PVC "light stands" Ode to Kevin

If Kevin N knew how much he inspired me, and made my wife want to leave me (for spending so much money), he'd be shocked. :D)

If anyone has seen Kevn's 4ft vertical truss stands with Spandex and uplighting you'll appreciate what an inspiration his setups are. It got me thinking.

Since I'd like to do this as well. And, I'd be covering the truss stands with spandex, who said they need to be "aluminum"? Why not PVC? Why not make a 4ft triangle PVC "stand" to place a light on top? Cover with spandex, and no one knows the better. My PocketScans are only 10lbs each.

It could also be taken apart and stored. I'm not talking about EXACTLY like a truss with the angled bars. I'm talking a 4ft stand with a horizontal bar in the middle for support at the 2ft level.

What do you guys think?
http://hg-entertainment.com/Pictures/pvctruss.JPG

Wow! Thanks, Harry. I've come a long way since we met in Florida a couple of years ago.

If you do this, I would use nothing smaller than 2" schedule 40. You want something thickwalled and stable. It looks like you're trying to make a tripod in the picture. I would make a box out of it. Take a look in the furniture dept of Lowes or Home Depot and look at some square shelving. I have some that are basically 3' tall and are very stable.

This is where great ideas come from.....when we try stuff.

Keep it up, bro!

I guess it really boils down to getting the 4ft stand without the expense of aluminum trussing. Once I put spandex on them, who would know what was under the spandex.

I'll have to checkout Lowes. I want a design that will allow the placement of a small uplight in the bottom of the stand.

Kevin, are yours triangle or squared?

Mine are triangle. Your going to have to put some sort of base on them, unless you can fill the bottom pieces with sand. That could weigh it down enough, possibly.

I would think this would work....with no real issues. Post up pics when you are done!

I have the steel trusses, not aluminum, and they work well for my lights (Intimidator 1.2s). I gave $99 for them, I believe....shipping was the killer (around $50 per truss)....

I'm estimating about $30 for each tower + the spandex cover cost.

I have no idea where to get the spandex cover, or what it will cost. I love the look of the aluminum truss stands. I'm just trying for something I can take apart and put in a speaker stand bag if needed.

(I could always paint it silver). hmmmm

I sound so cheap don't I?

Here's something like I want it to look if making a box shape. But, with only ONE support beam in the middle at the 1/2 way point. And, of course, no glass.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/organizeeverything1_1991_920151870

For your base... you might want to start with a base specifically made for vertical truss.... then build your pvc based on the base itself.... you can get them pre-made from pssl and probably ben too.... then get pvc that would fit over it and using a locking pin to hold the base to the pvc so that it couldn't easily be pulled off without removing the locking pins...

one note... I would use more than just a center support in the framing.... this will reduce the possibility of the structure twisting from use and storage over time....

another key factor is longevity of the structure... remember plastic will get brittle over time so storage in extreme weather climates is not a good thing...

Harry,

you might look at http://www.mscdirect.com
and type in kee klamp for your search, you can purchase bases, t's pretty much what you need to utilize your pvc piping, and they break down via allen set screws, Speed rail, Kee Klamp and Nuline are the main 3 manufacturers msc carries on this type of product

Hope this helps you

I have a fear of the thing twisting on you... you may want to consider some cross bracing, diagonally... Sounds very cool, but do be careful...

hmmm. Twisting... Now I'm re-thinking the project. I ordered $30 worth of custom PVC fittings and they are on the way.

Maybe it would be worth simply buying two 4ft globaltruss stands. At least I could use them to hold a speaker if needed.

Otherwise. The PVC truss is only good for very lightweight lighting.

Don't waste your time and energy on it Harry. Just get a couple short sticks of truss, you'll be much happier in the end...

Don't waste your time and energy on it Harry. Just get a couple short sticks of truss, you'll be much happier in the end...

I was planning on doing just what Harry was doing. I didn't want "real" truss because of cost and the fact that I wanted to be able to disassmble.....

With plates, what will ( 2 ) 4 ft. sections cost?

Papa Deuce,
Probably about $600. Believe me. Once I get it built. I'll post pics. And, if it's not stable I wouldn't even think about recommending anyone else to use them.

Anyone have any links on where to get the spandex truss cover for a 4ft vertical truss?

I remember years ago, in my single days, I purchased a corner cab made out of plastic for my bathroom. Something like that may work out for what you're trying to do, the legs just pull off. Maybe look for something like that Harry. $600.00 is kind of steep, I'm getting the whole Global Arch System 1 for less than $700.00 delivered...

