How To Secure & Wind Protect Your Home Depot 12 Foot Skeleton Werewolf & Witch Halloween Decoration

2022 VIDEO UPDATE! I learned a lot from my giant 12 Ft Inferno Pumpkin setup last year so I decided it was time to update our video! Make sure to protect yours from the wind & thieves! Take a look, they’re even more secure now! So you got lucky and found a 12’ Inferno Pumpkin, 12ft Skeleton, 9.5’ animatronic Immortal Werewolf, or the Hovering Witch and your ready to set them up but how do you tie it down!? You don’t want the wind to catch him, blow him over, and break him or for someone to steal him! We’re going to show you how to avoid disaster using a combination of corkscrew stakes, padlocks, Guy wires and sandbags! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
#homedepothalloween #12footskeleton #halloween #immortalwerewolf #homedepothalloween2022 #homedepothalloweendisplay
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Links to the materials I used:
Locks: amzn.to/3zAKDpM
16” Stakes: amzn.to/3ovIfu3
10” Stakes: amzn.to/3qSfCwc
Sand Bags: amzn.to/3S5NQoE
Eye Hooks: amzn.to/3Bb3DLl
Carabiner Clips: amzn.to/3wYcLBF
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@Postproductioneditor]

Your original inferno video helped me secure our first 12 footer. I’m glad to see you’re adding additional guy wire too. So many people rely on heavy objects to secure against bad weather, not thinking that the base is only as strong as it’s weakest link, the ankles. Guy wires definitely give 12 footers a chance when things get windy.

[@JackulasCastle]

That’s awesome, I’m glad to hear it helped! Yeah I spent too many nights last year watching that thing sway in the wind when a storm rolled through! They are much more stable this year with the added wires.

[@susanharris6959]

Thanks. We have the 12 ft skeleton and with the 100 mile gusts we are getting, I will be using your tips!

[@JackulasCastle]

Your welcome! I’m glad the video helped! Definitely focus on those guy wires, they’ll do the best job of keeping him in place

[@bigskiesmontana7267]

Thanks for this great tutorial. I bought 3 of the skeletons because I wanted them marching across the lawn and thru graveyard. What I DIDN'T consider when I purchased them was how they would fare in weather. I just wanted those giant skeletons. So I live 30 miles from Glacier National Park and our winds can get horrendous. We had a catastrophic hailstorm in July and the entire neighborhood needs new roofs, screens, shakes, shutters, windows etc. So I may have to rethink my vision and place them close to the house and trees for some protection. This video is a lifesaver for helping me make sure they fare the winds. I'm like you...I would be looking outside whenever the wind blows. Cheers and thanks

[@JackulasCastle]

Thanks! Your welcome, I hope it helps with the crazy weather! The winds you can probably manage with enough weights and wires but the hail would definitely be a problem. Hopefully the trees will provide enough protection. We’ve had a couple giant hail storms here, fortunately not around Halloween, and they can do some crazy damage to everything in the yard. Good luck with your skeleton march, it’s going to look awesome! Let us know how it goes!

[@Saulitooo]

you shouldn’t worry about that because they are supposed to be down during wind storms they are just cheap metal and plastic they aren’t that heavy and can’t be trusted with any stakes or wires they will still fall in winds or pieces will fly off. overall just lay them down during storms for the best protection

[@JackulasCastle]

@@Saulitooo If your on top of the weather enough to make sure you get yours down in time that’s a great option. Personally I don’t want to run outside and lower them every time there’s a chance of a pop up storm. With the stakes and wires mine have survived strong winds and storms several times with no issue. There are lots of options for these big guys, you just have to pick what’s right for you

[@Saulitooo]

@@JackulasCastle it’s not for little winds it’s recommended for winds over 30 miles per hour that’s not very frequent the best option is to just put sand bags and heavy rocks and wish for the best. You should still know when a BIG storm is gonna hit and not a small one with rain and light winds even the 12 footers in thunderstorms are fine just not in high winds

[@JackulasCastle]

@@Saulitooo I think it just depends on your situation and what your willing to deal with. Lowering them is a great option if that’s what you want to do but properly securing them can be a safe option as well. Personally once mine go up I don’t want to deal with it again till it’s time to put them away so I choose to use the stakes and wires. Just different ways to accomplish the same goal of keeping the big guys safe

[@jbrown9672]

Great video! Very helpful.

[@JackulasCastle]

Thank you so much!🎃🎃🎃

[@49Dsf]

YOU ARE AMAZINGGGGGGGG! Thanks I will try this

[@JackulasCastle]

Hahaha thank you!! I hope it helps!🎃🎃🎃

[@Minnesotaqueen1969]

thank you so much for this information

[@JackulasCastle]

Your welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@jelliefisher]

thank you! i’m trying to convince my dad buying it but i live in chicago and the winds here are horrible. he said he’ll look in to it mean while ! thanks for the help :D

[@JackulasCastle]

Your welcome, thanks for watching! The winds are scary with these guys but with the right weights and wires they can be made pretty secure. Good luck with your dad, I hope he gets you one!

