Copper Clad - Rebar Freestanding MegaTree - Revision history

ErnieHorning: Added introductory context identifying the article as Tom Little's documented design, converted the Supply List and Parts List into properly formatted Wiki tables for improved readability, clarified that the material costs are historical reference values, standardized emphasis on critical assembly steps, added a brief soldering safety note, and preserved the detailed construction sequence and extensive photographic documentation that make this article a valuable build guide.

2026-07-21T14:57:27Z

Added introductory context identifying the article as Tom Little's documented design, converted the Supply List and Parts List into properly formatted Wiki tables for improved readability, clarified that the material costs are historical reference values, standardized emphasis on critical assembly steps, added a brief soldering safety note, and preserved the detailed construction sequence and extensive photographic documentation that make this article a valuable build guide.

ErnieHorning at 14:33, 21 July 2026

2026-07-21T14:33:23Z

TomLittle at 03:30, 14 January 2021

2021-01-14T03:30:05Z

TomLittle at 03:24, 14 January 2021

2021-01-14T03:24:38Z

TomLittle at 03:15, 14 January 2021

2021-01-14T03:15:40Z

TomLittle at 02:44, 14 January 2021

2021-01-14T02:44:13Z

TomLittle at 02:29, 14 January 2021

2021-01-14T02:29:33Z

TomLittle at 02:27, 14 January 2021

2021-01-14T02:27:26Z

TomLittle: /* Center Section */

2021-01-14T02:26:26Z

Center Section

TomLittle at 02:25, 14 January 2021

2021-01-14T02:25:11Z

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 After looking at other Megatree options I decided to try to improve on the original design. Copper pipe was the only metallic material that I could find with reasonably priced fittings that could mimic the original design.  I went with ½” plumbing copper pipe and fittings, to strengthen the base I inserted ½” Rebar into all the longer sections of copper pipe.  This gives me a Freestanding 10’ MegaTree with no guy wires that disassembles into very compact pieces for storage.
 {| class="wikitable"
 |+ '''Supply List'''
-! Qty !! Material !! 2020 Unit Price !! Extended Cost
+! Qty !! Item !! 2020 Unit Price (Reference Only) !! Extended Cost
 |-
 | 4 || ½" × 10' Copper Pipe || $8.42 || $33.68
@@ Line 40: / Line 38: @@
 ! ≈ $100.00
 |}
 {| class="wikitable"
@@ Line 69: / Line 66: @@
 == '''Construction''' ==
 Clean and Flux all joints as assembling.  DO NOT solder any joint until instructed.
 '''''Center Section'''''
 '''Crowns'''
@@ Line 85: / Line 77: @@
 Start the Center Section by cleaning and fluxing (1) 1 ⅛” nipple to 2 standard tees
 Repeat until 8 are complete
 [[File:2nd.jpg]]
 Add (1) 1 11/16” nipple to the perpendicular tee openings, then add a 90° elbow oriented up. Repeat until 8 are complete.
 [[File:3rd.jpg]]
@@ Line 94: / Line 88: @@
 Take 4 of the assemblies, alternate as shown, and join into a single “crown”
 Repeat to form the 2nd crown
 [[File:4th.jpg]]
@@ Line 114: / Line 109: @@
 [[File:7th.jpg]]
 '''Middle Uprights'''
@@ Line 120: / Line 116: @@
 Take the 21 ½” Inside Support pipes and insert one in each of the vertical openings in the bottom crown.
 [[File:9th.jpg]]
@@ Line 130: / Line 127: @@
 Turn the center column upright and insert 1 ⅛” nipple in each opening.  Then insert a 29” Inside Support Rebar into each copper Inside Support tube.  This is a VERY tight fit.  I found I needed to pound on the end of the rebar quite hard to drive the rebar all the way into the copper pipe.  Insert rebar so it is flush with the top of the copper nipple.
 [[File:10th.jpg]]
 In order to protect the fittings on the bottom of the column, I threaded a piece of wood through the lower crown and supported that with a couple of 2x4 scraps lifting the column off the floor.  This allowed me to hammer the rebar into the tubing without damaging the fittings on the bottom.
 '''Finish Upper Crown'''
 [[File:11th.jpg]] [[File:12th.jpg]]
 Assemble 4 pieces each of 45° elbow, 1 ⅛” nipple, and 90° elbow.
 [[File:13th.jpg]]
