Brighten dark evenings with a sparkling lantern walkway: build a lantern stand that won’t budge in strong winds
A lantern stand with a concrete base can withstand the outdoors all year round. Any type of bucket or bowl can be used as a mold. Follow these instructions to create five sturdy bases and stands.
Lantern stand with a concrete base—supplies
- S30 concrete mortar, 25 kg (55 lb), 2 bags
- 6 mm (~1/4″) rebar rod, 2 pieces
- plastic buckets or bowls and a dish
- water, a mixing tub, a small shovel, and cooking oil
- a drill and a hole saw blade
- tin snips or an angle grinder
- duct tape and stones
- wooden dowels and screws
- a support board and string
- protective goggles, a respirator, and protective clothing.
Lantern stand with a concrete base—instructions
1. Use your pouring buckets upright or create a sturdy, downward-flaring base by turning the bucket upside down. Lightly coat the inside of the mold with cooking oil. To save on concrete, replace part of it with a few stones.
2. Tape the upside-down bucket to the edges of the dish. Fill the bucket from the large opening with concrete mix until about two-thirds full. Tap the sides so it settles evenly and any air pockets are released.
3. Bend the end of the rod into a hook, for example by twisting it around wooden dowels screwed into a board. Hold the rod in place and ask someone to help with the twisting. Cut off 20 centimeters (8″) from the finished lantern rod.
4. Press the rebar into the concrete. Check from every angle that the rod is straight. Position a horizontal support board behind the bucket and tie the lantern rod to it while the concrete sets.
5. Remove the concrete from its mold after a couple of days. Cut the trash bin from the rim down to the opening to remove it entirely. You can reuse the split mold for later pours by taping it back together.
6. Lantern bases made of concrete and rebar will last outdoors through every season. Plastic buckets, bowls, or cones all work well as molds for these concrete bases.
