a cheap mega tree

lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
416
Location
Gold Coast
hi all i am on the start of my first mega tree with a little bit of thinking outside the box i have found a design that works for me i am using an old 6ft trampoline (you can pick them up cheap if you look around look at garage sales and gumtree look for one with a torn mat ) ok so i stripped the mat off
Keep all the springs and the mat (for now)
keep the net poles to use as your center pole
now cut the steel loops off the mat so you can attach the springs to at the bottom
i am using the pixel node holders from the US
even if you are using wire to attach your nodes to it will work just make a loop in the top and bottom of the wire
i have used and old cheap slat bed L channel the make a cross brace and an old center support table frame
and i have started drilling holes in the base ring 100mm apart to attach the springs to as the original spacing for the spring holders was 130 mm
i will update with more photos as i get it done
as of now i have paid nothing for the mega tree just the pixels and the pixel holders
 

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nzlongfellow

Dennis from NZ
Joined
Jan 2, 2014
Messages
538
Location
Lepperton, Taranaki
Good start there Adam. I have the tramp also, just was working out how to stop the outer ring from lifting up as I applied more strands to it. Might have to put some braces down from the ring to the pole base as well as the top ties to create a way of tying it all together.
 

lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
416
Location
Gold Coast
nzlongfellow said:
Good start there Adam. I have the tramp also, just was working out how to stop the outer ring from lifting up as I applied more strands to it. Might have to put some braces down from the ring to the pole base as well as the top ties to create a way of tying it all together.
i am going to tether the outer ring to the ground just to keep it secure if we get strong winds and that will also help with that problem
 

scamper

Dedicated elf
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
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collie
nice work.
I too used an old trampoline, but it was a square one so I only used the frame and cut bits off as required.
the frame was designed to pull apart so the ends would slip inside the next section which made it ideal to use for the pole and topper as it could all slip together and then pull apart for storage.
 

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lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
416
Location
Gold Coast
scamper said:
nice work.
I too used an old trampoline, but it was a square one so I only used the frame and cut bits off as required.
the frame was designed to pull apart so the ends would slip inside the next section which made it ideal to use for the pole and topper as it could all slip together and then pull apart for storage.
thanks for tip with the tree topper i was going to use a small bicycle rim lol
 

scamper

Dedicated elf
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Jan 5, 2014
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1,225
Location
collie
On top of that I bolted this star. :D
Obviously, this was a test and the lights were added.
 

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Jamie

Lighting up the night.
Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
399
Location
Warwick
Are you doing the full circle. What are your plans for the pixels on the opposite side of the tree.. Will you put them in reverse so they can be seen from the front?
 

lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
416
Location
Gold Coast
Jamie (Christmas On Bisley) said:
Are you doing the full circle. What are your plans for the pixels on the opposite side of the tree.. Will you put them in reverse so they can be seen from the front?
no i am leaving it blank for the moment it will only be about a 200 deg tree
 

lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
416
Location
Gold Coast
lizardking(adam) said:
ok tree topper is done
1 mountain bike rim
a length of threaded rod and some S hooks
 

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lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
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416
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Gold Coast
some more pics with the star ontop
 

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lizardking

IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
416
Location
Gold Coast
here is the spacing of the strings
 

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