[@JackulasCastle]

Links to the materials I used: Locks: amzn.to/3zAKDpM 16” Stakes: amzn.to/3ovIfu3 12” Stakes: amzn.to/3KMZtxx Sand Bags: amzn.to/3S5NQoE Eye Hooks: amzn.to/3Bb3DLl Carabiner Clips: amzn.to/3wYcLBF Guy Wires: amzn.to/3PXkwSz As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@satyr73]

Do you have links to the guyline wires?

[@JackulasCastle]

@satyr73 These are the ones we used: amzn.to/3PXkwSz As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@FadedHero636]

I bought the steel rebar anchors bring the number up to 8 anchors. I also placed old tires on top of the base. I believe your idea is great for areas where someone would try to kidnap them.

[@JackulasCastle]

Ive heard a lot of people have had success with the rebar anchors, I havent had a chance to try them yet. Great idea with the tires! Thanks, It would definitely take some serious work to kidnap this guy!

[@dallasgirl3470]

I did something similar then sometime asked me how long would it take for someone to cut through the base?

[@JackulasCastle]

@@dallasgirl3470 It probably wouldn’t take em long but it would definitely slow them down and make a lot of noise. If someone’s going to run off with my stuff I at least want to make sure they have to work for it!

[@kurtcult1908]

So I just read that the stakes that come with it were tested for up to 24 mph. Anything over that you need to secure it more. I have a bunch of stakes but no guide wire. I may add one this week. Mine is close to house which does block some wind. Thanks for the idea for the hook to house.

[@JackulasCastle]

Keep a really close eye on the weather if you only use the stakes that came with it. Ive seen an awful lot of pictures of broken skeletons on the ground with the stakes that came with it dangling off the base. They just dont have any grip and slide out of the ground easily. If you do go with those stakes wires will definitely help but you may want to add some weight to the bottom as well. When I put up my mine I used nylon rope but it stretched way too much so I couldn't get it tight. I switched over to this cable and it worked great, heres the link if you want to check it out. amzn.to/3RQA1J6 Your welcome, I hope it helps! The house wiring is nice because you dont have to worry about running into it like the ones staked in the yard. The one I have in the yard has almost taken me out a couple of times! In had to hang some creepy cloth on it so I could see it better! Happy Halloween!

[@DP-ch9jn]

Hi could you please let me know where you hooked the wires to the inferno? I'm having trouble locating a spot on him to hook my wire to. Thanks

[@JackulasCastle]

I ran them through the openings in his waist

[@TheAlamosaddles]

guy wires are correct. A bunch of weight on the stand is not. Weight on the stand is the reason for busted lower leg support welds.

[@JackulasCastle]

I’m not sure why weight on the base would cause broken leg support welds if you have it properly secured. We have never had any issue with ours in high winds with the base tightly secured and the body secured with guy wires. However if it’s working for you without go with it, I just don’t like seeing these guys damaged unnecessarily.🎃🎃🎃

[@johnlynch9921]

Hi! What type of cable are you thinking for the guy wires (thickness? coated?). Thank you for the videos...great info!

[@JackulasCastle]

This is what we ended up using amzn.to/3PXkwSz . It's worked great for us so far! Thanks and thanks for watching!!! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@juanhinojos2650]

West Texas winds are unpredictable.... we have had much success with 50 lb. Fish line

[@JackulasCastle]

Great idea! I started with nylon rope but it stretched too much so I couldn’t get it tight. I moved on to this steel cable amzn.to/3RQA1J6 and have been really happy with it. I may have to give the fishing line a try on some of my other props!

[@EricAltmanBeyondtheedgeradio]

I purchased the materials you suggested to anchor down my 12 ft skeleton. My questions are what type of guide wire did you get, where did you get it and does the skeleton have any points on the torso or upper body where they can be fastened to so I can secure him? Thanks!

[@JackulasCastle]

I just used some nylon rope that I had in the garage but unfortunately that type of rope stretches. I plan on upgrading to some thinner steel cable, it won’t stretch and will be harder to see. He has a metal loop on his back like the werewolf and inferno that you can connect to. You may also be able to go around his waist, but I don’t have the skeleton so I’m not positive on the waist as a connection point.

[@DP-ch9jn]

Hi where do you find those type of wire/strings to secure? And what are they called? Thanks.

[@JackulasCastle]

This is what we ended up using amzn.to/3PXkwSz . It's worked great for us so far! Thanks and thanks for watching!!!

