Leaping Arch advice

[brianfox]

I've done alot of research on these, but have never built one before.

Has anyone attempted to do THREE colors? That is - 1:1:1 ratio of three colors, spanning the entire arch. I'm really concerned about the weight of the third color. Since many have been successful with two colors on 3/4" PVC, I was thinking of using 1" for three colors. Of course, 1" PVC has a much greater weight than 3/4".

If anyone was wondering, wrapping 1" PVC takes about 16" per 100 bulbs, rather than 18" you get with 3/4".

Since the length I'm shooting for is between 16' and 18', I plan to make each segment be 150 bulbs, which means cutting and splicing my 100 bulb strands. The upside is that I will get about 2 feet per segment on the button. I plan to make each PVC section span 2 light segments (about 50").

8 Segments would be 16', and use 4 PVC sections (5' tall arch)
9 Segments would be 18' (5'8" tall arch)
10 Segments would be 20', and use 5 PVC sections (6'4" tall arch)

I plan to use PVC with built-in coupler sleeves, rather than the threaded ends; I KNOW those threaded ends snap too easily.

I will have cords hanging out of each segment, so I can disassemble it at the end of the season, and replace bad sections with spares; I don't want to store a 20' poll. But my concern with the coupler sleeves is that it can be very difficult to pull apart, especially when wrapped with delicate lights. Has anyone found a good solution for this? I was considering drilling a small hole (around 3/16") clear through the pipe, near the segment ends so I could slip a 3/16 steel dowel through to make a handle. Would the hole weaken the structure too much?

In my neck of the woods, we don't get snow or even much rain, but do get some very strong winds. Christmas displays are constantly getting blown down the street. How do you recommend keeping the apex of the arch stable? I plan on using a LOT of guy wires. I have some 1/4" rolled steel. I could weld up pyramidal supports that wouldn't be too visible, but frankly the guy wire might be enough.

So my questions are:

1) Is 3 colors a pipe dream, or doable with 1" PVC?
2) Anyone have a solution for pulling apart coupler sleeves?
3) Will a 3/16" hole in a 3/4" PVC or 1" PVC weaken it too much?
4) How do you anchor the apex of your arch against high winds?

[seven_siamese_cats]

Some people find the gray electrical conduit with the built in connector to be a better choice; more flexible, less brittle, and the built in connector is more secure (because it is deeper) than the glue on PVC connectors. There is also a thread discussing lubricants which ease disassembly.

[ChrisL1976]

I think you'd be surprised how strong 3/4 pvc is especially when you ark it. I would guy wire it out for sure in a couple places.

[bobbeo]

If this helps I would use the threaded fitting's, And scoot the lights on and off the fitting when it's time to put up or take down. If I could post photos I would, Maybe next week.. Baby steps for me.

[Dennis Cherry]

If this helps I would use the threaded fitting's, And scoot the lights on and off the fitting when it's time to put up or take down. If I could post photos I would, Maybe next week.. Baby steps for me.

My first arch I built was using the threaded fittings and white PVC 1". It worked but wrapping lights around the fitting was a hassle. Also having to start and twist the two arch sections together was not fun. Taking it apart also damaged a string of lights that I had to replace. To many turns of the sections to put the arch together.

The arch was unwrapped and started over using the Gray electrical PVC pipe 1". It flexes better and the funnel end is much easier to wrap light onto. The end of the pipe that fits inside the funnel end had a slot cut to a 1 1/2" deep using a hacksaw or bandsaw. Only needs to be the thickness of the blade. Now the joint works fine and the alignment is better as my arches have a top channel that splits between the two sections and it is easier to align the plug and receptacle. Slide the two sections together and mark the inside pipe where it enters the funnel end, now you know where to start the light string on that section, take it apart and start wrapping that section.

I have done 6 arches this way and very satisfied with design #2.

Just my opinion.

Dennis

[zman]

For the length you stated, I would not use anything less than 1" I did 1/14" for my 20footers 9(2x10').

3 lights is plenty doable. Look for Papa-LF's how-to to string lights on arches. He has a few methods he describes and one accomodates 3 colors. He is making them this year just like that.

For pulling apart. Elec conduit with the bells is best IMHO. What I did is file and sanded the male end down a bit. Then I used Vaseline to make it easier to slide in and out. No problems.

I used 3ft form stakes at each end. Form stakes have points to assist with going in the ground. At the apex, I tied heavy duty fishing line to the arch and then a stake. We had very high winds in Dec again last year and no problems with the arches.

Check my website out and the pics for 2007, I had 4 arches.