 Attach each assembly to the nipple protruding from the top of the Upper Crown.  Adjust each elbow to 90° to the rest of the column inline with the fitting on the Lower Crown.
 '''Solder all joints'''
 '''Assemble Legs'''
@@ Line 152: / Line 153: @@
 Assemble 45° elbow, (2) Tees, (2) 1 ⅛ nipple, and (1) 1 ⅜ Nipple as shown above.  '''Solder''', repeat until you have 4 assemblies.
 [[File:16th.jpg]]
@@ Line 158: / Line 160: @@
 Insert the corresponding length of rebar into both the Bottom and Outer Legs.
 I then drilled holes through the Outer and Bottom legs and rebar and inserted SS bolts and nuts to prevent the rebar from turning.  Additionally, drill a hole through rebar at the open Tee connection sized for a Tent Peg into the ground.
 [[File:17th.jpg]] [[File:18th.jpg]]
 Slide 1 ½” long piece of Thin Wall ½” PVC onto the outer end of the assembly and add ½” PVC Snap Tee to each Leg Assembly.
 [[File:19th.jpg]]
@@ Line 168: / Line 172: @@
 A 3” PVC Pipe Cap is attached to the Bottom Crown assembly to capture the bottom of the Pole.  Attach the cap in at least 2 places to prevent turning during assembly and disassembly.
 '''Outer Ring'''
@@ Line 174: / Line 179: @@
 The outer ring of the tree consists of (2) 10’ lengths of ½” Grey PVC Conduit formed into a circle.  I put a SS Screw through each slip joint.  This gives your a ring with a 6’ diameter, which fits perfectly into the snap tee at the end of each leg.
 '''Center Pole'''
@@ Line 180: / Line 186: @@
 The center pole is made by cutting a 10’ length of 3” Sched 40 PVC pipe at 25 ½” from one end.  The two pieces are rejoined using a 3” coupling, this coupling gives extra width at the upper crown for additional support.
 [[File:23rd.jpg]]
 The Center Pole then has a PVC cap attached to the long end.
 For my Pixel tree, I used a 6 ¾” drain strainer with a steel floor flange screwed directly into the top of the cap to mount my J-hooks and the pipe nipple for mounting my topper.  I then use pixel strips hung from the J-hooks and then zip-tied to the outer ring at the bottom.
 For my AC string trees, I installed brass cup hooks around the top cap and loop my light strings from those hooks, and once again zip tie to the outer ring.  I also use the steel floor flange screwed into the cap to accept my topper.
 Finally, I pound a 10” tent stake into the outer tee on each leg.  I have never had one of these move at all in many years of use.
 [[File:20th.jpg]]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
-'''Supply List'''
+{| class="wikitable"
+|+ '''Supply List'''
-Qty	Material				2020 unit $		ext Cost
+! Qty !! Material !! 2020 Unit Price !! Extended Cost
-	 ½”x10’ copper pipe			@$  8.42		$33.68
+|-
-	 ½”x10” steel rebar			@$  5.49		$21.96
+| 4 || ½" × 10' Copper Pipe || $8.42 || $33.68
-	 ½” copper Tee			        @$   .72		$18.72
+|-
-	 ½” copper Elbow			@$   .48		$ 6.72
+| 4 || ½" × 10' Steel Rebar || $5.49 || $21.96
-	 ½” copper 45° Elbow		        @$  1.26		$10.08
+|-
-	3”x10” PVC Sch 40			@$ 16.30	        $16.30
+| 26 || ½" Copper Tee || $0.72 || $18.72
-	3” PVC Coupling			        @$  1.66		$ 1.66
+|-
-	3” PVC Cap				@$  4.98		$ 9.96
+| 14 || ½" Copper Elbow || $0.48 || $6.72
-	8-32x1 SS Machine screws
+|-
-	8-32x2 SS Machine Screws
+| 8 || ½" Copper 45° Elbow || $1.26 || $10.08
-	8-32 SS Nuts
+|-
-	8 SS Washer							_______
+| 1 || 3" × 10' PVC Sch. 40 || $16.30 || $16.30
- '''Total'''								      ≈$100.00
+|-
+| 1 || 3" PVC Coupling || $1.66 || $1.66
+|-
+| 2 || 3" PVC Cap || $4.98 || $9.96
-'''Parts List'''
+|-
+| 8 || 8-32 × 1" Stainless Machine Screws || ||
+|-
-	½” x 1 ⅛” copper pipe		Connectors
+| 5 || 8-32 × 2" Stainless Machine Screws || ||
-	½” x 1 11/16” copper pipe	Outside Connectors
+|-
-	½” x 1 ⅜” copper pipe		End Leg Connectors
+| 13 || 8-32 Stainless Nuts || ||
-	½” x 4” copper pipe		Base Brace
+|-
-	½” x 21 ½” copper pipe		Inside Support
+| 13 || #8 Stainless Washers || ||
-	½” x 30 ½” copper pipe		Bottom Leg
+|-
-	½” x 40 ¾” copper pipe		Outside Leg
+! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total
-	½” x 29” rebar			Inside Support
+! ≈ $100.00
-	½” x 34 ¾” rebar		Bottom Leg
+|}

