How To Build A Cross; The Stunning 12-Foot Cross

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Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to build a beautiful and stunning 12′ cross.

This cross project took us about 30 hours to build. And let me tell you it has been the best 30 hours of our lives.

Our Story

For several years we wanted to build a lighted Christmas Cross for our backyard. It seemed so perfect and would be visible from a wide area, including Bull Shoals Lake.

We decorate the cross with about 2500 mini LED multicolored Christmas lights. The cross is very, what can I say, striking to the eye.

We have the lights plugged into a timer so they come on automatically every night around dusk and turn off around bedtime.

One time as we were visiting the local hardware store the owner asked us if we were the ones with the lighted cross in our yard. Naturally, we said, “yes”. The owner proceeded to say that there was a couple in their store just the day before getting supplies to build a cross like the one they saw in the local newspaper.

Oh, I failed to say, the local newspaper got wind of our cross and they called and interviewed my husband and wrote a story about our cross.

This cross is very special to us. Exactly 15 minutes after we completed building the cross a bald eagle circled over at low altitude. That was the icing on the cake! It was like we got approval from above!

Prior to building the cross we discussed keeping it up for the Christmas season and then take it down.

We fell in love with the cross so much that we keep it up all year long! So if you’re ever on the Bull Shoals lake fishing or boating you can see the lit cross at the top of the hill in Heck Hollow on Bull Shoals lake across from Point 13, roughly the halfway mark between Pontiac and Theodosia.

Needless to say, after getting the cross up there was no way we would be taking it down after Christmas. Just getting it up was a slight task. I can’t imagine taking it down and putting it up and taking it down and so on …..

Cross Dimensions

To build the perfect cross you want to make sure the dimensions are correct or you’ll have a misshaped and odd looking cross.

The cross is 12 feet tall and six feet across. The cross-member is 3 feet from the top of the cross board to the top of the cross.

Step-By-Step Instructions On How To Build A Cross

Material Needed

Cross

• 1 12-foot long 6×6 simulated cedar
• 1 8-foot long 6×6 simulated cedar (trimmed to 6-foot long)
• 2 (3/8-in x 1 1/2-inch) flat washers
• 2 (4-in) TimberLOK Fasten Master LOK Line bolts
• 1 (1/2-in x 4-in) stainless steel lag eye bolt (used to lift the cross)

Base

• 10 x 10 x 1/8-in thick metal plate
• 4 (1-in angle iron) 12 inches each
• 4 (1-in metal strap)(4 1/2-in long x 3/16-in thick
• 1 (3/8-in) coarse thread tap (to create threads for stabilizer bolts)
• 2 (3/8-in x 1-in) coarse thread bolts (to stabilize the wood base)
• 4 (1/2-in x 4-in) stainless steel coarse thread eye bolts
• 4 (1/2-in) Grade 8 lock washers
• 8 (1/2-in) Grade 8 coarse thread nuts
• 2 80# bags concrete mix
• 1 can grey Rust-oleium Spray Paint (optional)

Assemble Cross

Carefully make a notch in the center of the six foot cross board. Make it the width of the twelve foot board and half the depth. We first used the circular saw to make the end cuts half the depth and then a chainsaw to cut out the notch. You can use other techniques but this is what we had on hand.

NOTE: Since each board may have different dimensions be sure to measure your boards carefully. The saying goes: measure twice and cut once.

Repeat the same technique on the twelve foot board three feet from the end.

Put the boards together and screw in the two TimberLOK Fasten Master LOK Line bolts and flat washers.

Drill a 3/8- in hole about 3 inches deep into the center of the top of the 12-ft board. Then screw in the stainless steel lag eye bolt. We used this bolt to lift the cross when it was ready to stand up.

Assemble Base

Assembling the base will require welding, wearing a welding helmet , welding gloves and tapping threads. Although painting is optional it is recommended to extend the life of the cross and avoid rusting.

Draw a 6-in square onto the metal plate and then weld the angle iron pieces to the corners (see below photo).

Drill 1/2-in hole at 1-in from the edge at the center on all four sides of the 10×10 metal plate. Then drill a 5/16-in centered hole into two of the four metal straps. These are the two holes that need to be tapped with 3/8-in coarse thread for the stabilizer bolts.

Then weld the straps about 4 inches from the top of the angle iron to create a square support structure. Make sure the two straps with the drilled holes are directly across from each other.

Now’s the time to put a protective coat of spray paint.

Screw the two bolts into the metal straps.

Assemble the four eye bolts, coarse thread nut, lock washer and another nut (see picture below). These eye bolts will be sunk into the concrete for good structural support.

Now, take the welded base and slide it onto the bottom of the cross. It may be too tight and if it is just shave a little of the wood away until it fits.

Prepare Concrete and Mount Base

Before this next step there are a few questions to ask yourself first:

• Where will the permanent location for the cross be?
• Call the proper authorities so they can come and check for power/water lines prior to digging a hole.
• Dig a hole around 16-18 inches deep and approximately 16 inches wide. The 10 x 10 should be flush with the ground.

Mix concrete accordingly to package instructions and place prepared concrete in hole in the ground.

Gently push the eye bolts into the concrete until the 10 x 10 base is flush with the ground. Making sure the base is level. Allow to dry overnight or 24 hours.

Lifting the cross

The cross will be very heavy at this point. We used our Kubota tractor and a fork lift extension on our bucket and lifted it up by the eye bolt. If you don’t have a tractor get some buddies to help.

For us, lifting the cross was a magical and a very touching moment! It was cool and scary all at the same time.

Once the cross was lifted off the ground it began to sway a bit which was the scary part. But, we slowly and carefully drove the tractor to the instillation location.

Prepare to set the cross

Setting the cross takes some time because of it’s weight, awkwardness and the attempt to be extremely careful not to disturb the concrete base. So, take your time and do not be in a hurry.

Assess the situation. Move closer.

“Move a little closer”, “lift a little higher” and “whoa” are some of the things that will be said when setting the cross in place.

Now that the cross is in place tighten the two bolts on the metal straps. Note: These bolts may need to be re-tightened in about a year so be sure to check them.

If you plan to decorate the cross, we used about 2500 mini light bulbs which figured to about 25 boxes of 25 foot long multi colored LED Christmas lights or you can use 5 reels.

The first year after displaying the cross we removed the lights and weather treated the wood with Thompson’s Water Seal Signature Series Stain & Sealer Semi Transparent (Natural Cedar color).

The cross is not only a magical moment for us but the dogs love it too!

We hope these instructions are helpful for your cross project. If you have any questions please reach out to us. We hope you enjoy your new cross as much as we enjoy ours!

I AM EXCITED YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JETT’S STUNNING 12-FOOT CROSS AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW YOURS TURNS OUT SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO BUILD IT!

***Please come back and share your comments and tell my readers how you like this project.***

Some products used or recommended for this project: