Christmas Lights in Taller Trees

[Industrial Toys]

You were right, the downspout was a Royal pain, but really I still don't see any alternative. At first I had a loop at the end, maybe 14" in diameter 3/16 id nylon tube held together with a tight fitting self tapping screw with the head cut off. This had to be enlarged to 3' to secure enough of the top for a solid hold.

Pictures will come. A wanted to make a little adjustment tonight, but again found myself short with the telescopic pole.

My friend says that municipalities use a team of areal lifts for such work. I could see that. One would still be a pain.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

 

[MossRoad]

Next year I'll try and record myself doing our 40 footer from the ground. As I mentioned, I only use the ladder and pole to get about 4-5' of the first strand to hang over the top of the tree. From that point on, I can just roll loops up the tree from the ground as I walk around it. I'm contemplating getting this 29' extension ladder to lean up against the tree with guide ropes staked at 45 degree angles to stakes in the ground. That'll get me to within about 10' of the top. Add my reach and the 20' painter's pole, and I'll be good to get the first string on for a few more years.

Shop Werner D62-3 29-ft Fiberglass Type 1A - 3 lbs. Extension Ladder at Lowes.com

 

[k0ua]

As I mentioned, if you can get it over the top just once, you can stand on the ground and throw loops in the string and be pretty darn accurate as to which branches the loops go over. You can even throw the loop backwards to get it back off the branch if you screw up. It works well. I have a pretty good arm, still. So I can get the loops to go up about 38' from the ground. After that, the weight of the string just keeps the loops from going any further.

So, yes, I am saying I can basically walk Christmas lights up on a 40' tree from the ground once I get one strand over the top. THAT, is the hard part... getting one over the top.

Getting the first strand up is the easy part. Just shoot a string over the tree with my Pneumatic launcher for getting antennas up in trees. a 40 foot tree would be a Very short one for this thing. You would need to dial down the PSI to under 30. These things really work.

Antenna Launchers | Joplin Amateur Radio Club

 

[MossRoad]

Getting the first strand up is the easy part. Just shoot a string over the tree with my Pneumatic launcher for getting antennas up in trees. a 40 foot tree would be a Very short one for this thing. You would need to dial down the PSI to under 30. These things really work.

Antenna Launchers | Joplin Amateur Radio Club

Don't think I haven't thought of that. I've thrown a cord over the top of my blue spruce several times. But when you try and pull up the light strand, the thin branches at the top of the tree either bend or break from the weight of the lights. You can't get the string of lights to the veery tip of the tree that way. You'll end up several feet down from the tip. And you can friction burn the bark on the delicate branches up there as well.

 

[k0ua]

Don't think I haven't thought of that. I've thrown a cord over the top of my blue spruce several times. But when you try and pull up the light strand, the thin branches at the top of the tree either bend or break from the weight of the lights. You can't get the string of lights to the veery tip of the tree that way. You'll end up several feet down from the tip. And you can friction burn the bark on the delicate branches up there as well.

Yep, had not thought that thru for your application. Yes they do go down until it hits a good solid branch, but in my case, that is not a problem, but in your case I can see how it would be. Well, anyway the launcher is the easy way to shoot a line over something.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's hard to convey a scene like this. This is the good side. I very much appreciate my lady friend going to Costco and getting me six boxes of these LED lights and my other friend for helping me get them up. I really thought, It wouldn't happen. But I am a perfectionist and to me, it's a hack job. We did the best we could.

I've asked Santa for a 45 foot, 4WD All Terrain Genie Lift. It doesn't have to be this Christmas, but some time next year would work too! We'll see.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Very nice. Thank you.

 

[MossRoad]

Looks good! :thumbsup:

 

[bcp]

Look at some of the ideas for a flagpole Christmas tree.

flagpole christmas tree - Google Search

Make a one dimensional one, flat or vertical, then lean it up against your real tree, and let it wrap around just a bit.

Bruce