Introduction: Starlight - Easy Welding Project
A super easy welding project for a first welding project or a quick gift for the mid winter celebrations...
...a starlight to light up those dark mid winter nights...
...if you live in the northern hemisphere...infact great anytime of the year.
Step 1: Inspiration
This is a mid winter gift for my wife who wanted a simple star with lights.
I was inspired by the paper lantern lights that have a geometric form that would be ideal for a star full of lights.
The steel rods line out the form of the lantern shape.
Step 2: Get Your Bits Together
Materials
4mm steel rod - 6m will be plenty
LED warm white tree lights x400 bulbs - rated for outdoor use if using outdoor
Cable ties - black
Spray paint - colour of your choice
Tools
Grinder or hacksaw
Cutting disc
Grinding flap disc
Welder of choice - This project used a MIG
Step 3: Dimensions
The star is approximately 475mm tall and 95mm thick at its widest point.
I have included the PDF file of the printout that I used to layout the pieces and set out the welding jig.
You will need 10 pieces of the rod @ 180mm for the external star
10 pieces @ 95mm for the short internal
10 pieces @ 245mm for the long internal
Attachments
Step 4: Cut Up the Pieces
Cut the rod to length...
...and grind the ends so the joints are nice and clean for welding.
The sharp points of the star need a long cut so a good weld can be run along the joint.
Step 5: Weld
Weld three cut off nails onto your welding table to act as a jig for welding the five arms of the star.
Mark the positions from the PDF template.
Place the first rods of the outer star on the jig and weld the end...
...flip over and weld the other side.
Continue until all five have been welded.
Check out my Super Easy Welding Table Instructable to make your own welding table from an old radiator.
Step 6: A Star Is Born!
Weld the inner joints of the star arms together to form the star shape.
Weld the short rods from these inner joints to meet at a point...and weld the point together.
Take the longer inner rods and connect the ends of the star points to the inner middle point...
...Flip over your star and do the same on the other side.
Step 7: A Star Frame
You will now have the frame of the star welded together
Step 8: Grind
If like me your welding skills still need more practice...
...then you may need to grind down the welds nice to a nice finish
Step 9: Spray
Spray the frame to the colour of your choice...
...I chose black to match the cable of the lights
Step 10: Light It Up!
Feed the string of lights into the steel frame, making sure that the lights fill all of the shape.
Use cable ties to hold the lights wire to the frame...carefully snipping off excess of the cable ties.
Be careful DO NOT TO CUT the tree light wire.
This project used LED tree light with 400 bulbs which packed the framework full of the points of light.
Take time to arrange the bulbs to get an even distribution and not too many outside of the framework for it to work well visually
Step 11: Enjoy
Hang up...
...plug in...
...and Enjoy!
I am entering this project into the LED Contest and the Homemade gifts contest and if you have enjoyed this project, I would really appreciate your vote...thank you so much.
This project is part of my YouTube channel where I try to make cool and interesting projects.
Please check out my channel if you want to see more of the projects, if not there will be more coming to Instructables soon.
Why not check out what I am up to on Facebook.

Participated in the
Metal Contest 2017

Participated in the
LED Contest 2017

Participated in the
Homemade Gifts Contest 2017
10 Comments
3 years ago
Im in the process of making one. Question. It looks like you could just do one side and make it flat for a wall or outside on your house. Wondering if this might work. Nice project.
Reply 3 years ago
Cool idea, sure it will work really well. Let me know how you get on.
4 years ago
The way you hung it on first video isn't in pentagram way ;) Great project anyway, just turn it 60deg to be more in Christmas spirit :F
Reply 4 years ago
It was hung intentionally as made as it directly references the paper star lanterns that can be bought, the lead comes out of the inner point and so hangs as shown. Of course bring the wire out of a point and I guess it would represent the Christmas star if this is what you want to achieve. It will look great
4 years ago
Such a cool design. It's beautiful with or without the lights, nice job!
4 years ago
sweet pentagram
4 years ago
lovely and wondr full
4 years ago
Love your Starlight! Am going to ask my brother to make the star for me.
4 years ago
Beautiful!
4 years ago
I like the star even without the lights. Nice job.