Studio rolling background setup advice

[AZ65]

Before this forum closes, do any of you that have studios, use aluminum poles on your hand crank rolling background setups (like Impact, etc)?
If so, did you get one piece straight poles (one length, not sections) and if so, what thickness did you get?
I hear the one that's in pieces from B&H sags, trying to prevent that as much as possible. Wanting to mount 10 or 12 feet (3 or 3.6m) length for hand painted canvas's.

 

[Ellis Vener]

Are the top end, are the canvases mounted on a heavy cardboard tube? If so that will take care of the sagging issues. If they are not stapling one end to a 2x4.

 

[Don89]

I have 12 foot long steel pipe from Home Depot. Very strong, doesn’t bend/droop. I think it’s a 2 inch diameter tube. I don’t use a hand crank though.

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I am the copyright owner of my work. Please don’t take or alter my images.

 

[Ed Shapiro]

My system is electrical (motor driven), but I have used a chain-driven roller system in the past. I find that anything with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 or 3 inches will sag. The ones I use presently use are hollow metal tubular rollers that easily support a 12-foot canvas background or any kind of seamless paper without warping or sagging.

In the past, I had improvised with ABS and PVC pipes, galvanized pipe, and hardwood dowels- the all tended to sag. Sections tended to come apart with continual use.

In my system, I securely tape the edge of the background material directly to the rollers without a cardboard or fiber core. I use high-adhesive tapes such as Gorilla T-Rex or Flex-Seal. This easily supports a 12-foot-wide heavy canvas that covers the wall and the floor to form a cyclorama type of background.

 

[AZ65]

ED, thanks that is what I was needing to know. I haven't purchased the tubes yet but was concerned about the very thing you mentioned and intend to tape the drop canvas's directly to the tube.
All the hand crank roller systems I have found are basically plastic and accept up to a 2 inch diameter tube. But I gather I could rig something up to downscale the tube opening to allow the insert to grab.

In my area, I'm only finding 16 gauge (1.2mm) tubing in stock and wondered if your tests used a similar gauge? I would imagine that makes a difference also.

 

[Don89]

Just checked…. 3 inch pipe is what I use.

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I am the copyright owner of my work. Please don’t take or alter my images.

 

[AZ65]

Don, you got a 12' L - 3 inch diameter steal pipe from Home Depot? How thick is it though? I'm looking for something that I can mount to a hand crank system that wont be very heavy.


How is yours mounted btw?

 

[AZ65]

OK then, I guess no one knows how thick their tubing is. I'll just have to wing it then.

Thanks all for the help.

 

[John Spaar]

I have a cowboy studio 3 roller and started with 2" aluminum 10 foot span and no real sag. Bought at Lowes or Home Depot.

 

[AZ65]

Thanks, those hardware stores don't carry that in my area unfortunately. I did find a tubing supply a few hrs away. I'm more curious how thick anyone's tubing was though.

 

[John Spaar]

I apologize. I believe I used galvanized pipe. Thin wall since aluminum was considerably more expensive and just as heavy.











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A purist at heart to protect the art

 

[amateurphotographer]

Before this forum closes, do any of you that have studios, use aluminum poles on your hand crank rolling background setups (like Impact, etc)?
If so, did you get one piece straight poles (one length, not sections) and if so, what thickness did you get?
I hear the one that's in pieces from B&H sags, trying to prevent that as much as possible. Wanting to mount 10 or 12 feet (3 or 3.6m) length for hand painted canvas's.

Hi, i have used both small (2cm) and larger (3cm) diameter aluminium sections. The smaller sections do sag if extended too long and when using a large black cloth, but they are secure, it won't snap. The 3cm tubes don't sag, also unless they are extended too long, say over 4m. I sometimes use the 3cm tubes over 5m and they still do sag with a 3m x7m cloth. But they are secure, i.e. won't snap.

If concerned about the sagging, you can add a mid-stand, and there are all types of connections devices around, just need time to search for the right device.

The manfrotto telescopic LL LB1119) backdrop pole is also quite rigged and with some thinking can be extended at either ends with short aluminium poles. This would take the length to around 4m.

I think using a mid prop is the best, also as you paint the canvas will become heavier to best to prepare in advance for the extra weight.

hope this helps

 

[AZ65]

Thanks @amatuerphotographer for taking the time to answer.
If I end up hanging them that way, I will for sure use a middle support stand.

Im looking to use a roller system with 12 ft long tubes. They require 2 - 3 inch diameter tubing. Looking to see what thickness of aluminum will work. Thanks again.

 

[AZ65]

OK thanks.

 

[AZ65]

Thought I should follow up on the initial question about what poles to use for a manual roller system from Impact (B&H brand) or similar.

I ended up tracking down a metal shop in the next city and purchased 2" (5.08cm) Schedule 40 aluminum pipe 12' (3.66m) long.
The total diameter of the 2" pipe is approx 2&1/3" (5.93cm) across.
Definitely lighter than steel and a bit pricey. But no sag so far, no matter what I throw on it.

I also tried the Fotoconic 10' (3m) Metal Tube Crossbar, that comes in 3 sections and lock each section in place with an expanding inner tube. But it still sagged quite a bit as the inner tubes were very short.