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Difficulty: Beginner
Create a festive look in your front yard with this giant glowing candy cane – the perfect centrepiece for your holiday decorations.
Follow this simple guide to create a 3500mm tall candy cane using a 100mm PVC pipe and rope light. You can customise the cane’s size according to your preferences.
Steps
Step 1
Cut the 100mm pipe. For smaller candy canes you can use a 50mm pipe.
Clamp the 1000mm length of 100mm pipe securely to a solid surface. Mark 150mm from one end.
Tape the end of a sheet of A4-sized paper together and slide it over the pipe. Trace along its edge to create a straight line on the pipe at the 150mm mark.
Use your handsaw to cut through the pipe at this line. Don't forget to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while sawing, including safety glasses and gloves. Repeat this process six more times. You should have seven 150mm pipe lengths.
Step 2
Insert the bends.
Insert one of the 150mm pipe lengths into the 15-degree bend. Add a 30-degree bend to the other side of the pipe.
Now insert another 150mm pipe length and add another 30-degree bend to the pipe’s end. Continue this process until you have connected all seven sections of pipe and all six bends. You have now created the hooked section of the candy cane. Insert the 100mm pipe cap to the end of this section.
Step 3
Wrap the tape around the pipe.
Wrap the red cloth tape around the 3000mm length of 100mm pipe. Apply each round of the tape at a 45-degree angle. Ensure the tape is evenly spaced along the length of the pipe.
Once you reach the end of the pipe, push the hooked section from the previous step into the 100mm pipe to form one giant hooked cane. Continue wrapping the tape around the hooked section.
Return to the end of the pipe and start a second run of the tape next to the first. Ensure it is neatly aligned with the first run of the tape.
Step 4
Tape rope light around the cane.
Start by taping one end of the light to the hooked edge of the cane using the red cloth tape. Position it so it merges seamlessly with the existing tape on the hook's edge. Now wrap the rope light around the non-taped, white sections of the entire cane.
Once you reach the bottom of the cane, tape the light in position with the red cloth tape again.
Step 5
Position the cane.
Identify where you want to position the cane.
Drive the fence post into the ground using your mini sledgehammer. Make sure you drive at least 300mm of the post into the ground.
Slip the cane over the post and plug in the rope light. Turn the light switch on.
You have now successfully built and installed a giant lighted candy cane.
Materials
- 3000mm length of 100mm PVC pipe, like Holman 100mm x 3m PVC DWV Pipe
- 1000mm length of 100mm PVC pipe, like Holman 100mm x 1m PVC DWV Pipe
- Five 30-degree bends 100mm, like Holman 100mm 30° F-F PVC DWV Plain Bend
- 15-degree bend 100mm, like Holman 50mm 15° Female And Female PVC DWV Plain Bend
- 100mm pipe cap, like Holman 100mm PVC DWV Push On Cap
- Red cloth tape, like Norton Bear 50mm x 25m Red Cloth Tape
- 1700mm fence post, like Saxon 170cm Black T Steel Fence Post
- One length 8-metre rope light, like Lytworx 8m Warm White LED Connectable Rope Light with Timer
- A4-sized paper
- Clear tape.
Tools
- Handsaw
- Mini sledgehammer
- Clamps
- Safety gear, including safety glasses and gloves.
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