Comments on: Hanging Outdoor Party Lights

By: Selina

Selina — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:41:51 +0000

What size screw hooks & turnbuckles did you use? I checked out homedepot online and was overwhelmed with the variety of options for the turnbuckles alone! How do I know which size is the right one? And which material should it be made of? Help?

Also – I’ve seen on another blog, where they used a turnbuckle at both ends of every wire. Is that really necessary? Do you only need 1 at either end of the entire line of zig-zagging?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

By: Zoobia Siddiqui

Zoobia Siddiqui — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:00:27 +0000

Do you remove the string lights entirely during the winter months.. or just remove the bulbs? We just added commercial grade string lights to our backyard and it will be their first winter. Wondering if I need to remove the Bulbs…

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 23:40:53 +0000

In reply to Scoops. Great info. I am considering doing this over my deck but ligts are to be strung via Palm trees that have some sway down here in Florida. I am thinking that I may need turnbuckles with some sort of spring tension - do you know if these are available. Thx Kurt

By: Scoops

Scoops — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 16:36:12 +0000

In reply to Christina. Hey Christina! I leave mine up all year long, and we've upgraded to some more heavy duty bistro style lights as well. They do fine in the winter and they look so pretty with a coating of snow.

By: Christina

Christina — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 14:36:44 +0000

Alison — Super-cute! Thanks for the tips, my husband and I just got some great lights hung up using your method. Our lights are slightly more durable outdoor lights from Costco. We’re wondering, though — does this hold up well through the winter? Or should it be taken down? (For reference, we live in Wisconsin, so winter can get snowy and windy!)

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 19:19:11 +0000

Thanks. looks like this will help me. One suggestion, although I haven’t started this project, is using grapples instead of crimps. It seems these would work better to secure that loop. We’ll see!

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 22:47:20 +0000

Do you think string party lights, even the ones that say they are for “outdoor” use, need to come down for the winter season, or come down at all? People put up Xmas lights and leave them up all year sometimes (gross). I was just wondering because these bulbs are so fragile. If I can avoid taking them down and messing with them at all, I will. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so we don’t get snow in the winter, just cold rain.

By: Iando

Iando — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 17:51:35 +0000

Thanks for this. I used 16 guage galvanized wire and eyeless turnbuckles with careeners to connect to the turnbuckle – but it was exactly the same idea. Thanks for the listing of supplies – helped me with creating the plan for my back yard.

By: frank

frank — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 21:46:16 +0000

hi
what gauge wire did you use?
did you get only galvanized products?
thanks, your post was exactly what I was looking for!
-F

By: Scoops

Scoops — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 14:13:43 +0000

In reply to Ken. At the Hardware store.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 02:15:27 +0000

Where did you find the wire clamps?

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 05:47:22 +0000

Thanks so much for this!! It helped so much!! Took two trips to the hardware store but it was all worth it… it turned out looking amazing!! Had two 100 ft. Strands of G50 globe lights and hung each around both sides of backyard. Ready for the party tomorrow!! Looking forward to what guests have to say. thanks again:)

By: jojo

jojo — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:46:57 +0000

Hi Scoops! I love your hand-sketched diagram, instructions and commentary. I’m a DIY gal and every website or post on the subject was completely worthless. The details you provided were extremely beneficial. You are a fantastic individual. Keep sharing your gifts and I will do the same!

By: Neal

Neal — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:23:22 +0000

This setup worked perfect for us. Attached our eye lag bolts to two trees. Looks great and simple to setup.
Thanks,this was very helpful.

By: dee

dee — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 13:53:59 +0000

In reply to Henry.

I was wondering the same. factors to consider when choosing which guage wire to use include:
1) the weight of the lights to be hung
2) the distance to be spanned, (from the garage to the house). Greater distance may call for a heavier guage to eliminate sag.9o

I plan to use 1/16 inch (which has tensile strength of 480 lbs) because patio lights are not heavy and I only need to span 20 ft.

By: Dee

Dee — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 13:43:09 +0000

Thanks for the plans, very helpful.
The wire in the picture looks like 1/8 inch. I plan to use 1/16 inch wire (tensile strength of 480 lbs).
This should be more than enough to support the weight of the wire itself, the added weight of the lights.
Using 1/16 vs 1/8 wire will he easier to work with and since I only need to span 20 ft. I can easily apply tension to the wire to eliminate any sag without worrying about exceeding the tensile strength.

By: Henry

Henry — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 21:19:33 +0000

What gauge wire did you use?

By: Willem Rose

Willem Rose — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:35:21 +0000

party lights We got a couple of these to add to our band's stage lights. We use them more like accent lights. They're small and really affordable. We like them.

By: Ginger

Ginger — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 18:55:04 +0000

love this I have been looking for directions on how to hang our lights with wire between our house for the deck, then once this is done I thought I would maybe do some faux green leaves to disguise the wire during the day to make it feel kind of like a pergola with hanging plants, do you think the lights would burn the leaves? just thinking….

By: Scoops

Scoops — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:42:07 +0000

In reply to Rick. Awesome, so glad to hear it helped ;)