I normally wouldn’t post something like this because it’s really not in the preparedness vein but hey… you should enjoy life and your surroundings too, right?

Anyhoo, we received three 25’ stings of patio lights from a friend who was shutting down one of his restaurant locations due to COViD. Two of the three strings went on the back privacy fence and they add a surprising bit of ambiance to the backyard.

The third string was placed around the screened in porch but it always looked tacky and I hated it.

So, to solve my light problem on the patio I purchased/used the following:

• 1 10’x1” diameter black galvanized pipe

• 1 pipe cap

• 1 2’x1 1/4” diameter pvc pipe

• 30’ of 3/16 wire

• 2 wire clamps

• 2 lag bolt hooks

• 1 turnbuckle hook

• 1 eye hook with spring washer and nut

• 1 can of Rustoleum primer & paint

• 6 2’ pieces of rebar

Here’s what you do:

1. Install the pipe cap.

2. Drill an appropriate sized hole into the galvanized pipe for the eye hook bolt an inch or so below the pipe cap.

3. Sand the pipe with 60 grit paper then wipe down with a damp cloth and dry it.

4. Paint the galvanized pipe and allow time to dry.

5. While the pipe is drying, drive the rebar into the ground to create a hole for the pvc and then remove the rebar.

6. Slide the pvc into the hole created by the rebar.

7. Now that the galvanized pipe paint is dry, install the eye hook on the galvanized pipe. Make sure the eye hook is vertical, not horizontal.

8. Install the two lag bolt hooks on the house at the desire location.

9. Insert the galvanized pipe into the pvc sleeve in the ground.

10. Use the wire clamps and create a 1” loop on one end of the 3/16 wire and attached it to one of the lag bolt hooks.

11. Thread the non-looped end of the wire through the eye hook on the galvanized pipe.

12. Pull the wire taught toward the second lag bolt hook where the turnbuckle hook will be installed and cut to length, leave 1”-2” of slack.

13. Create another 1” loop on the other end of the 3/16 wire.

14. Hang the second loop on the turnbuckle hook and then hang the turnbuckle on the lag bolt hook.

15. Turn the turnbuckle to tighten.

16. Use zip ties to hang the lights on the now strung wire.

Here’s what it looks like when you’re finished.

With so many people home due to COViD this is an easy project that you can do for very little cost. I even managed to walk a young inexperienced couple through Lowe’s as they were trying to do the same project.