DIY Studio Backdrop Support System I Made for about $65
This is the DIY Studio Backdrop I made on Sunday June 22nd. I got the idea from www.DIYphotography.net. I’m sending out major props to Brian Zimmerman, who adapted the design from Todd Asher, home.mn.rr.com/rayzorfist/temp/. It was easier than all the instructions and drawings looked, probably because I just went with the dimensions that fit the lengths of PVC pipe available at my local Lowe’s. But what a great idea; and it was dead easy. Here’s the material list, I’m not hardware guru, so if I mis-term, something, e-mail me and I’ll take a picture of it.
(2) 5 foot lengths of 2” PVC Pipe
(4) 2 foot lengths of 2” PVC Pipe
(4) 5 foot lengths of 1.5” PVC Pipe
(2) 2” “T” Connectors
(2) 1.5” “T” Connectors
(1) 1.5” Straight Connector
(4) 2” Caps (you can get additional caps, but I didn’t find it esthetically necessary)
(2) 3” Cotter Bolts (not sure if that’s the name, but you’ll find them in the drawer with the cotter pins).
This all totaled about $65, I’m sure I could have shopped around, but I was on a mission to get it done for something I was doing today, Tuesday. It worked out well.
Anyway, here are the assembly instructions:
Insert 2 of the 2 foot lengths of PVC pipe into opposite ends of a 2” “T” and cap the ends with the Caps. Do this twice, and these are the feet!
Insert one 5’ length of 2” PVC pipe into the remaining hole of the “T”. Do this twice, those are the outer shell of your uprights!
Insert a 5’ length of 1.5” PVC pipe into each of the 2” Pipes you’ve already assembled. These make your uprights adjustable!
Place a 1.5” “T” securely at the top of each of your 1.5” pipes you inserted into the 2” pipes. ***This will keep them from sliding down into the 2” pipes and will start your drilling guide point provided you have everything together nice and tight.***
Now, drill a hole ever so slightly larger than the cotter pin STRAIGHT through the 2 pipes about 6.5 inches from the top of the 2” pipe. Very important to go straight through vs. getting any angle on it (think of the pins that will need to go straight through the holes and having to line them up. Do this on both sides).
From this point, you can measure on the 1.5” pipe for every height adjustment you want.
Next, you can either join the 2 – 5’ lengths of PVC pipe with the straight connector and have roughly a 10 foot wide backdrop, or go with one and have just over 5’ wide. Just insert the ends of whichever you select, into the “T”’ on your uprights.
Hang your backdrop and Voila!
I’m probably going to glue the 2’ sections in on the bottom supports. Still keeps it at 5’ in length unassembled. I’m going to see if my mom can make a couple of canvas bags to tote the pieces in. Not really heavy to me, and can certainly fit in my car disassembled, and of course partially assembled in the truck.
The final product adjusts from approximately 5’ in height to 7’9” with a 6’ stop in between, so I can use some crazy shower curtains I have for kid photos, parties, etc. You can’t use shower curtain hooks on the 1.5” pipe, but I have 3 or 4 different options. Tote ties, cut, and fused nylon rope (just burn both ends with a lighter and stick them together – after inserting them through the button holes or grommets of course, then slide them on the pipe), or just drape whatever it is, and tighten it over the frame to taste, with clamps. All seem to work well.
At this point, it adjusts from approximately 5’ wide to about 10’ wide, but I think I’m going to cut the 2 top support pipes in half and add connectors, so I can have something in between as well. I’ll have to make sure any hanging device I use can slide fairly easily over the connectors as well as the pipe itself. I’ve got a few different options for the backdrops, including a King sized duvet in a beautiful RED, but I can see myself hitting the fabric store this weekend for more goodies!
