Stackable PVC Design

Here's a cheap way to make an inexpensive stackable minitree using PVC. This mini tree stands about 32" tall.

Materials (for 1 tree)

• 1 - 10' section of 1/2" PVC pipe
• 2 - 90 degree angle PVC elbows, 1/2" TYPE
• 1 - 3-way connector, 1/2" type
• PVC glue, zip ties
• Lights (1, 2, 3 strings... use your imagination...)

Construction It's suggested to press-fit the parts together first before gluing them permanently.

1. Cut the 10' length of PVC pipe into three, 32" sections and two, 12" sections. Be accurate with your measurements. This will use up the entire length of pipe.

2. Insert an elbow onto the ends of each of the two 12" sections.

3. Insert the other ends of the two 12" sections into the 3-way connector.

3. Insert a 32" section into the unused hole of the 3-way connector.

4. Twist the elbows on the ends of the 12" sections so they point upward.

5. Insert a 32" section into each of the elbows. Now you should have a triangular base with three vertical poles.

6. Optional: Bring the three vertical poles together and temporarily wrap the ends with tape to hold them together.

7. Drill a hole large enough for a zip tie through the tops of all 3 of the vertical poles.

8. Run a zip tie through the holes and fasten the tops together.

9. The basic tree is complete. You may want to spray paint it with flat black paint. Flat black will not only be non-reflective but will provide more friction for holding lights in place when you wrap them, which will then require fewer zip ties.

10. Wrap lights on the tree, fasten with zip ties as needed. In this example, the lights were fastened to a side post, then wrapped around it, brought to the center so the wire was wrapped on the front side of the center post, then around the other side, etc. This left the back open and made them easily stackable. Because two colors of lights were used, they were first coiled together into a "super string" and both colors were wrapped on the tree simultaneously. Not only is this faster, it's about the only way you can fish the lights around and through things without breaking bulbs.