Wireframe Bethlehem Star

**tlorek** · 10-13-2011, 10:43 PM

This is my 6' home made wireframe bethlehem star. It's made from 1/4" hot roll steel. Very reasonably priced stuff. I got it for about $4.25 for a 20' piece. The two short horizontal pieces near the top and bottom will sit on homemade quasi-permanent brackets that will be attached to the brick between the window over our front door (typical 2 story entry) and the peak of the roof. There's 8'+ of brick there, and I wasn't going to mount it on the roof. Once the brackets are mounted, then the star will simply hang on the brackets and then tie wraps will hold them in place. Pics of the brackets forthcoming. Oh, I used ropelight for this, as I had a boatload laying around. Depending on how it looks this year will dictate if they stay, or if I switch to standard incandescents for next year.

**tlorek** · 10-13-2011, 11:01 PM

Here are the brackets I made that will attach to the mortar between the bricks. I'll drill and use Tapcons (blue masonry screws). They'll stay there, and be virtually invisible. They're only 4" wide.

**tlorek** · 10-13-2011, 11:11 PM

And here are some pics of the star wired up with ropelight.

Bethlehem Star 2.jpg Bethlehem Star 3.jpg Bethlehem Star 4.jpg Bethlehem Star 5.jpg Bethlehem Star 6.jpg

**Dougp** · 10-14-2011, 07:28 AM

Very nice job and it looks great.

**griffixdc** · 10-14-2011, 12:32 PM

did you weld the wire together to hold together or what was your method ?

**Wayne J** · 10-14-2011, 01:23 PM

Nice! Mine is the same, only I used tubing. I like the rope light idea. Looks a lot easier.

**tlorek** · 10-14-2011, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by griffixdc

did you weld the wire together to hold together or what was your method ?

I used a neighbor's mig welder. I drew templates on a scrap piece of plywood how I wanted everything to fit, angle-wise. We then held the pieces in place accordingly and welded from there. Didn't take long at all, maybe 30 minutes.

**Jrd** · 10-14-2011, 08:58 PM

Good work!

My neighbor is a professional welder, I guess I'll need to take him up on his offer to teach me to weld soon so I can make my own wireframes.

**griffixdc** · 10-14-2011, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jrd

Good work!

My neighbor is a professional welder, I guess I'll need to take him up on his offer to teach me to weld soon so I can make my own wireframes.

never pass up learning a skill such as welding at least in laborious trade work and craftsmanship its a huge plus to know fabrication and welding