[cstovin]

Hi all,

I need input from those of you that have done several shows on a good pottery display. I have no done many pottery shows, but have done shows for my leather work. Being new to pottery and what is needed and what I would like, and trying to decipher that to my husband to build is a challange.

What I know:
I am going to be going to most shows alone therefore I need something that fits the following criteria:

1) easy for me to move/pack around: can't be too heavy, or take 10,000 trips to and from the truck

2) Not too heavy as stated above; if made out of wood, made in such a way that it is collapsable and lightweight wood, and possibly shelves can be removed.

3) it has to be something that can fit in either a truck/canopy situation, or the back of my living quarters horse trailer.

4) the largest factor for me is that I just need to be able to get it in and out easily since I am doing it alone.


I have looked at a lot of the posts on here where people provided pictures, and there are lots of good ideas; I was thinking of something approximately no longer than 4' long (maybe 2 of rthem) and then folding shelving units? I did like the glass cube design that was posted on here - very clean and very professional looking, but I can't carry and setup all of that on my own...


That being said, I was wondering of anyone else could chime in on what they use for displays (pictures would be GREAT) and give me some ideas of what works well for you? I did also look at the wood shelving unit plans that were posted on here....were the shelves fold up, and there are "cover pieces" that cover the whole display to lock at night. I like that too, but also probably too much for me to do on my own....

Thank you all for the help

Charlene

[Mark C.]

My straight up racks are the easy ones-they are light and easy to handle I have them in 32 foot-4 foot and 5 foot and 6 foot. Look at my photos in my posts or gallery-I have then in a few booth shots.They are 1 foot wide and are 5-or 6 shelves.they fold flat and pack well. These are NOT the tiered ones I posted photo of.

The most common racks are the A frame ones you see folks using at show-I do not like them so have never made them.
Mark

[cstovin]

Thanks Mark, I did see the tiered ones you did, I did not see the other ones you are talking about - will go scout about and take a look!

[GEP]

Charlene,

Here's a photo of my latest display. I am lucky to live near an IKEA, where they sell lots of shelves and table tops that are HOLLOW, which means they are pretty light. I also like to build small things out of corrugated plastic (the material that most yard signs are made of), which weighs almost nothing, can be packed flat, and when you fold it into a tube shape it holds a lot of weight. Finally I use folding tables that are draped with fabric, this is not heavy either, and it provides storage space in the booth.

So follow this link to a photo (my photo upload limit has already been reached) .... The tabletops and shelves are lightweight from IKEA, and the shelf uprights are made of corrugated plastic.

http://www.goodeleph...com/photos.html

I whole-heartedly endorse the idea that your display should be as easy as possible to setup. I am pretty strong and can lift heavy things, but I think it is essential to be able to get through a show without exhausting yourself, so that you can do another one the next weekend if you need to.

Edit: I need to mention that choosing a canopy is really important. My downfall a few years ago was my heavy steel Trimline canopy. It would exhaust me to set it up! I sold it a bought the aluminum Light Dome, which is much lighter and designed for one-person setup. But still, this canopy is more work than the tables and shelves. So make sure you choose a canopy that fits your needs.

Hope this helps!

Mea

[Mark C.]

You are in luck as I was unloaded my 5 foot racks and putting my 6 footers in van yesterday. As I said I have these in many lengths-they are wired together with 1/8 coated wire .
So when the top and bottom shelve is installed its forms a cross and is very strong. Then you add the rest of the un-cleated shelves.
I took a photo of the two cleated shelves and the stack of regular shelves (no cleats). These are very light and set up quick and take down easy.I have used them for about 20 plus years now with to issues at all. the shelves are almost 12 inches wide from birch plywood with hot iron on birch sides to hide the plywood edge (all from a specialty lumber store) bit any shelve will do. The frames are silver maple but any wood will do as well. I had a very talented wood worker make these in 2-4-5 and 6 footers in pairs or two.
I set this photo shot up in driveway for you.-these are not off the shelve stuff and custom but very much fits your needs.
Mark

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•  rack1.jpg (60.22K)
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•  rack2.jpg (86.4K)
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[oldlady]

