Upside-down tree

[tablastorm]

Has anyone found or made an artificial, upside-down tree that you've really liked? I have limited space and a need for an additional couple of trees. I'd really like an upside-down tree, to keep floor space open. I've seen several for sale in various places, but I don't consider them true upside down trees - instead, they're really normal trees with the branches tapering backwards. ie, they have a stand that sits on the floor, and build up from there. I'd like to attach to the ceiling, and be able to have clear floor at the bottom.

Most artificial trees I've seen rely on gravity to keep the tree together, so it would seem a fair bit of modification would need to go into keeping them together upside down. How do you handle that?

I'd also like to avoid much damage to the ceiling. I'm not sure how to attach - thinking about perhaps installing an electrical junction box, which I could also run wiring for lights through. Perhaps with a cam-lock attachment like some ceiling fans? It'd have to be fairly well reinforced, though. Other thoughts?

would this be better in the DIY forum? Dunno, but hopefully treeficianados will find my post...

http://www.planetchristmas.com/signatures/img/lor_24_white_none.gif

[RedNeckChristmas]

Has anyone found or made an artificial, upside-down tree that you've really liked? I'd like to attach to the ceiling, and be able to have clear floor at the bottom.

Most artificial trees I've seen rely on gravity to keep the tree together, so it would seem a fair bit of modification would need to go into keeping them together upside down. How do you handle that?


I'm going to make one this year and hang it. I'm using the loose branch type of tree. First remove all the branch mounts from the center pole and turn them over. Put them back on the pole in the opposite order. With that done, you'll just hang the branches back on and they will be self supporting. Only now they will be biggest to little. The tree top is usually a clump that just slides in a square hole. Just drill a hole through that and secure with a bolt.

That takes care of building it... hanging, I have not figured out yet. I'm only using a small 5 foot tree so I don't foresee too much trouble there. Couple 3 inch screws through the pole into the junction box and into the ceiling joist...

Larry
Duct tape and bailing wire could be used in this project as well.

[nanac1]

I have done thi s many times using 4 and 5 foot one piece trees. The branches are permanently mounted to the pole so no modifications were necessary. I have seen these trees at Walmart and Target in years past. Worth checking out. I used a swag lamp hook to hang my trees from. In the off season it is used for a hanging plant. The first time I did an upside down tree at home, my husband thought I was totally nuts, but once I lit it up he loved it.

I have also done them in the conference rooms and the commander's office at work before I retired. Everyone wanted one after seeing them. They end up looking like chandeliers once they are decorated and the ornaments hang really nice on them.

Good luck.
Marilyn

[Andrew Albertson]

I use two chandelier trees myself in my indoor display. These come in many shapes and sizes and attach using an "S" hook to the ceiling. What I did was take down the hanging light fixtures over my table and in my foyer. I un-wired them at the junction box in the ceiling. I then wired the two wires in the junction box to a spare plug I had and that way the switch controlled the plug. I attached my chandelier tree's "s" hooks through the bar that was holding the light fixture up. I plugged in the lights on my tree to the plug I wired in the junction box and it was ready to go. I was going to demonstrate this at PLUS this year but we all know that never got to happen. Anyways I have included pics of my 2 chandelier trees. I have other pics here on my albums page. Good luck with your tree. The two I have are a big crowed pleaser. They are almost as much of a hit as the one that’s in the bathtub.

[nanac1]

Andrew,

As usual, they are gorgeous. Now let's see a picture of the one in the tub.

I'm doing the upside down one over my diningroom table and in my guest bath this year.

Marilyn

[tablastorm]

Great thoughts! Thanks for all the comments.

Sounds like my best bet will probably be to buy a new tree with permanently attached branches, or loose branches. I know the 33 year old tree I was originally thinking of using would be a major pain, but it also is looking rather past its prime. I'm hoping to do it with a 7 1/2 foot tree, which should let me have part of my giant (8' diameter) bean bag underneath it, and not have them touch. Thus not giving up too much seating (for dogs, mostly).

I've been thinking about it a bit, and I think what I might try doing is making a plywood circle that the stand could attach to, with eye hooks attached to the back that could attach to cup hooks on the ceiling. Then, I could contact-cement a tree skirt to the plywood, maybe even attach a couple of presents to it. Thus, it'd be a completely upside down, including an upside down circle of floor.

My schedule's a bit cramped this year, so it may not get done 'till after Christmas with a sale tree. but I'd like to have it for my Epiphany party at least.

I'd love to see more photos of PCers upside down trees!

[hob]

I didn't do this but overheard a conversation about using one of the newer silver trees as a chandelier over a dining room table. Said they swaged white lights off of it. Sounded cool.

So am I the only one envisioning a Christmas cave? Walls lined with stalactites and stalagmites covered in Christmas decor. LOL

[spugh77]

I just posted a thread on here called "Topsy Turvy Chandelier Tree". It shows my upside down tree sitting on my dining room table last year at my previous house, and dangling 20 feet from the ceiling this year in my new house.
The tree is a 6' artificial tree I bought from Frontgate.com a coupel of years ago. It is made for this purpose, with hinged branches that are backward/upside down from normal tree. Since it is meant to sit with the pipe fitted around a flat stand, I had to do a couple of alterations. I drilled a hole in the overlapping area where the 2 sections of the tree meet and put in a pin with a retaining ring. I then bought an 8" galvanized 1 1/4" nipple which I "persuaded" into the top of the tree pipe for extra reinforcement, drilled a couple of holes through both and inserted bolts through. Drilled a hole in the center of a cap, inserted a heavy duty eye bolt that can hold 330 pounds, and screwed the cap onto the nipple. Used a similarly rated quick link to attach the eye bolt to the chandelier mounting eyelet.
I had this in mind when I replaced the chandelier in the house a few months ago and installed an Aladdin Light Lift winch system in the attic. All I had to do was turn a key on a wall switch to lower the chandlelier to the first floor level, remove the chandelier, wire up an outlet to the junction box, and plug in the tree. Then a quick trip back up and Viola! :santasmileyitty:

[blndnwo2luv]

I dont know about any of yall but I want to see the tree in the tub.

[John Pidliskey]

Don't like them!