How to Make a Large Arched Trellis
Create a large arched trellis to stand at the entrance to your garden or to cover the width of an outdoor bench. With the right tools and materials, you can customize a copper garden trellis with an arched top to fit any space on your property. Soldering is not necessary to complete this beginner’s do-it-yourself project; use the right adhesive and the structure will remain intact. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- 1-inch diameter copper pipe
- Pipe cutter
- Waterproof construction adhesive
- 10 1-inch diameter copper slip-T fittings
- 4 1-inch diameter copper couplings
- 1-inch diameter soft copper tubing
- 4 #3 rebar poles
Instructions
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1
Measure and cut four 7-foot lengths of 1-inch diameter copper pipe. Adjust the length of these pipes to the height of your trellis. Cut five 24-inch lengths of 1-inch diameter copper pipe. Adjust the length of these pipes to alter the width of the trellis.
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2
Measure and mark each of the 7-foot long pipes 3 feet from each end. Spread waterproof construction adhesive around one pipe at one of the marks. Slide a 1-inch diameter copper slip-T fitting over the end of the pipe to rest over the adhesive. Follow the process to glue slip-T fittings over the marks on each of the 7-foot long pipes. The angled opening of both fittings on each pipe should be lined up vertically and facing the same direction.
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3
Glue a 1-inch diameter copper coupling to one end of each 7-foot long copper pipe. Couplings are straight fittings that will house the ends of the arched copper tubing at the top of the trellis.
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4
Position two 7-foot sections side-by-side with the coupling at the top and the angled openings of the slip-T fittings facing each other. Glue a 24-inch length of copper pipe between the bottom two angled openings. Glue a 24-inch length of copper pipe between the top two angled openings. This structure is one vertical side of the large trellis.
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5
Follow the process to join 24-inch lengths of copper between the remaining two 7-foot long pipes. This is the second vertical side of the trellis.
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6
Cut two 6-foot lengths of 1-inch diameter soft copper tubing. Glue a 1-inch diameter copper slip-T fitting onto the center of each copper tube. Place the two tubes so that the angled openings of the slip-T face each other. Glue a 24-inch long copper pipe between the two tubes. Leave all of the copper trellis components undisturbed for 24 hours so that the adhesive can dry.
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7
Bend each section of the 6-foot copper tube into a gradual arch with your hands. Soft copper tubing is malleable; the ends will bend into a curve when you apply pressure. Bend both tubes on each side of the center copper pipe to the same angle to create the desired arch for your trellis. Glue the ends of the bent tubes into the coupling at the ends of each 7-foot long pipe.
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8
Insert four #3 rebar pipes into the ground where you plan to stand the large arched trellis. Push half of the length of the rebar into the ground to stabilize the structure. Fit the ends of each 7-foot long copper pipe over the rebar.
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