This tree maker is easily made for less than $25.00 from a handful of materials in under 2 hours. Use an empty barrel from Utz Pretzels if you can find one. I used an Utz Cheese Balls container, which is a couple of inches shorter. Utz Cheese Balls are available from Tri Town Foods in Portland. (Anyone finding Utz Pretzel barrels, please let me know). Cheese Balls are $5.99, the most expensive item on the list. While you are eating the Cheese Balls, accumulate the rest of the items on the list!
Parts List
| Qty | Description | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empty container—preferably Utz Pretzels or Utz Cheese Balls. I think that the rounded top and bottom help the flow but I made one in a tin soda cracker container, and it works also, but is a couple of inches shorter, hence shorter trees. | about $6.00 | (full) |
| 1 | Electric switch, 110 volt. Toggle is easy to install. | about $3.50 | |
| 1 | Whisper Fan, 110 volt, 5" diameter. (All Electronics) | about $4.00 | |
| 1 | Zip cord with plug, 6’ long. (From a discarded appliance) | FREE | |
| 4 | Threaded rod, 6-32 X 6" | about $0.70 | each |
| 4 | Brass plated acorn nuts 6-32 | about $0.45 | each |
| 8 | Steel 6-32 nuts | about $0.10 | each |
| 4 | Nylon spacers 1/4" diameter by 1" long | about $0.30 | each |
| 4 | Nylon spacers 1/4" diameter by 1/2" long | about $0.30 | each |
| 1 | 1/4-20 X 1 1/2" Thumbscrew | ||
| 1 | 1/4-20 Brass wingnut | ||
| 1 | 6-32 X 3" Threaded rod | ||
| 1 | Alligator clip |
Construction
Mount the Fan
The first step is to drill four 1/8" diameter holes in the bottom of the empty barrel. Put a nut on the end of each of the threaded rods. Insert the rod in the hole and place a 1" and a 1/2" nylon spacer on the rod. When all four rods are inserted, place the fan, label side up, on the four rods. Screw on a regular nut and an acorn nut on the end of each threaded rod. Outside the barrel, take up the slack on each threaded rod so that the fan is 1.5" from the bottom and is secure. Optional: Cut off each threaded rod with about 1/4 inch showing. Place an acorn nut on the end of each threaded rod.
Wiring
Drill a hole in the side of the barrel for the on-off switch and drill another hole for the wire to come through. Strip two wires enough to crimp on slide on connectors to fit the fan lugs. Run one of the wires to the on-off switch. From the other side of the on-off switch run a wire, with the other wire from the fan lug, through the hole in the barrel. Seal with Weld Bond white glue. It will dry clear after 24 hours. Connect these two wires to the zip cord with plug.
Tree Holder
Drill a 1/4" hole in the cap. Insert a 1/4-20 X 1 1/2" Thumbscrew. Solder a 3" piece of 6-32 threaded rod to a 1/4-20 brass wingnut. Solder an alligator clip to the other end of the threaded rod so that the jaws are vertical. Thread the wingnut on the thumbscrew.
Making a Tree
Add approximately 1/2 cup of ground foam in various colors and textures to the barrel.
Take a stalk of Sedum that has been stripped of leaves and dried for a few weeks, and then spray painted with grey primer. Dip in a 50-50 mixture of white glue and water. Let drip for a few seconds and then attach to the alligator clip and insert in the barrel. Adjust the thumbscrew to position near the center of the barrel.
Plug in the barrel and turn on the switch. Turn off the switch about 15 seconds later. Remove the finished model tree, stand upright to dry in a piece of styrofoam.
Also try Goldenrod or Basil to get different tree armatures.
W. Thomas Compton
Presented January 9, 2010