Float Building Tips
A few tips for building a fantastic float...
Getting an idea
To begin with, you need a clear idea of what you want to build, there are some old favourites such as Snow White, and quite commonly we have entries from recent films. A simple idea is to pick on a theme and build around it, for instance the Queen of Hearts. For this, you would have one focal point (the queen) and around it, pictures of playing cards, and labels of games such as 21's and snap. finally stapling playing cards randomly around the float is a cheap way to add an effect.
Choosing a platform
Most people do not own a 20 foot flat bed trailer, but really any size trailer, with or without sides would do. In fact the smaller the trailer, the easier it is to build! If you have a pick up truck, use of a flat bed lorry, or even a trolley, they can all be adapted to become a float. In fact a child's push chair makes an ideal float for a child to use by simply surrounding it with cardboard and painting it. Once they are decorated, the mechanics of whatever you use will be irrelevant.
Materials
Keeping it cheap is important, we wouldn't want anybody to be out of pocket, so before you go to your builder's merchant, look in the garage and see what can be adapted; see if there is anything at work that you could use. Old tins of emulsion paint are the best paints to use since they only need one coat. Cloth, old sheets and cardboard are favourites, as are Christmas decorations. Attach items with a staple gun, glue, and cable ties, but be sure the main structure is secured with screws. Try not to pay to much attention to fine detail, most of it would be missed in a procession.
Power
To enter the illuminated procession you must have a source of light. There are many different ways to do this.
- Generator - If you own, can borrow or even want to rent a generator, they are ideal since most generators can provide enough power to run several supplies for lighting and sound.
- Inverter - Inverters are becoming more popular now since they are powered from the car battery. They produce enough mains power to run a small string of rope lights, a few small spot lights or lots of Christmas tree lights. Even more so, they are silent, so if you were running a sound system, it would not be drowned out by a noisy generator. Inverters range in price from about 30 pounds upwards depending on the power you require.
- Car battery - If you can attach 12V lighting to your float, then powering it from a car battery is a good method. Be sure to use thick enough cable for the lights you are powering and use an-in line fuse to protect the circuit.
- Battery - This is a great way to decorate a very small float. Christmas tree lights generally run on 12V supplies, so putting 2 large 6V batteries in series and connecting it to a simple string of Christmas tree lights is a cheap and effective way of becoming illuminated.
Lighting
Rope lights are fast becoming a reliable way of illuminating queens floats, they also require little power to run small strings and can be purchased from most hardware shops.
Christmas tree lights are the cheapest way to illuminate a float. If you can get 12V or 6V DC sets that can run on batteries, even better.
Spot lights are great for lighting up a single feature, but remember that halogen lamps are power hungry, and can get very hot.
Another cheap way is to use shiny materials which will reflect light. Glitter, sequins and reflective paint will catch enough light from a hand held torch and surrounding street lights to illuminated a persons clothing.
Fluorescent tubes are generally impractical since they are so delicate and unless hidden well, can look quite unsightly.
Car spot lamps attached to a roof rack proved ample light, if you have a spare set, its a great way to illuminate a float.
Be sure that your lighting is able to cope in outdoor situations. If it should rain, fluorescent tube circuitry generally fails, and household bulbs pop if water touches them when they are hot.
Safety
One of the most important things to remember is the safety of those on the float, and the general public. Make sure that everything is well attached, and does not have any screws sticking out. If children are riding on the float, make sure they can not fall out. Avoid using naked flames on your float, and be sure that electrics are protected from bad weather. If you use a generator, ensure it is stored away from flammable materials. Inverters are becoming more popular to supply mains electric from a car battery, please make sure it is safely connected.
A Private Float Entry
Below are some pictures of a children's float using a high sided trailer. It was decorated with tree branches and foliage to give a jungle effect. The sign was painted on a piece of thin ply, and some old football netting draped around the sides. Attached were the children's action man toys. The boys already had action man costumes so the theme was built around something they already had a lot of, keeping the cost down. They had a CD player with action man music recorded from a computer game. The water guns were just for effect; no water is allowed to be squirted during processions. The total cost was less than 10 pounds, and because they won 2nd prize, they got their money straight back again. Most importantly, the kids had a great time in the procession.
Any more tips?
If you have any hot tips on float building, we'd love to pass them on, so please Contact Us so we can tell the rest of the world!
