My backdrop idea isn't working!

[MemoriestoYou]

I bought the pvc to make a backdrop. I have 5' and 2' sections to make it 7' tall and wide. It keeps falling apart! And I can't put it up alone because of the height and width. It has to be able to hold lightweight canvas. I'm back to square 1!

[ImLaughingMyGlassOff]

Some sort of duct tape on the inner pipe to create a tighter fit?

[LizArti]

A few questions:
What diameter PVC are you using?
Why are you putting together pieces, instead of using one 7' segment?
How is it being held together now?
Maybe 7' is too wide a span without having a support in the middle.

[TigersandDragons]

It could be that you bought pvc that was too thin (diameter-wise). 1/2" is very bendy. If you go up in thickness by one or two sizes( 3/4" or 1" pipe), it will be stronger.
What are you using to join the pieces together ? Perhaps you could find a short piece of thick dowel that fits snuggly inside the pipe, and use that to strengthen the connections.

Do you have any handy friends, relatives or neighbours that you could ask for help?

We have used PVC pipe in the past, but have switched over to 1/2" metal conduit steel galvanized pipe because it is strong and does not "droop". It is thin enough that you can cut it by hand with a hacksaw. The pipe connections include screws.

[MemoriestoYou]

It was 1.5" pvc. But I realized to make it very stable I would need four legs on each side and that would take up too much space. I can't glue the pieces together because then they will be too long for my car. I think I have come up with a better plan... a photography backdrop stand! It is the same price as what I paid for the pvc and looks a lot sturdier. http://www.amazon.com/LimoStudio-Adjustable-Background-Backdrop-AGG1112/dp/B00E6GRHBO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=...

[MemoriestoYou]

I even tried attaching the pvc to my grid wall legs for stability but then it listed and fell over and the pvc hit me in the ankle and now I'm sitting here icing a swollen ankle!

[TigersandDragons]

Aren't you using tube connectors for joining the pipe? That's what we use for hanging our curtains up over the front of the commercial pipe&drape systems.

That Amazon system - Keep in mind that the legs at the bottom are going to extend out past the 10 foot mark. So you will have to adjust the width of the bar to compensate for that and stay within your 10 foot wide space.

[MemoriestoYou]

Yep, I was! But it still wasn't stable. My booth is usually 9x9 so I'm going to go to 7' wide so I would have plenty of room.

[GlassyGrace]

Does it have to be 7 feet high? are you hanging things on it or just using it as a background. Mine is 3 sided but only 48" high. I can see over it but it does a great job blocking out neighbors because no one else has walls usually at the shows I do. And I used 1" pipe with pvc elbows, t's and couplings, but I hang a satin type fabric on it.

[MemoriestoYou]

I am hanging stuff off it. Canvas pieces with my shop name on them and they have clips on them for headbands. I wanted the display high enough for people to see my shop name. And I have bunting that will hang down to my 6' grid walls.

[MemoriestoYou]

Well, it turns out to be a good thing that it didn't work. I just found out that the upcoming show has a two hour window for me to unload, be totally set up and off campus. With how long it takes me to get me stuff inside the building, the added time of putting together this backdrop would put me way behind.

[ImLaughingMyGlassOff]

Yay to whomever shared the photo back wall idea. I just ordered one for probably half of the PVC construction and I hope it is sturdy!

[MemoriestoYou]

Let me know how it works Suzy. I talked with another vendor this weekend and she said she tried the PVC route too and it didn't work for her. BTW, my ankle STILL hurts from the piece of PVC that fell on it two weeks ago.

[Former_Member]

Just FYI, I just used a photo backdrop at my last show this past weekend. I liked that I was able to put my curtains on it, but it became unstable when I raised it to it's highest level, 8ft. Thankfully there was wood railings that I bungee cord to in order to make it more secure. This was my first time using it, so I will be home messing around with it trying to figure out the perfect height and weight.
https://www.facebook.com/EasilyLars/photos/pcb.922186487872631/922186337872646/?type=3&theater

[MemoriestoYou]

Lars, was it curving in on the sides or am I just seeing things?

BTW, I think my friend was at that show as a customer!

[Former_Member]

No it wasn't curving but it did have a little pimp lean, lol. I think it was all my fault for not really giving it the attention it needed before the show, lesson learned.

That's cool your friend was there, I wonder what she thought of the show.

[FunandBaubles]

Does anyone have any reviews on using the photography backdrop stand for holding a shop banner?

[TigersandDragons]

I was at a Comicon and saw quite a lot of artists using that system to display all their prints for sale behind them. Some had the highest quality, one guy had one that went as high as 12-15 feet!

We have inexpensive tripod photography bases that my partner bought off Ebay. We just added some metal conduit pipe and elbows, and hung up two narrow banners behind our booth. Our stand would only extend about 6.5-7 feet high. It worked out well.

[ImLaughingMyGlassOff]

I reverted to using my EZ up without the roof but with better fabric for the walls. I still own the photo wall and may use it someday.

[FunandBaubles]

Thanks! I just bought one, so we will see. :)