ideas needed... I want to make a Christmas wreath

[DrPizza]

I want to make a huge Christmas wreath (to put on the end of the barn), so I'm guessing anywhere from a 12 foot to 15 foot wreath would look best. I don't want a live wreath on the barn, so I'm going to use garland with or without lights. (probably with)

Question that's drawing a blank from me: What can I use for the frame for such a wreath? I want it circular; I don't want to hang it up and have it sag due to its own weight. It would be best if I hung it from only 1 or 2 nails (I'll be risking life and limb to hang it in the first place.) So, using 15 nails in the side of the barn to help it hold its shape isn't an option.


Anyone have ideas? Anyone ever made a huge wreath before? I've made dozens of smaller ones in the past; weight wasn't an issue with those ones.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

you need to realize that something that large will need more than 1 or 2 nails for support. you need to plan for the weight, wind, and possibly snow or ice depending on where you live.


The easiest solution is probably to find someone near you that can bend rebar. Use #3 or #4 rebar and ask them to bend it to a 6' radius and then weld or tie both pieces together. Some places may even be able to make it from one piece if they stock longer lengths of bar. Once home, paint the rebar green iif you are so inclined, then cover with garland by either spiral-wrapping it around the bar or lining the bar with several pieces lengthwise and wire or cable-tie it to the bar.

#3 rebar weights approx. 0.375#/LF, and for a 12' diameter you need roughly 38LF of rebar. #4 would wiegh 0.667#/LF.

The whole thing could be hooked over a large hook at the top, then you could tie the bottom at the 4 and 8 position to 2 eyebolts with some wire or cable ties.

 

[DrPizza]

Hey, great idea! I hadn't thought of rebar... everything I had thought of was too "smooth". By "nail", I didn't mean a simple 16D nail I'll be sure that what I use will be more than sufficient to hold it. However, the location it's going to be hung at is going to be very difficult to get to; I'd rather not put an extension ladder on a sloped steel roof. (wreath will be located above the overhanging roof on the left side of the barn in this pic

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Hey, great idea! I hadn't thought of rebar... everything I had thought of was too "smooth". By "nail", I didn't mean a simple 16D nail I'll be sure that what I use will be more than sufficient to hold it. However, the location it's going to be hung at is going to be very difficult to get to; I'd rather not put an extension ladder on a sloped steel roof. (wreath will be located above the overhanging roof on the left side of the barn in this pic

I assumed a farmer such as yourself has a come-along or block and tackle, so I omitted the lifting directions

 

[DrPizza]

Have any directions for keeping a ladder from sliding on a steel roof? That would have eliminated all my worries in the first place Fate says that if I have to reposition the ladder too many times, one of those times it's going to slip out and cause me to fall; most likely the 1st or 2nd time. On a regular shingled sloped roof, I'd just nail in a piece of 2x4 to the joists to keep the ladder from sliding, then put in a dab of roofing cement to seal the nail holes after I remove it. I don't want to have to do that a bunch of times on the steel roof.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Have any directions for keeping a ladder from sliding on a steel roof? That would have eliminated all my worries in the first place Fate says that if I have to reposition the ladder too many times, one of those times it's going to slip out and cause me to fall; most likely the 1st or 2nd time. On a regular shingled sloped roof, I'd just nail in a piece of 2x4 to the joists to keep the ladder from sliding, then put in a dab of roofing cement to seal the nail holes after I remove it. I don't want to have to do that a bunch of times on the steel roof.

not really. the whole lean-to looks rather......weak....hopefully it's stronger than it looks.

 

[skyking]

how long is that roof Doc? Do you have a good supply of lumber on hand?