Thread: Graveyard Columns from Milk crates.

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For the last two years I've put out a cemetery fence with columns for Halloween. It definitely adds to the feel of a cemetery of course but it also helps keep kids from running through the lawn and potentially tripping over the wires and cables that light up the other decorations. Here are my columns from last year.

The old columns (version 1.0) were made out of 1x2 lumber and then covered with sheets of regular white beaded styrofoam and painted. They worked pretty well but they were heavy and a pain to store in the off season. So, last year I decided I would try and come up with a column that looked just as good but could be easily disassembled for storage. I think I might have figured something out and it centers around milk crates.

My thinking is that I could get some plastic milk crates and stack them up to whatever height and then create four panels (one for each side) that could be attached (and, of course, removed) easily. These panels would then be covered in foam board and decorated like normal. When Halloween is over, I can simply remove the side panels and stack (they should stack and store quite nicely) and then unstack the milk crates and use them for storing other Halloween decorations.

I have the basic structure done. I wrote a blog posting about it on my blog for those interested.

Here is a photo of the basic structure as of now:






We'll see how it turns out!

Great idea! I'm looking at doing something like this but maybe up to 8 ft tall (with an arch over top) & I need to be able to break it down & store it easily. This method might just work.

How are you attaching them to each other / the crates? This is something I'm not sure of as yet.

Originally Posted by wackychimp

How are you attaching them to each other / the crates? This is something I'm not sure of as yet.

I don't have the crates attached together yet - but I'm sure I'll need to. I initially was thinking of just drilling a few holes in the lip around the top and bottom and use a small screw with a nut to attach them together into one large column.

This is a great idea! We have two columns (1x2 form and then blue foam board), the inability to disassemble them makes storage and movement a pain. Plus we have additional totes for electrical cords and lights, this project fixes both problems!

I like this idea a lot.

looking good.

This is an interesting concept. I read the blog. Great idea to hold it together with the bungee cords. I was wondering how you were going to hold it together without screwing into the foamboard. Can hardly wait to see how the project pans out.

Just an update folks. Still working on things. I have one column built. Need to add some final moulding touches and what-not. Should have it done this weekend and will post pics.

So I got a little further on the columns today. Hopefully, by tomorrow, they will all be done other than the painting.

Here's a link to my blog entry, but I've posted the relevant photos below.















I don't like how the top came out - will probably redo it using all foam on top rather than have the plywood showing on the bottom. I didn't quite think things through on this one

A few years ago there was one other person I knew of on the internet who created milk crate pillar/arch for their graveyard. Since then, geocities has closed down so the site no longer exists. From what I remember though, he did not even make a wooden structure around it. I believe he glued the foam board directly to the milk crates, then used expanding foam inside of the milk crates to give it a little more stability and to have the creases come together. Them he took tools to it to 'chip' off the foam to make it look old, distressed and like it was weathered pretty bad, from there then he painted it.

I like what you did with the wooden structure because you plan on disassembling yours for storage reasons. But for those of you who do not want to spend the money on wood and tools, then 'zip ties' are a way you can secure the milk creates together and then put the foam board on all sides of the crates, glue or use expanding foam to secure it even more. This way you will not be able to disassemble the structure for storage, but its a cheaper alternative to using wood and buying tools which you might not have.

Your pillars are looking great and I cant wait to see them come along even further!