Have fun, and I’d definitely love to hear if anyone does this and of course see photos! I submit this with love and hugs for all my budding photographer friends. I’m paying the idea forward, and I hope you will too! =o) ****Photos of this project may be downloaded, copied, and passed along. These are my only images for which I am allowing this exception. All Rights to my other images are strictly reserved. Thank you for being respectful. I trust you will.***
DIY Studio Backdrop Support System I Made for about $65
This is the DIY Studio Backdrop I made on Sunday June 22nd. I got the idea from www.DIYphotography.net. I’m sending out major props to Brian Zimmerman, who adapted the design from Todd Asher, home.mn.rr.com/rayzorfist/temp/. It was easier than all the instructions and drawings looked, probably because I just went with the dimensions that fit the lengths of PVC pipe available at my local Lowe’s. But what a great idea; and it was dead easy. Here’s the material list, I’m not hardware guru, so if I mis-term, something, e-mail me and I’ll take a picture of it.
(2) 5 foot lengths of 2” PVC Pipe
(4) 2 foot lengths of 2” PVC Pipe
(4) 5 foot lengths of 1.5” PVC Pipe
(2) 2” “T” Connectors
(2) 1.5” “T” Connectors
(1) 1.5” Straight Connector
(4) 2” Caps (you can get additional caps, but I didn’t find it esthetically necessary)
(2) 3” Cotter Bolts (not sure if that’s the name, but you’ll find them in the drawer with the cotter pins).
This all totaled about $65, I’m sure I could have shopped around, but I was on a mission to get it done for something I was doing today, Tuesday. It worked out well.
Anyway, here are the assembly instructions:
Insert 2 of the 2 foot lengths of PVC pipe into opposite ends of a 2” “T” and cap the ends with the Caps. Do this twice, and these are the feet!
Insert one 5’ length of 2” PVC pipe into the remaining hole of the “T”. Do this twice, those are the outer shell of your uprights!
Insert a 5’ length of 1.5” PVC pipe into each of the 2” Pipes you’ve already assembled. These make your uprights adjustable!
Place a 1.5” “T” securely at the top of each of your 1.5” pipes you inserted into the 2” pipes. ***This will keep them from sliding down into the 2” pipes and will start your drilling guide point provided you have everything together nice and tight.***
Now, drill a hole ever so slightly larger than the cotter pin STRAIGHT through the 2 pipes about 6.5 inches from the top of the 2” pipe. Very important to go straight through vs. getting any angle on it (think of the pins that will need to go straight through the holes and having to line them up. Do this on both sides).
From this point, you can measure on the 1.5” pipe for every height adjustment you want.
Next, you can either join the 2 – 5’ lengths of PVC pipe with the straight connector and have roughly a 10 foot wide backdrop, or go with one and have just over 5’ wide. Just insert the ends of whichever you select, into the “T”’ on your uprights.
Hang your backdrop and Voila!
I’m probably going to glue the 2’ sections in on the bottom supports. Still keeps it at 5’ in length unassembled. I’m going to see if my mom can make a couple of canvas bags to tote the pieces in. Not really heavy to me, and can certainly fit in my car disassembled, and of course partially assembled in the truck.
The final product adjusts from approximately 5’ in height to 7’9” with a 6’ stop in between, so I can use some crazy shower curtains I have for kid photos, parties, etc. You can’t use shower curtain hooks on the 1.5” pipe, but I have 3 or 4 different options. Tote ties, cut, and fused nylon rope (just burn both ends with a lighter and stick them together – after inserting them through the button holes or grommets of course, then slide them on the pipe), or just drape whatever it is, and tighten it over the frame to taste, with clamps. All seem to work well.
At this point, it adjusts from approximately 5’ wide to about 10’ wide, but I think I’m going to cut the 2 top support pipes in half and add connectors, so I can have something in between as well. I’ll have to make sure any hanging device I use can slide fairly easily over the connectors as well as the pipe itself. I’ve got a few different options for the backdrops, including a King sized duvet in a beautiful RED, but I can see myself hitting the fabric store this weekend for more goodies!
Have fun, and I’d definitely love to hear if anyone does this and of course see photos! I submit this with love and hugs for all my budding photographer friends. I’m paying the idea forward, and I hope you will too! =o) ****Photos of this project may be downloaded, copied, and passed along. These are my only images for which I am allowing this exception. All Rights to my other images are strictly reserved. Thank you for being respectful. I trust you will.***