[@brandon32689]

I bought the 12 foot skeleton but thinking about returning it. My yards small and it’s so windy here I don’t want to go threw all this lol

[@JackulasCastle]

Hahaha yeah its definitely a lot of work, but they sure do look great once their up!

[@dallasgirl3470]

question? if you activate the timer on the pumpkin 6 hrs on 18hrs off, do you still have to push it's power on button? Also i used trampoline anchors that are 16 inches and i'm telling you they aren't going anywhere... since you have the locks do you still need the sandbags?

[@JackulasCastle]

No you won’t have to hit the button as long as the power doesn’t go off. If your power goes out or you have it on a timer and it goes off you will have to hit it again. Yeah those 16” stakes are crazy, it about killed me getting them in the hard ground here! I put the sandbags on there just to keep the base from shifting or flexing. The locks still allow the base a little wiggle room. Not sure that it’s necessary but since I already had them I figured it couldn’t hurt

[@jnelly814]

I have the skeleton and wolf in my yard and just bought a pack of trampoline stakes and put 4 or 5 on each of the bases. I'm not really concerned with theft or wind though.

[@JackulasCastle]

Hopefully that’ll keep yours nice and secure. I’m not all that worried about theft but those high winds definitely made me a little nervous last year. They never hurt him, he just swayed a bit but I got tired of looking out the window all the time.

[@cyberghost_5042]

Do you remove their arms at all during winds or storms?

[@JackulasCastle]

I don’t, I’ve never had them be an issue on the inferno pumpkin but I haven’t had the wolf in a wind storm yet. I’ll let you know what happens if one comes through

[@inezcavallaro]

What about the witch? Your video says how to secure the witch but I didn’t see her. Curious where everyone is securing guy lines to her since she’s shaped so much differently.

[@JackulasCastle]

I actually don’t have the witch but from looking at her I would assume the base of her body might be the best place

[@jameswanamingo8432]

How did you get the back screw in. The thread isn't normal like most screws and it seems pretty loose. We can only get the first loop in then it just spins.

[@JackulasCastle]

I assume your talking about the screw with the ring on the end that goes in his back, if so that definitely doesn’t sound normal to me. Ours was a little hard to get going but once it was in it’s not loose. There may be a problem with the threads on yours. I would call the help line in the instructions and see I they can send you a new part

[@jameswanamingo8432]

Ok thanks!

[@jasonray9056]

Super helpful! Are they called guide wires, not “guy” wires though?

[@JackulasCastle]

Thanks, I’m glad it helped! As weird as it sounds they are actually called guy wires. A guy-wire, guy-line, guy-rope, or stay, also called simply a guy, is a tensioned cable designed to add stability to a free-standing structure

[@jasonray9056]

I learned something new today. Thank you!

[@christopherstoddard9414]

Are these stakes easy to take out of the ground?

[@JackulasCastle]

Unfortunately not where we live, the ground is like concrete so I just leave them there year round

[@furiousphoenix7526]

How do you protect them from heavy rain ?

[@JackulasCastle]

I don’t, fortunately the rain has never caused mine any issues and they’ve gotten a lot of it

[@briansmad1]

How to protect them from the elements.

[@JackulasCastle]

They won’t be damaged by the rain, wind is the main concern 🎃💀🎃💀

[@braydenl8313]

So what you did last year wouldn’t work?

[@JackulasCastle]

Everything from last year worked fine, in fact most of it’s the same. I just found myself reading a lot of horror stories about 12 footers breaking at the ankles no matter how well the base was held down. Personally mine held up fine in the wind but I found myself constantly checking on it. By adding the guy wires this year the upper body is supported as well and I think it will solve any issues someone might have with incredibly high winds snapping one off at the ankles. I’m also hoping it will make me spend less time looking out the window!

[@braydenl8313]

@@JackulasCastle okay I just got one this year and got all the materials from your first vid on how to secure them. I’m only putting him up for 2 weeks hopefully all is good I don’t really have any trees or wood on my house to attacked the guy wires unfortunately.

[@JackulasCastle]

@@braydenl8313 As long as you don’t have any wind thats too crazy I think you’ll probably be fine. Mine went through several storms last year with no problems. If you do start worrying about it and decide you need the wires you can always attach them to a few more stakes in the ground. Hopefully your 2 weeks will be storm free

[@kevinedwards6093]

Where do you live that people are running away with 12’ decorations??? 😢

[@JackulasCastle]

Fortunately I don’t know of it happening around me but sadly enough I’ve seen video of it happening to others. Personally I’m far more concerned about wind than theft

[@Stiff_Richards]

thats so hardcore you wont be able to get them out lol

[@JackulasCastle]

Hahaha no kidding! I didn’t even try to take the stakes out last year! They were so hard to get in there that they’re staying put!