Mickey light post directions

[FlyGunz]

Send a PM to CDNCruiser and ask for directions... his are far and away the best I have seen (apologies to everyone else who has put the time into documenting their procedures).

AArrrggghhh! new member...four more posts before I can PM him...wait...only three more now!

 

[hapandpam]

OK....so I've shown this to DH and he is considering making me one. I noticed a lot of people got their globes at Home Depot. Are they plastic or glass? Are they in the lighting department? Thanks!!!!!

 

[Shan-man]

You must use an acrylic globe since you have to drill holes in the main one (and you want the small ones to match)

 

[DznyRulz]

Are they plastic or glass? Are they in the lighting department? Thanks!!!!!

Plastic and yes. Look in the area with the replacement globes.

 

[dznyjunky]

These are so cool. We saw them when we were there in March and I have my hubby building me one very soon!! I hope! This is my first day on this site and I love it!!
thanks for all the tips in making the post. I sure am glad you all did the trial and error for us!! We're going back in July and I will have my post by then!!

 

[dznyjunky]

Plastic and yes. Look in the area with the replacement globes.

I'm sure you've already posted this, but what size globes did you use and how did you put yours together? I think it looks great!! AND where did you get that way cool light?!?!

 

[M & E love WDW]

My dil has requested her handy-man Dad check out this site. Now, with our Thanksgiving at the Wilderness approaching, I'm confident that each of our family campsites will have their own Mickey lamp post.

 

[CDNCruiser]

Send me a PM including your e-mail address and I'll send you detailed instructions for building a Mickey Lamp Post.

It's just like in the picture below! (Without the flowers - they're just attached during the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival)

Gary Cruise

 

[jebiford29]

bump to enable my PMing ability.

 

[M & E love WDW]

I have a lot of posting to do before I can pm you. I will try to make valid posts elsewhere so it may take a few days.

 

[devores]

I wanted send a great big THANK YOU to Gary Cruise.

I followed his directions for the light and it came out great. Easy to follow directions with pictures (which helped me out allot).

I still need to silicone around the ears, but everything is together. I did manage to shatter one 12" globe. I then read on here to go slow when cutting the ear holes. Should have done that in the first place, good thing Home Depot has a military discount.

I did get an actual light pole instead of PVC so this is where my question comes in.

I have a 3" round pole, I am having trouble comming up with a base to support the pole. Its not heavy by any means (aluminum) but cannot find something to keep it upright on its own much less during a windy day.

So what did some of your other creative folks use as a base for yours? Id like to keep it simple and cheap if possible.

 

[Shan-man]

You can get a toilet flange that accepts 3" pipe and screw that to a plywood base (upside down) and screw or epoxy the post to that. That's what I used for mine, though I used 3" pvc for the post so it's an easier fit. I also used a fernco fitting (rubber sleeve with breeze clamps) to allow me to disconnect the post from the base. That might be a good solution for you... toilet flange, short section of 3" PVC solvent welded to it, a fernco fitting, then your aluminum post. Let us know what you come up with.



EDIT: I wanted to add that you will have to add some weight to the base, the big lightweight sphere catches a lot of wind load and you don't want to return to the camper to find Mickey on the ground, globe busted and melted... it's not a fun sight, trust me. I have a lead diver's belt that my new lamp will be wearing, when I get around to making it.

 

[petestulipbug]

These look great! Can't wait to get DH started on one!

 

[clkelley]

You can get a toilet flange that accepts 3" pipe and screw that to a plywood base (upside down) and screw or epoxy the post to that. That's what I used for mine, though I used 3" pvc for the post so it's an easier fit. I also used a fernco fitting (rubber sleeve with breeze clamps) to allow me to disconnect the post from the base. That might be a good solution for you... toilet flange, short section of 3" PVC solvent welded to it, a fernco fitting, then your aluminum post. Let us know what you come up with.



EDIT: I wanted to add that you will have to add some weight to the base, the big lightweight sphere catches a lot of wind load and you don't want to return to the camper to find Mickey on the ground, globe busted and melted... it's not a fun sight, trust me. I have a lead diver's belt that my new lamp will be wearing, when I get around to making it.

I use a toilet flange at the base of mine also, but then I just stake it to the ground and haven't had any problems.

 

[devores]

Just wanted to share my light pole ordeal with the masses to maybe give some others ideas on how to do thiers.

Here is the completed product.

I opted for the 12" head and 8" ears. I feel it makes for a more proportioned Mickey.

I ended up using a 5 gal bucket from home depot for the base. I used a T section of PVC and then a section of 3" PVC to use as a holder for the light pole. The pole fits perfectly in the 3" PVC. Then I used a drain fiting to sit ontop of the 3" PVC out of the top of the bucket. This is just for looks.

I then cut a hole in the back for the T section to extend out of the bucket and siliconed around it to prevent leaks. I then filled the bucket with one bag of leveling sand for weight. Paint everything to match, and I have a base for my light.

An after thought I am working on is adding a plug in to the base wired into the light sensor so I can add some extra lights that will come on at dusk with the Mickey light. Im not sure when that will get done.

Cant wait for the first time I get to use it at the Fort. 2 more weeks.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I did the 12" and two 8" globes also. I put them in a Mickey chip-n-dip set to get the right angle. Here is mine:

The post looks curved because it is made up of three sections and sometimes they tilt. I have since over come this issue. The post comes apart and the entire base and pole can fit in one large bin and the head/globes fit into another. You can see one of the bins next to the Airstream.

 

[DznyRulz]

Devores,
I like the bucket, it looks great. I was using a cement filled flower pot, seen in my sig photo, but I've since switched to a Christmas Tree stand painted black. It's more lightweight and is more stable in the wind, so far. I think the design of the flower pot contributed to its instability. The tree stand has a much wider footprint which helps. I've added a string of LED Christmas lights around the pole which goes well with the color changing LED light bulb in the head. I'll have to take a new picture when we're on the Eastern Shore in two weeks.

 

[petestulipbug]

Sending you a PM as soon as I figure out how!!!

Love the post with flowers, looks great!

 

[retired and happy]

I received acrylic globes today from replacement lighting. Unfortunately the 4 inch flange on the 12 inch globe does not fit the 4 to 3 inch PVC adapter I bought to fit to my 3 inch black PVC pipe. The 4 inch adapter is really 4 1/2 inches to fit over a 4 inch pipe that is really 4 inches on the inner diameter. Now I have to do some adapting between the globe flange and the 4 to 3 adapter.

The bulb socket fits snuggly in a coupler and I'm thinking about using a short piece of PVC to elevate the bulb socket further up into the 12 inch globe. I found a green bulb, but haven't located a color-changing bulb yet.

I may not finish before our FW trip the end of next week, but I'll sure have it for our Christmas trip.

 

[devores]

I got all of my materials from Home Depot. I got some funny looks because I walked around and tried all of the pieces to get exactly what I wanted. I pretty much built the darn thing right there in the eisle. It was the only way I felt comfortable buying everything to ensure it all fit.