@@ Line 150: / Line 150: @@
 '''Outer Ring'''
-[[File:19th.jpg]]
+[[File:21st.jpg]]
 The outer ring of the tree consists of (2) 10’ lengths of ½” Grey PVC Conduit formed into a circle.  I put a SS Screw through each slip joint.  This gives your a ring with a 6’ diameter, which fits perfectly into the snap tee at the end of each leg.
@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 '''Center Pole'''
-[[File:21st.jpg]]
+[[File:22nd.jpg]]
 The center pole is made by cutting a 10’ length of 3” Sched 40 PVC pipe at 25 ½” from one end.  The two pieces are rejoined using a 3” coupling, this coupling gives extra width at the upper crown for additional support.
-[[File:22nd.jpg]]
+[[File:23rd.jpg]]
 The Center Pole then has a PVC cap attached to the long end.

@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 '''Center Pole'''
-[[File:20th.jpg]]
+[[File:21st.jpg]]
 The center pole is made by cutting a 10’ length of 3” Sched 40 PVC pipe at 25 ½” from one end.  The two pieces are rejoined using a 3” coupling, this coupling gives extra width at the upper crown for additional support.
-[[File:21st.jpg]]
+[[File:22nd.jpg]]
 The Center Pole then has a PVC cap attached to the long end.
@@ Line 170: / Line 170: @@
 Finally, I pound a 10” tent stake into the outer tee on each leg.  I have never had one of these move at all in many years of use.
-[[File:22nd.jpg]]
+[[File:20th.jpg]]

@@ Line 128: / Line 128: @@
 '''Assemble Legs'''
-[[File:14th.jpg]]
+[[File:14th.jpg]] [[File:15th.jpg]]
 Assemble 45° elbow, (2) Tees, (2) 1 ⅛ nipple, and (1) 1 ⅜ Nipple as shown above.  '''Solder''', repeat until you have 4 assemblies.
-[[File:15th.jpg]]
+[[File:16th.jpg]]
 Connect Bottom Leg pipe to Tee, and Outer Leg pipe to 45° elbow, '''Solder'''.
@@ Line 138: / Line 138: @@
 I then drilled holes through the Outer and Bottom legs and rebar and inserted SS bolts and nuts to prevent the rebar from turning.  Additionally, drill a hole through rebar at the open Tee connection sized for a Tent Peg into the ground.
-[[File:16th.jpg]] [[File:17th.jpg]]
+[[File:17th.jpg]] [[File:18th.jpg]]
 Slide 1 ½” long piece of Thin Wall ½” PVC onto the outer end of the assembly and add ½” PVC Snap Tee to each Leg Assembly.
-[[File:18th.jpg]]
+[[File:19th.jpg]]
 Insert Bottom Leg into Lower Crown, and Outer Leg into Upper Crown.  I then drilled through each joint to insert a small bolt and nut for assembly and disassembly.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:27, 14 January 2021
Line 46:		Line 46:


−	'''Construction'''	+
		+	== '''Construction''' ==
		+

	Clean and Flux all joints as assembling. DO NOT solder any joint until instructed.		Clean and Flux all joints as assembling. DO NOT solder any joint until instructed.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:26, 14 January 2021
Line 51:		Line 51:


−	== '''Center Section''' ==	+
		+	'''Center Section'''
		+