Wireforms
   

PlanetChristmas and Wireforms/Wireframes

 

What are wireforms?

 

It's one thing to put a lot of lights on trees and bushes... but if you really want to get their attention, use wireforms (or wireframes.)  There are plenty of vendors that will sell them to you and most will put the lights on them, too. 

 

If you want your wireforms to be different, consider mounting your own lights. 

 

You can use standard miniature lights.  The pros use 50 light strings with 2-4 inch spacing between the lights instead of the standard 6 inch spacing you get at the stores.  They typically attach the lights with 1/2 inch fiber based, plastic packing tape.  The only problem with this tape is it tends to come unraveled after a few years being outside and exposed to the elements.  It's worth your time to enhance the wireform and use a 4 inch tie wrap on each light socket.  You'll never have to worry about the tape coming undone again.

 

The alternative method to using miniature lights is to use ropelight.  Use lots of tie wraps to attach the ropelight to the wireform.  Spots where you don't want to see the ropelight should be wrapped in black electrical tape.  See the close-up of the picture. 

 

Ropelight creates special challenges of its own.  Be sure and read how to cut and attach 120 volts to it on another page.  Most of the time, you'll have an excess length of ropelight color on your wireform.  Simply use black electrical tape and wrap it around the length of extra ropelight giving the end special attention to make sure bare wires are not protruding (use liquid electrical tape or silicon to cover.)

 

Here are some example of wireforms used at PlanetChristmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 






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