Newbie first maga tree build for 2012

[homegrowncorals]

I think i have all the kinks worked out with this first build , 19-20 foot tall 14 wide (7' from pole to stakes) pole is in a sleeve 2 foot in the ground and there 16 guide wires.
I did do a trial with a full scale mock up last month with some rope and stuff i had on hand to get an idea of how to engineer it .
and this is what i ended up building, no lights on it here in this picture.

---

---

pulleys are off set to one side of the pole.

---

---

its a 2 cable system the hole way to the winch.

---

---

to keep the pole from turning in the hole when cranking the winch and wrapping the lights i came up with this gizmo.

---

---

and now for the business end the crown i was wanting to raise my tree toper with this and did something a little different here i also wanted to attach all my guide wires and light strands and raise them as well.

---

---

I have some pictures to take and post of the mounting of the controller box i did up coming soon.
and a test video when i put some lights on it.

hope some of this may help another newbie like me.

[DIY Sparks]

Very impressive. I am constantly amazed at the dedication and work that folks here at DIYC go through.
Nice problem solver, that anti-turn device, too.
That tree's gonna be a blast to light up!

[homegrowncorals]

Here are a few more photos, of the way i am mounting the control box to the pole, stakes and guide wires.





The stakes is 20" re-bar with a cut chain link welded on to make a hook.



The support lines/guild lines are 22/4 stranded wire ( like phone wire ) with a dowel on it to use as a tensioner like a tent rope. this with stood 2 good nor-east storms on the first full size mock up i done and the pole didn't wiggle.

[fathead45]

wow very nice.

[dirknerkle]

Very well thought-out, and excellent engineering craftsmanship. It ought to provide for a very successful megatree!

[Samj435]

Really great design. I really like how the tree topper can be lowered for inspection/repair with little hassle as it's attached to the pulley system.

[mpurser]

Here are a few more photos, of the way i am mounting the control box to the pole, stakes and guide wires.





The stakes is 20" re-bar with a cut chain link welded on to make a hook.



The support lines/guild lines are 22/4 stranded wire ( like phone wire ) with a dowel on it to use as a tensioner like a tent rope. this with stood 2 good nor-east storms on the first full size mock up i done and the pole didn't wiggle.

yes very nice set up but being a newbie my self some things i noticed rebar guy wire anchors sence thay are out side the tree i hope you plan on installing some of the caps on them id hate to see some fellow carolinians inpalled on them in the dark or is your yard fenced in?the guy cable tenisiors do you plan on checking them every day i used turn buckles on mine and thay losened up yes my tree fell twice it wont this year what type of pipe did you use for the trunk of the tree i tryed chainlink top rail IT DID NOT WORK wall thickness was not thick enuff.i had a 20 foot tree with guy wires at the 10 and fifteen foot levels and it still fell not trying to be a know it all just saying

[homegrowncorals]

yes the stakes are a trip hazard, thankfully the yard is all fenced in,
i had wanted to paint them orange but the wife shot that idea down. i am planing on putting rubber caps on them but haven't got there as of yet.
as far as guide wires on the pole in the full size mock up i done, with the 16 strings of lights i found no problems with wind ( 2 weeks of storms) or with bow in the pole (top rail) i used for the test even know it had holes rusted through it.
the new pole is regular antenna pole from radio shack and is much more stout. the reason for the winch didn't have to do with the weight of lights, it was to do away with the rope stretch i had issues with on the test tree, and so i could be lazy and not hurt my bum back or shoulder pulling on a rope.
i believe most are counting on allot more strings on this tree then i have ever intended, 2 colors 32 string total at a max is all i want to achieve in the end.
for the tree in 2012 I'm only sequencing for 16 strings, witch in a few days when i can stand up again, i will hang on the tree and try out for a month to see if there are any failures to address before it gets tore down and stored away.


butch

[Dougp]

Very Nice design. I love that the topper can be taken down without taking the pole down.

[llewis]

wow it's looking great!