This outdoor phantom Christmas "tree" was made using drop lights, PVC pipe and an old bicycle rim.

Supplies

6' 2x4 for base

7' of 1" PVC pipe for support stand

1 - 1" PVC coupling

1 - 26 bicycle rim (used)

1 - 16 string drop light kit (Amazon $17)

32 - 6" or 8" cable ties

Cost: Approximately $30 or less

Step 1: Tree Base

The base is made using 3 sections of 2x4, each 24" long. The pieces are screwed together using 3" deck screws. A used 26" bicycle rim is centered on the wood base and four screws are attached firmly against the outside edge of the rim to hold it in place. The base should always be picked up by grasping the 2x4's not the rim. A 35mm (or 1 3/8") hole is drilled in the center of the cross piece.

Step 2: Center Support

The center support is a 7' length of 1" PVC pipe (outside diameter of the PVC is approximately 1.325" or 33.5mm but will be stamped as 1"). The PVC pipe will most likely be slightly smaller than the hole drilled in the cross member of the brace. I used a shim cut from an aluminum soda can to wrap around the pipe to make it snug. Mine required two wrappings to keep it nice and vertical.

Step 3: Mount the Top Ring

The set of drop lights will come with a top ring. Mine had an inside opening about 36mm in diameter. This allows the ring to be slipped over the PVC pipe. To keep the ring at the height you want you can use a 1" PVC coupling. As shown in the photo this coupling has a small ridge around the inside surface which prevents the coupling from sliding too far on to the pipe. Four our purposes we want the coupling to slide up and down the pole so you with need to either either file off this ridge or you can simply cut the coupling exactly in half. This should eliminate the ridge but allow the coupling to stay firmly where you want it using only the friction fit. Once you have strung the lights you can adjust the coupling up or down to keep your wires fairly taunt.

Step 4: Secure the Drop Stings

My drop lights had 16 strands/strings of lights. I used one small cable tie looped between the plus and minus wires of the drop string. A second cable tie was inserted into a spoke hole of the rim and then fastened to the first cable tie. Do not over tighten any of the light strings. They are not overly robust so you want to get them fairly straight but without too much pressure on any one string. Also attach the light strings alternating from one side of the tree to another. This will keep the center support straight and true.

Step 5: Enjoy

Plug in and enjoy. My drop lights have 8 "modes" or twinkling effects. It also claims to have a build in timer but I couldn't get that to work so we have our tree on a separate timer. Note also that this tree comes apart quite easily by unscrewing the bike rim and slipping the lights off the top. The center post is then pulled out of the base and the entire "tree" can be stored in a very small space for the off season.