Replies

1. 
   leftisright | Jul 20, 2008 12:59am | #1

   Have several ideas but you're gonna have a hard time finding them in the stores til about the 1st of August when they put the Xmas stuff out. However, thet are making LED christmas lights now but might be a little pricey. Probably best bet would be to cruise the 'net.

2. 
   CapnMac | Jul 20, 2008 01:15am | #2

   does anyone know where i can get some decent quality lights that work even after 2 or more bulbs burn out ?  something of decent quality  ?

   Google "Landscape tree lighting"

   I've had both professional and personal success with the Phillips landscaping strings, which also come in nice long lengths, 200 and 300 and 500 lamps (those last two needing an online order or a really good lighting dealer order).

   In dark-to-dawn daily use in trees, I've seen about 3 years, one case, 4 years' life on those strings.  For my back porch (a bit more sheltered, and not nearly every day use, eight years on that string of 200).

   Now, these are not $3 strings of lights, either.  Closer to $12-15 per hundred to two hundred (depending on your source).

   You want a lot of uncluttered access for placement, too.  Think staging or planks-n-ladders.  For a trellis, get a hand to be on the other side so you can pass the string along them and back again.  For trees, a bucket lift with reach to go all the way around is near essential (and two is better).

   This is a task actually best done when the vegtation is bare, too.  If a Design Committee is involved, have her present for at least some portion of the stringing.  Light the strings up during placement, this will help, you are less likely to mass up lamps in one spot that way.

   Oh, and one last point.  It's almost better to have spare strings than spare lamps.  In a tree or arbor situation, it's less noticable that two or three lamps are out, so usually it's not noticed until entire sections go dark.  If it has been a couple years since installation, the plants have gotten very cozy with the wires.  The critical dead lamp will be a bout one more manhour fursther than you will be allotted (or can afford to bill the client) to chase down.  So, it can be easier to get the lift out and replace the strings entire (how ugly removing the dead strings gets it down to you).

   That help any?

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
3. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 20, 2008 01:26am | #3

   LED light strings are available and they aren't that expensive.

   But I suspect that the price I just saw on some of them that will the lidght might last that the wire and connectors would not be up to weahter for years.

   But there are commercial light strings available. You see them in trees and shrubs around resturants and shopping centers.

   A google on LED light strings and one on Commercial Light Strings give you lots of places to start.

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
4. 
   Terry | Jul 20, 2008 05:32am | #4

   Try Frontgate.com.  They have some very nice light sets at Christmas time but they may be available anytime.  Do not hesitate to send them an email asking if they are available.

1. 
   timkline | Jul 20, 2008 03:29pm | #5

   thanks for all the replies.

   i spoke with the boss and she has a thing about LED's.

   something about how the clear lights look blue.   maybe the manufacturers have worked this out by now.   last christmas we considered switching but she thought the tree would look "cold" with these lights.

   i see Frontgate has clear but not until October.  dangerous catalog that Frontgate, lots of cool stuff.

   thanks to your search suggestions i did find a few websites with strings i will try.

   Cap -  haven't been able to find Philips strings, where did you see them ?

    

    carpenter in transition