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knockdown display shelving for shows

updated sat 6 mar 99

 

Bruce Girrell on sat 27 feb 99

Just cruised through the Clayart archives and the internet in general
looking for any kinds of knockdown shelving system for displaying
pottery at shows and came up pretty dry. Most of the archive contents
were requests for information on how to make or where to get some nice
looking displays.

At the risk of being the target of a few flames for rehashing an old
topic, I'd like to ask again:

Would anyone out there be willing to share their tried and true display
shelving system?

I saw a number of recommendations for stacking cardboard boxes, but I'm
looking for something that looks nice and is more durable than cardboard
boxes, yet is easily set up and broken down (but not broken down by the
weight of the pottery).

Thanks,

Bruce and Lynne Girrell
in cold Northern Michigan, dreaming of all those people oohing and
ahhing in our booth this summer.

Thonas C. Curran on sun 28 feb 99

knockdown shelving system for displaying
> pottery at shows
> --request from Bruce and Lynne Girrell

Dear fellow cold weather Girrells,
About 3 years ago I started using a combination of several wooden
shelving units (the ones whose shelves flip down for flat storage).
They are not cheap, they are not lightweight, but they work.
I buy mine at Ames discount store when they are on sale for $40,
although the last two have not been as good quality as the originals.
They are regularly $60 at Ames (oak or natural finish), but I am sure
similar units must be available elsewhere. In fact, my son has higher
quality units which cost him a good deal more than my bookshelves.
I stack the bookcase units one on top of the other, giving a 6 1/2'
height. Because they can be configured so many different ways, the
units are flexible for a lot of different display situations. Sometimes
I fasten a shelf between two freestanding units, sometimes I leave
storage space behind display, sometimes I use the whole 10' x 10' or
whatever I have. Oh yes, I put fabric in back of the units, or you
could use pipe and drape. You need a mini van or big wagon when you use
them, but it's worth it, I think. I have 14 at last count. Oh yes,
tallest pots have to go on top shelf, since they are not adjustable.
Hope this helps. Carolyn

lpskeen on sun 28 feb 99

Bruce,

At any Lowe's or Home Despot you can find "ladder" looking things made
of 2x2's about 6 feet tall and a little more than 12" wide between
verticals. There are generally 4 rungs and they are held together with
brace things. We were not able to find any that sat on the floor
squarely, so Ginny made mine. She made 6 of the ladder things and
hinged them together in pairs so they open up in an L shape and stand by
themselves. Then we have 6 foot 1x12's that are the shelves. She
drilled holes thru the shelves and rungs and we put bolts thru the holes
with wing nuts to hold it all together. Takes about 15 minutes or so to
put the entire thing together.

Our tent is a 10x10 EZup, and the shelving unit is L shaped, so if you
are standing at the front looking into the booth, there is a ladder
assembly at the back on the left and right, then another ladder assy. in
the front on either the left or right depending on how traffic or shade
flows... Over head view looks like this, where X is the ladder support
and dotted lines are shelves:


X---------------X
|
|
|
|
|
|
X

Gotta love that ascii art....
--
Lisa Skeen ICQ# 15554910
Living Tree Pottery & Soaps http://www.uncg.edu/~lpskeen
FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!!! It comes bundled with the software.
The Bill of Rights - (void where prohibited by law)

Vicki Katz on sun 28 feb 99

The best thing I have seen as shelving for booth space for potters: get those
ladder/type peices from your Home Depot/Lowe's - use hinges to join several
together - so that they 'zig-zag' - they will collapse flat. Next, lace
lumber through the rungs of the structure for display purposes. I have not
bought his system yet, but when I do booth spaces sales again, I intend to.
Vicki Katz

amy parker on mon 1 mar 99

>Would anyone out there be willing to share their tried and true display
>shelving system?

Last spring, our Clay Guild had our shelving collapse at a show. One of the
vendors was nice enough afterwards to give me some digital photos of his
shelf system. I don't have plans, but still have the pictures. Since I can't
attach these .jpg files to CLAYART mail, I will have to forward them to
individual addresses. If you want them please e-mail me directly. These
are courtesy of Bill & Susan Freeman from Birmingham, AL.

