conduit. I didn't glue it together so I could just pull it apart later for Halloween stuff.

[Growler]

Heads up on this. We got that darn storm the other day and had 35+ winds. The thing was moving back and forth but, stayed up just fine.

I wonder if I can make a bunch of these for Halloween and find some type of huge plastic to cover it for my driveway for the kids to walk up?

[theedwin]

That's a great idea Growler! But won't it look kind of funny at Halloween with Christmas lights on them? LOL JK! Maybe use the black plastic rolls you can get at HD or Lowe's for the cover.

[Sickie Ickie]

Landscape fabric is also cheap.

[Sickie Ickie]

I was thinking... if you kept lights on the inside of the pvc and used chasers, you may be able to make a rolling spotted tunnel without any motor.

[Growler]

now that is a great idea! You could also put a couple blinds on the outside and add a flying crank ghost if you used a garden mesh fabric.

[Sickie Ickie]

As I've learned over and over, everything works in theory, however one has to build the idea in reality. LOL

[Just Whisper]

I was thinking... if you kept lights on the inside of the pvc and used chasers, you may be able to make a rolling spotted tunnel without any motor.

Nice idea sickie.

[Sickie Ickie]

blush: Thanks JW.

[theedwin]

I was thinking... if you kept lights on the inside of the pvc and used chasers, you may be able to make a rolling spotted tunnel without any motor.

Like a vortex tunnel.... I don't think they would have to be sequenced all together, just running about the same speed..... GREAT IDEA Sickie!!!!!idea:

[Sickie Ickie]

Thank you my friend. :)

[Goofy]

I am planning on doing this project, but with a couple of changes.. I plan on putting a 4 way in every 5 ft. this way i can run runners from front to back. I plan on 3 to 4 rows. i will post pictures. now that the webs and ghouls have put them selves away I might be able to post pics next week if I can get to starting it..

Great simple idea I really like it

[EnlightenedGrinch]

I forgot about this project.
I might just try it this year, just to have something different in the yard.

[chris]

I am planning on doing this project, but with a couple of changes.. I plan on putting a 4 way in every 5 ft. this way i can run runners from front to back. I plan on 3 to 4 rows. i will post pictures. now that the webs and ghouls have put them selves away I might be able to post pics next week if I can get to starting it..

Great simple idea I really like it

Sounds cool wheussmann:) totally like the idea.

Last year I made 4 this year I will be adding 16 to the display.

[jomar718]

First, thanks so much for the detailed instructions on the arches...we are building them this week to add to our display (or should I say replace a few lighted trees that we lost in a recent October Nor,easter - we lost EVERY tree in our yard that we usually light up!)
My big question is - do you have to run some sort of support lines to stakes in the ground from the arches? and if so, where are they placed?
Our arches will be same size as yours listed here.
We live in Massachusetts...weather has been very wild this year...and we want to make sure the arches stay put.
THANKS!

[Hilda]

I did one of these for a Wedding Arch for a monster's wedding scene at Halloween. It took tremendous winds just fine! I'm looking around to see where I could add some to the Christmas display. This a wonderful, simple prop. Who doesn't love props that have a big impact for minimal money! Thanks for your tutorial!

Here is how I decorated it...
5123

[ij20me]

First, thanks so much for the detailed instructions on the arches...we are building them this week to add to our display (or should I say replace a few lighted trees that we lost in a recent October Nor,easter - we lost EVERY tree in our yard that we usually light up!)
My big question is - do you have to run some sort of support lines to stakes in the ground from the arches? and if so, where are they placed?
Our arches will be same size as yours listed here.
We live in Massachusetts...weather has been very wild this year...and we want to make sure the arches stay put.
THANKS!

Used rebars in mine. However, my arches are heavy and are all depending on what you want. My arches have 1500 lights on them. The weight is heavy especially when it will comes to snow and wind. I used thin nylon string on one side of the arch and anchored it with 8" stakes then did the same to the other side, but in the opposite direction. So, one string going east and other string going west. That way the arch had no where to go, but stay straight up. My son has hit them with the football many times. The same darn arch. They have withheld that.

I am sure others may have something better here too.

[Goofy]

I put them up over my walkway last year for the first time, and they held up great even in 40 mph winds. I used a 2 ft peice of rebar and slide the poles over them.... there are always a couple that needed to be repositioned after a huge wind or rain, but all it took was slide the pole up and re hammer the rebar into a new spot.. didnt take much. and they look great!!!

I am thinking of next year to animate the lights somehow. just havnt figured out what i want to do with them yet..

[chris]

First, thanks so much for the detailed instructions on the arches...we are building them this week to add to our display (or should I say replace a few lighted trees that we lost in a recent October Nor,easter - we lost EVERY tree in our yard that we usually light up!)
My big question is - do you have to run some sort of support lines to stakes in the ground from the arches? and if so, where are they placed?
Our arches will be same size as yours listed here.
We live in Massachusetts...weather has been very wild this year...and we want to make sure the arches stay put.
THANKS!

Thank you for the comp Jomar! I Don't use support line just the rebar they hold up great through the winds.

[ij20me]

I put them up over my walkway last year for the first time, and they held up great even in 40 mph winds. I used a 2 ft peice of rebar and slide the poles over them.... there are always a couple that needed to be repositioned after a huge wind or rain, but all it took was slide the pole up and re hammer the rebar into a new spot.. didnt take much. and they look great!!!

I am thinking of next year to animate the lights somehow. just havnt figured out what i want to do with them yet..

I have an idea Goof on how to animate them. Go outside and do a dance next to them. Haha.