A great idea for path lighting using Solar Post Caps

Want a great project that will make you feel quite handy?

You can make your own path lights using solar post caps!

Get yourself a solar post cap that will fit a 4x4 cedar post. (You can find great looking solar post caps and low voltage lighted post caps at http://www.MoonlightDecks.com ). Take an 8ft long 4x4 cedar post and cut it into 2 ft lengths. Next, get a 3 1/2 inch floor flange from the plumbing section in your local hardware store. In that same section, find a threaded pipe about 10 to 12 inches tall that will screw into your floor flange. These 2 pieces are going to be the "spike" that holds up your path light.

Next, take 4 wood screws and attach the flange to the bottom of one of the 2 ft sections of 4x4.

Next, screw in the 12" pipe for your spike. Then just hammer or push the post into the ground wherever you want to put the path light.

And finally, add your solar post cap. You can stain and seal the wood for a really elegant and lasting look, or you can paint it to any color you need.

Now don't you feel crafty? You get to buy cool things at the hardware store. You get to use rugged power tools. And you get to impress your friends and neighbors with your craftsmanship. And you get a really unique looking path light with NO WIRING!

So, here's what's inside a basic solar light:

Light source, such as LED lamp, that lasts approximately 10,000 hours

Rechargeable NiCad batteries that provide about 8 hours of light

Photocell, or built-in solar panel, that charges the batteries during daylight hours

Light sensor that detects when to turn the lamp on and off

Most hardware stores carry a decent selection of solar lights, but you can also spend hours online searching through the many selections available.

Steve Hodes Jr.