Let's talk about cardboard Christmas houses and accessories

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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 5:23 am 
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Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:32 pm
Posts: 2336
Wow--a lot of work---and very impressive!

I'm looking for led bulbs for the old fashioned candles that go in the windows.

I'd like to have changeable houses to go on top---without the heat and fire risk

Steve has inspired me...kind of!


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:05 pm 
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Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:37 am
Posts: 83
These houses are very interesting. I have been wanting LED bulbs for my houses since I first starting making houses and never seemed to find what I was looking for. I will definitely search for those lights. What kind of cord/socket are you using for these?


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 1:58 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:51 pm
Posts: 706
I'm working on a C6 string with the E10 sockets. Justed wired up in parallel instead of in series like the vintage ones.

I'll post some info on the light string after I get the houses built.

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:16 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:51 pm
Posts: 706
I got 2 more houses built. I need to make the last two.


Attachment:
house 9.jpg
house 9.jpg [ 259.06 KiB | Viewed 9967 times ]


Attachment:
house 5.jpg
house 5.jpg [ 220.48 KiB | Viewed 9967 times ]


The last two, I don't have a pattern for yet.
I need to sit down and lay them up.

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:31 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:51 pm
Posts: 706
Ok, so how am I going to light these.

All the parts are from various eBay storefronts.
Very cheap.

I work with electronics both professionally and as a hobby.

I started with the following E10 socket. As most know the E10 socket is what a C6 lamp screws into.

So starting with the E10 socket below:

Attachment:
e10 socket.jpg
e10 socket.jpg [ 175.26 KiB | Viewed 9965 times ]


I needed a way to pull the socket out of the plastic housing.
For 2 reasons.

1 to be able to spray paint the housings black.

And I needed to wire them up in parallel, not series like the vintage version of the C6 light string.

I found a pretty cool way to pull the sockets out of the houses.
I can't remember where I first saw it.

It might have even been on another of Paul's Christmas related websites.

It's made of a 3/6" x 18 pitch bolt with a wing nut and a rubber and flat washer.

You screw the bolt into the socket, then turn the wing nut till the socket pops out.

Attachment:
socket tool.jpg
socket tool.jpg [ 274.27 KiB | Viewed 9965 times ]


Once the sockets are removed. They were painted with some black paint.
then soldered together in a parallel string of 8 sockets.

Attachment:
c6 string.jpg
c6 string.jpg [ 305.53 KiB | Viewed 9965 times ]



a 12 Vdc power supply finished it up.

Attachment:
dc power supply.jpg
dc power supply.jpg [ 311.76 KiB | Viewed 9965 times ]


Now to get the last 2 houses built and it should be ready to go.

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:55 am 
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Posts: 2336
Wow---cant wait


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 12:41 pm 
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Posts: 373
Well, this is beyond my comfort zone, but I’m enjoying your progress.


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 8:50 pm 
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Posts: 706
So, here's the last two houses.

Attachment:
house 7.jpg
house 7.jpg [ 258.59 KiB | Viewed 9860 times ]


Attachment:
house 8.jpg
house 8.jpg [ 280.57 KiB | Viewed 9860 times ]


And here is all 8 hanging off of their light string.
All with my custom led bulbs that screw into the custom light string.
Also are a few more of my light-up decorations.
And lastly, I made some LEDs I can put in my Dolly repros.


I wish they showed up better when they photographed.


Attachment:
all 8.jpg
all 8.jpg [ 198.35 KiB | Viewed 9860 times ]



Now what to make next?

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 5:27 am 
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Posts: 2336
Wow! These are just awesome!


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 Post subject: Re: A new project
PostPosted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:35 am 
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Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 2:27 pm
Posts: 373
Location: Houston, TX
Amazing! And beautiful.


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Note: To ask a question, sign up for our "Christmas Times" newsletter, or learn how
to apply for membership to this forum, please visit our Contact page.


Note: All content on this forum is Copyright (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Paul D. Race
and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content
or plans may be republished or sold, nor may any plans be used to make products to sell without prior written
permission from Paul D. Race and the individual who contributed the content or plan in question.
For permissions or for questions about this policy, please contact us using our Contact page.



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