leaping arches using sleeve method question

[salongaopm]

Hi!

Does anyone know how to make the leaping arches using a sleeve method? I've read about it a few days ago, but now I cannot remember where. Can anyone help please?

thanks!

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

I've seen them using dryer vent hose to cover the arches.  Looked pretty good.

Keith

[bisquit476]

There is a member on PC by the name of Harbs who did a how to on that method.

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Hope that helps,

Bill

[salongaopm]

There is a member on PC by the name of Harbs who did a how to on that method.

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login!!!

Hope that helps,

Bill

That is the one! I've been looking like crazy for it the whole day. Thanks!

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

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Video of them...

Keith

[salongaopm]

Found the other discussion about the arch sleeves method here: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

thanks!

[joshuashu]

Greetings,,,

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Video of them...

Keith

You will be happy to know that Ryan decided not to go with the sleeves. i think they look better with out them.

[Made2Rock]

For what it is worth I create my arches by wrapping strings of 100 lights around a 11" thinwall PVC pipe that is 12" long. I can then slide these sections of pipe over a 1/2" PVC pipe which is bent and slide onto rebar stakes I drive into the ground. By creating these sections of ligths I am able to be more flexible with how I use the lights. This year I'm planning on 4 10' arches and then a series of vertical sections to create a water fountain.

[salongaopm]

Is thinwall PVC pipe more flexible than the polyethylene pipe? Did you encounter any  problem bending it into an arch?

[Made2Rock]

Not sure which bends better but the thinwall worked since it was only 12" long. I put 10 sections on a 1/2" PVC pipe and then had the ends 6' apart from each other (so at the base is was 6' wide). At this size it looks fine and what you have is 10 short straight sections that create an arch. It ends up looking fine and gives the appearance of being a pure arch.

!!! WARNING !!!!

I can tell you that getting it to 6' takes a small amount of force to bend it but getting it thing under 6' wide will take some serious force and I would not try it.

Attached is a picture of the arches when I was testing them. If you look at the left one on top you'll see a 6" section of 50 lights not lite (this should help gage size).

[Dennis Cherry]

My first arch built in 2008 was with white PVC pipe.  When bent it was scary and thought it would break but didn't.

Found a topic to use Gray electrical PVC and noticed it had a little more flex than the white. 

Built a arch out of the Gray and it bent just fine and did not have the feeling it was going to break.

Now have 2 years using them and are still as good as new.

The gray electrical PVC is designed for burial and doing curves, you do not need all the various connectors like the white needs.

Go to the electrical section of HD or Lowes to find it.

[joshuashu]

My first arch built in 2008 was with white PVC pipe.  When bent it was scary and thought it would break but didn't.

Found a topic to use Gray electrical PVC and noticed it had a little more flex than the white. 

Built a arch out of the Gray and it bent just fine and did not have the feeling it was going to break.

Now have 2 years using them and are still as good as new.

The gray electrical PVC is designed for burial and doing curves, you do not need all the various connectors like the white needs.

Go to the electrical section of HD or Lowes to find it.

This is also what  i use, found it to work great, bends easily and springs back for the most part.

[dr. jones]

i used the grey pvc conduit, but strong winds ended up cracking one section
I originally tested with schedule 40 plumbing pvc, but the couplers proved to be too brittle and snapped as i flexed it into shape.

[PJNMCT]

i used the grey pvc conduit, but strong winds ended up cracking one section
I originally tested with schedule 40 plumbing pvc, but the couplers proved to be too brittle and snapped as i flexed it into shape.

The connectors are a problem even on the electrical pvc. I found that if you use 3/4" electrical pvc, you can use 1/2" emt (electrical metallic tubing/conduit) as the anchor pieces as well as a short 6" piece to "connect" two pvc pieces at the top of the arch. Just slip the emt into the two pieces of pvc and apply a piece of duct tape to cover it then slide some lights over it. Turns out great.

-Paul