Mark C., on 06 November 2012 - 02:59 AM, said:

You are in luck as I was unloaded my 5 foot racks and putting my 6 footers in van yesterday. As I said I have these in many lengths-they are wired together with 1/8 coated wire .
So when the top and bottom shelve is installed its forms a cross and is very strong. Then you add the rest of the un-cleated shelves.
I took a photo of the two cleated shelves and the stack of regular shelves. These are very light and set up quick and take down easy.I have used them for about 20 plus years now with to issues at all. the shelves are almost 12 inches wide from birch plywood with hot iron on birch sides to hide the plywood edge (all from a specialty lumber store) bit any shelve will do. The frames are silver maple but any wood will do as well. I had a very talented wood worker make these in 2-4-5 and 6 footers in pairs or two.
I set this photo shot up in driveway for you.-these are not off the shelve stuff and custom but very much fits your needs.
Mark

[oldlady]

some day i might learn to actually USE the computer ! i am replying to mark's photo and his use of 1/8 coated wire to form the support X.

i have something similar to mark's supports but i use electrical conduit to make the X. this 1/8 wire X would be much lighter.

mark, how are the ends of the wire attatched to the end "walls"?

[clay lover]

Google Seville Classic wire shelving, many light weight, folding, sturdy options for table top applications and good prices.

[Mark C.]

oldlady, on 06 November 2012 - 03:23 AM, said:

some day i might learn to actually USE the computer ! i am replying to mark's photo and his use of 1/8 coated wire to form the support X.

i have something similar to mark's supports but i use electrical conduit to make the X. this 1/8 wire X would be much lighter.

mark, how are the ends of the wire attatched to the end "walls"?

They go thru a drilled hole in the wood and have a small aluminum swedged pressed (clamped to to the wire end) Its the same clamp that is used on any larger wire just small (1/8 inch)All of this was from a place called Orchard supply hardware.
Mark

[neilestrick]

I fit all this in my 1998 Nissan Pathfinder. Table and canopy go on the roof rack. My shelves are similar to Mark's, but the verticals have 2 sides that are hinged. The top and bottom horizontal boards screw into the verticals into threaded inserts.

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•  Booth Zapp.jpg (1.69MB)
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[oldlady]

lovely pots, neil. the shelf units are great too. my boards are actually hollow core doors, 12 inches wide. that makes them each 6 foot 8 inches long.

[cstovin]

Thank you Mark and Mia and everyon else - this gives me some great ideas! This will help me a LOT!! Sorry for the late reply, I haven't been able to get on the PC for a day or two - thanks again - I might have some followup questions - but you all are GREAT!

[cstovin]

Thank you Mark and MEA - sorry I mispelled your name; I think I would like to combine Mark's and Mea's; Mea do you know the name of your table tops? We have an IKEA in Portland which is close, but I have no idea where to look just for a table top?
Mark - thanks, have my husband drawing out the plans to build now!

Charlene

[GEP]

cstovin, on 06 November 2012 - 11:56 PM, said:

Thank you Mark and MEA - sorry I mispelled your name; I think I would like to combine Mark's and Mea's; Mea do you know the name of your table tops? We have an IKEA in Portland which is close, but I have no idea where to look just for a table top?
Mark - thanks, have my husband drawing out the plans to build now!

Charlene

All of my IKEA table tops are from either the LACK or VIKA AMON series. Both of those have several different shapes and sizes, they also have finishes other than white (I use white because it shows off my pale gray pots). The two main table tops in the photo are from a LACK tv stand. I have a few other tables, not really shown in the photo, which are VIKA AMON. If you go to the shelving area in the marketplace, you'll find lots of different sizes of shelves that look like fiberboard shelves but weigh much less, again with several nice colors to choose from.

My last tip for IKEA, whenever I need something new for the booth, I go to the "as-is" room first. Sometimes you can find what you need for $2.

Mea

[cstovin]

Thank you both - I like Mark's racks and am having my husband make me 2 of those, about 4' in length and will have a corner table display something kind of like what you have...thank you so much. I didn't even know IKEA had an "AS IS" area....good to know!
Charlene