The system involves side pieces that have permanently attached cleats with
pre-drilled holes for bolts. It uses nuts that have spiky things that dig
into the cleats and are not removed. He uses a cordless electric drill to screw
the bolts into the nuts. The sides are made of plywood, as are the shelves.
It disassembles flat for transport & is incredibly sturdy. Could be made
whatever sizes you want.


amy parker Lithonia, GA
amyp@sd-software.com

Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on tue 2 mar 99

Vicki--
Do these "ladder/type pieces" exist as ladders, or do you have to build them
from dowels and frame lumber? I looked around my local Home Depot and couldn't
find anything that looked like a ladder that wasn't a ladder...
Sandy

-----Original Message-----
From: Vicki Katz [SMTP:VandRKatz@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 1999 1:33 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Knockdown display shelving for shows

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
The best thing I have seen as shelving for booth space for potters: get those
ladder/type peices from your Home Depot/Lowe's - use hinges to join several
together - so that they 'zig-zag' - they will collapse flat. Next, lace
lumber through the rungs of the structure for display purposes. I have not
bought his system yet, but when I do booth spaces sales again, I intend to.
Vicki Katz

Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on tue 2 mar 99

Vicki--
Do these "ladder/type pieces" exist as ladders, or do you have to build them
from dowels and frame lumber? I looked around my local Home Depot and couldn't
find anything that looked like a ladder that wasn't a ladder...
Sandy

-----Original Message-----
From: Vicki Katz [SMTP:VandRKatz@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 1999 1:33 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Knockdown display shelving for shows

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
The best thing I have seen as shelving for booth space for potters: get those
ladder/type peices from your Home Depot/Lowe's - use hinges to join several
together - so that they 'zig-zag' - they will collapse flat. Next, lace
lumber through the rungs of the structure for display purposes. I have not
bought his system yet, but when I do booth spaces sales again, I intend to.
Vicki Katz

Linda Christen on tue 2 mar 99

Bruce and Lynne,

A couple years ago someone posted to clayart the idea of using two six
foot ladders. Set them up like and "A" and slide 1"x 10" x 8' boards
between the steps. I've used this idea for the past 2 years and have
gotten many compliments on it. It is simple to store and quick to set up
as well as not very expensive.
Even though this is a topic that has been discussed in the past, I think
it would be nice to see if there are any newer ideas out there!

Linda

>Just cruised through the Clayart archives and the internet in general
>looking for any kinds of knockdown shelving system for displaying
>pottery at shows and came up pretty dry. Most of the archive contents
>were requests for information on how to make or where to get some nice
>looking displays.
>
>Would anyone out there be willing to share their tried and true display
>shelving system?
>
>I saw a number of recommendations for stacking cardboard boxes, but I'm
>looking for something that looks nice and is more durable than cardboard
>boxes, yet is easily set up and broken down (but not broken down by the
>weight of the pottery).
>
>Thanks,
>
>Bruce and Lynne Girrell
>in cold Northern Michigan, dreaming of all those people oohing and
>ahhing in our booth this summer.
>
Linda Christen
Midgaard Works


Linda Christen on tue 2 mar 99

Bruce and Lynne,

A couple years ago someone posted to clayart the idea of using two six
foot ladders. Set them up like and "A" and slide 1"x 10" x 8' boards
between the steps. I've used this idea for the past 2 years and have
gotten many compliments on it. It is simple to store and quick to set up
as well as not very expensive.
Even though this is a topic that has been discussed in the past, I think
it would be nice to see if there are any newer ideas out there!