I don't know the weight limit on this, but would this work?:

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product/id/128824.do

You know. When I first clicked on that link, I thought, "are you kidding me"? Is this a joke? Within about 30 seconds I started thinking, "hmmm, that's not so bad". It is metal. And could be used for storage when not at a gig.

Interesting.

What I like about this board is that no one in this thread has once insulted the pvc idea. You guys actually were encouraging and building on the idea. I thank all of you for that. (Even though I'm not even sure about it). But, I appreciate your professionalism and courtesy.

That shelving would look silly. Just mount some truss on it's side to double squares of MDF covered in fabric or painted black.


You could replicate a truss using these fittings:
http://www.pexsupply.com/img/categoryImages/Tigre%20PVC%20Wyes.jpg

I remember years ago, in my single days, I purchased a corner cab made out of plastic for my bathroom. Something like that may work out for what you're trying to do, the legs just pull off. Maybe look for something like that Harry. $600.00 is kind of steep, I'm getting the whole Global Arch System 1 for less than $700.00 delivered...

Got a link Steve?:sqwink:

okay... I finished the stand. It's about 4ft high, and 12" on each side. (I made a box style). I went to the fabric store and bought spandex. Pictures to follow.

Total cost so far:
PVC pipes and fittings $40
Spandex: $9

I still need to make a base. And have the spandex sewn into a tube and made fire-resistant.

I did clip the spandex on to see how it looked with a colorspash 200b in there, and it was awesome.


Again.. Pictures are coming soon.

Here's the fabric before I had the tailor fit it. Inside is a colorsplash 200b. It's 4ft high. Each side is 12".

Are you still planning on sitting anything on top of that?

BTW it looks nice and I bet even nicer once the fabric is tailored to it.

I have to build a base. I'm not sure what dimensions to make it so that the tower doesn't tip.

And, I still need a small wooden "plate" for the top to put "anything" on the tower. Maybe a light. I was thinking of one of those LED mirror balls. But, they look to much like something you see in Spencer Shop in the mall.

Darn you Kevin for getting me on a roll with this stuff. :D)

AWesome Harry,
ITs stuff like this we will need to do to find a way to battle economic down times. Good Show.

WOW! I'm 99% done. Instead of creating a top plate, I created a "resting bar" for the light to stay on so that the uplight can shine right through to the ceiling. Check out the uploaded pictures in ourdjtalk's photo gallery under Harry's Pictures II. I am REALLY happy with this little project. I still have to make a small base and electical tie the AC cord to the inside of the truss. But, it is so lightweight.

Here are a couple of them.
http://www.ourdjtalk.com/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=335&d=1205603498

http://www.ourdjtalk.com/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=336&d=1205603511

Ran into a little glitch. I mounted the colorsplash Jr's directly to the wood baseplates. They looked great until...

I tried to hook up DMX cables to them and there was NO WAY they are going to fit in back of the colorsplash Jr.'s with them being mounted on the base pointing up. The DMX cables need about 3 inches of clearance between the back of the light and the base. There's practically no clearance.

Do they make 90 degree XLR adapters? I don't want to cut the cables and solder new ends. I just need adapters.

How's this? There are more photos of this setup in the gallery under Harry's Pictures III.

http://www.ourdjtalk.com/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=341&d=1206706285

http://www.ourdjtalk.com/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=349&d=1206715839

Ran into a little glitch. I mounted the colorsplash Jr's directly to the wood baseplates. They looked great until...

I tried to hook up DMX cables to them and there was NO WAY they are going to fit in back of the colorsplash Jr.'s with them being mounted on the base pointing up. The DMX cables need about 3 inches of clearance between the back of the light and the base. There's practically no clearance.

I'm making longer brackets. :sqbiggrin:

Just curious Harry, is the overhead light orange or is this some type of bad white balance?

Hirepower,
HOW did you make that bracket? Details!!

Papa,
It's bad white balance. I'm terrible at trying to work a camera when I take it out of "auto" mode.

Harry,

I took 1.4 ga. steel and cut it to the correct width (~13/16") and then cut these strips 16-1/4" long. Then I bent them making a u-bracket that is 5-5/8" long on each side x 5" wide.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I'm mounting these brackets on the same ga. steel cut in ~ 7" x 5 3/4" retangles. These plates will have 4 rubber feet mounted to them, inset 3/4" from the edge. I will use this setup in triangle truss for uplighting like Steve Lynch, Kevin Nichols and you.

I will then construct a three-sided wooden box that has a dado cut 1-1/2" from the bottom. That way I can slide the plate/u-bracket with the colorsplash mounted on them into the box for uplighting against the wall. Thanks to ESC Bill for the inspiration!

I'll start my own thread as I get farther along in the construction.