Pushing lights into the cups is the hardest part of making a sparkleball. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years to make it easier.
- Test the lights before you begin. I’ve finished a sparkleball, plugged it in, and nothing. Pulling lights out is actually harder than putting them in.
- The right size hole helps. Thanks to Carl Boro, I use a 1/2 ” step drill bit which makes the perfect hole. Ever since I got it, lights are so much easier to insert. For a standard drill bit or soldering iron, aim for 1/2″.
- If a hole’s too small and you’re in the middle of adding lights, use scissors to cut a slit or two out from the hole. Bulbs should push through. Just be careful not to cut the light wire, which I’ve done.
- If the hole’s too big and lights keep popping out, Carl’s got a simple fix.
- Icicle Lights are easier to thread into a sparkleball than regular mini’s. Trust me on this.
- Two 50 strands are easier to work with than one strand of 100. One for each side. Just make sure the lights have a male and female plug– and the right plugs end up on the outer edge so they can join.
- Go slow so you don’t skip a cup.
- Too lazy? Just stuff the lights in the middle. Still a pretty cool light ball.
I always start from the middle and spiral out to the edge. That’s always the way I have done it. When the middle starts to get clogged up with wire, the outer edges are still accessible. But I have always used a lot of lights and that means a lot of wire to stuff into the ball.
You are absolutely right. I’ve redone the post.
Brilliant! Of course. I can’t wait to try this!