Linda

>Just cruised through the Clayart archives and the internet in general
>looking for any kinds of knockdown shelving system for displaying
>pottery at shows and came up pretty dry. Most of the archive contents
>were requests for information on how to make or where to get some nice
>looking displays.
>
>Would anyone out there be willing to share their tried and true display
>shelving system?
>
>I saw a number of recommendations for stacking cardboard boxes, but I'm
>looking for something that looks nice and is more durable than cardboard
>boxes, yet is easily set up and broken down (but not broken down by the
>weight of the pottery).
>
>Thanks,
>
>Bruce and Lynne Girrell
>in cold Northern Michigan, dreaming of all those people oohing and
>ahhing in our booth this summer.
>
Linda Christen
Midgaard Works


Hertz Pottery on wed 3 mar 99

Try IKEA's "Ivar" collection

Eri

k>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Vicki--
>Do these "ladder/type pieces" exist as ladders, or do you have to build them
>from dowels and frame lumber? I looked around my local Home Depot and couldn't
>find anything that looked like a ladder that wasn't a ladder...
>Sandy
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vicki Katz [SMTP:VandRKatz@aol.com]
>Sent: Sunday, February 28, 1999 1:33 PM
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Subject: Re: Knockdown display shelving for shows
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>The best thing I have seen as shelving for booth space for potters: get those
>ladder/type peices from your Home Depot/Lowe's - use hinges to join several
>together - so that they 'zig-zag' - they will collapse flat. Next, lace
>lumber through the rungs of the structure for display purposes. I have not
>bought his system yet, but when I do booth spaces sales again, I intend to.
>Vicki Katz
>
>

Gregory D Lamont on wed 3 mar 99

At 07:39 AM 3/2/99 -0500, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Vicki--
>Do these "ladder/type pieces" exist as ladders, or do you have to build them
>from dowels and frame lumber? I looked around my local Home Depot and
couldn't
>find anything that looked like a ladder that wasn't a ladder...
>Sandy
>

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vicki Katz [SMTP:VandRKatz@aol.com]
>Sent: Sunday, February 28, 1999 1:33 PM
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Subject: Re: Knockdown display shelving for shows
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>The best thing I have seen as shelving for booth space for potters: get those
>ladder/type peices from your Home Depot/Lowe's - use hinges to join several
>together - so that they 'zig-zag' - they will collapse flat. Next, lace
>lumber through the rungs of the structure for display purposes. I have not
>bought his system yet, but when I do booth spaces sales again, I intend to.
>Vicki Katz

Hi Sandy,
These ladder frames are generally sold in the department where shelving is
sold. I found mine at our nearby Menards. I haven't lloked for them at
Lowe's.
Greg

Greg Lamont
3011 Northwood Drive
Ames, IA 50010-4750

(515) 233-3442
gdlamont@iastate.edu
http://www.ourwebpage.net/greglamont/

lpskeen on wed 3 mar 99

Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) wrote:
> Do these "ladder/type pieces" exist as ladders, or do you have to build them f

Sandra,
These are in the lumber department. They are not dowels; they are
2x2's held together with those gripper plate things that are used on
roof trusses. They usually are stacked horizontally on the floor in the
store. We couldn't find any that stood squarely, so Ginny made mine
from 2x2's and those plate things.
--
Lisa Skeen ICQ# 15554910
Living Tree Pottery & Soaps http://www.uncg.edu/~lpskeen
FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!!! It comes bundled with the software.
The Bill of Rights - (void where prohibited by law)

Malone & Dean McRaine on wed 3 mar 99

A friend of mine bought 2 six foot ladders and runs planks across the rungs
for shelving. For her country style pottery, it's surprisingly attractive.
The setup is practically instant and solid and the ladders come in handy, too.
Wierd but good.
Dean

Kathi LeSueur on fri 5 mar 99


In a message dated 3/3/99 11:34:38 PM, you wrote:

>A friend of mine bought 2 six foot ladders and runs planks across the rungs
>for shelving. For her country style pottery, it's surprisingly attractive.
>The setup is practically instant and solid and the ladders come in handy,
too.
>Wierd but good.
>Dean

This was a popular method of displaying pottery in the seventies, but I would
suggest that in this day and age the display will affect the artist being
invited back to any show that is ranked highly. While practical it will be
viewed as amateurish by those doing the judging.

Kathi LeSueur