How to Build ARCHES for Your Light Show! | What The Prop?! EP.1

In today's video, we're starting off a new series called "What The Prop??!!". This series is all about how to build props for YOUR show. In each episode, we'll take a look at a separate prop and everything about it. We'll look at how it works, what materials were used to build it, and how you can build it yourself! This should hopefully help you from saying "What The Prop?!" whenever you see these items in a light show! For this first episode, we're starting off with something simple, arches. They're super easy to build, a great element for new shows, and look really cool!

MATERIAL LIST:
1 - 10 foot 2x4in board (preferably pressure treated)
1 - 10 foot piece of 1/2in PVC pipe
~8 - nails or screws
Something to hold your lights to the pipe (I used coro from Boscoyo)
Zip ties depending on what you use to hold your lights
Some amount of lights/pixels for your arch

TOOLS RECOMMENDED:
Tape measure
Pipe cutter
Some type of saw
Drill/hammer/screwdriver (for putting nails/screws in the board)
7/8in or similar size spade drill bit

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - New series info
02:41 - Different types of arches
03:41 - Different arch sizes
05:01 - Materials needed
06:59 - Thinking about storage
07:49 - Building the base
11:53 - Cutting and adding the PVC pipe
15:09 - Adding the coro to hold the lights
19:09- - Finishing up

Thanks for watching! If you enjoy the videos and would like to help support the channel, please feel free to leave a like and subscribe for more light show content!

[jairokattano]

You're awesome. The way you explain is priceless. Even English is not my mother lenguaje i can understand. Gracias, Merci

[CheFPV]

I was just thinking i need a video on how to make these :) cheers dude

[knowyourjoe]

FANTASTIC SERIES. I have been watching a bunch of your content repeatedly. You have a great style and present useful information without dragging it out and lot of B.S. I REALLY appreciate that. I personally don't care how long the content is as long as it is not fluff and cliff hangers. Just finished putting together a couple of small controller setups, a Raspberry Pi 4 show controller running FFP, assembling a dedicated show network and just finished the tutorial on Xlights. Have started the first sequence and started the episode on the Xlights effects as a continuation of working the sequence. I am stilling the design phase for our display and I have been thinking about arches and that style of prop and now this gets posted. It is like you are reading my mind. Dang! Had to watch this before continuing the rest of the saga. LOL Do you know about how many pixels are used in beginning setups? I realize it is all relative to the size of the project. Just wondering if there a general number that it takes to produce a decent show for the first year of doing this? Also is there a minimum number of pixels that can used to produce a good show? Got to get back to watch this video and then back to the others. Thanks Nick. Wish you and yours the best.

[ronm]

Excellent information. Thank you very much.

[gregorycerven]

Nice job with the new series! Alot of thought about what kind of props people want to use. It might be nice to have a link to one of your other vids regarding sequences or wiring to understand how the chain is going to light up and work in the show later.
Also, drill a small hole thru your pipe (1/8" maybe) at the ends and use either zip ties, wire, a screw or a cotter pin to secure the end of the pipe to the board. That will keep it from popping out of the base.
I'm in the process of teaching myself how to weld. I'm building a large set piece for this year's Halloween display. I'll try to put something up once it's done

[simonemmsa]

I'm really enjoying your videos you have inspired me to start my first Christmas light show thank you for all you do. 😊

[rachaelb]

Nice. I bet you could get away with using 2x3’s if you want to go cheaper. I always thought those plastic pieces were expensive but if you can just keep using the same pieces every year I guess it’s worth it. Just keep the pixels attached.
I wanted to do arches around the plastic picket fence in my front yard but I’ll have to go with custom lengths to fit in between the vertical sections.

[landscapemaintenance]

I have 5 of the medium arches using 3/4 pex for the arch into 1/2" pvc fittings and pipe for the base. You just need to heat up the end of the pex to get it to fit into the pvc, i used a blow drier but a heat gun would work well too.

[JamieStuff]

That drill bit is called a spade bit. The trademarked name that people use is Speedbor.

[steviep]

great video, been watching your collection very helpful. one newbie question which end of a string of lights in node (light) one? Just to sure i don't start at wrong end and have to redo it. Thanks again

[UncleRons_D_Pub]

Thanks for all of the great info, EXACT middle is ABOUT 5 1/2 inches? an EXACT measurement is never ABOUT a measurement