PVC Stage Backdrop or Room Divider

by dkrmwiz

396K25941

Intro: PVC Stage Backdrop or Room Divider

our elementary school doesn't have a stage. 5th grade graduation usually meant decorating the back wall of the gym. i had to take this down last year, it involved a 10 ft ladder! since i don't get hazzard pay, i had to come up with something else.
i searched the internet to no avail... so one brain fart later this was born!
we got the stuff to decorate it from the prom catalog. the music teacher is happy because she can use the frame for her plays and such. you can use the whole 40' long frame or only a couple of sections. the fittings are permanately attached to the vertical pipe pieces with screws. it all breaks down easily and stores in a closet in the basement.
the main section is 8' high and 40' long, each section is 8' x 8'. the cross pieces that hold it up are 2' on either side (4' total). the photo op for the parents is a seperate 10' x 10' section with the same cross piece dementions. the whole thing cost us under $200, for the frame. the decos were a bit more, but we can reuse the star backdrop plastic for a couple of years. the 2007 columns we'll have to replace of course. we spent maybe $500. i probably could have gotten the pipe cheaper at one of the big home stores, but we've got a lumber yard catty corner to the school and it was easier to pick up the pipe this way. the 5 way and 4 way special fittings i got at http://www.hartnagels.com/pvc.htm . it's made with 1 1/2" pipe.

STEP 1: End Bottom

this is the special 4 way piece.

STEP 2: Center Section Pieces

this is the special 5 way pieces for the middle sections.

STEP 3: Side View

here's a side view of the finished product.

STEP 4: Front View

here's a front view with the 5th graders practicing for graduation that evening. it took us about 8 hours total to put everything together for this. the pvc went up quick, it was the rest of the stuff that took time! those 2007 columns and the silver ones in the photo op aren't easy! we had no more than 6 people at any one time working on this. the next morning, i came to work early (i'm the library assistant and pta president) and it took me 45 minutes to have it cleaned up. one of the teachers helped me set the pvc frame down so i could take it apart. some kids from the latchkey program helped clean up the balloons and put all the chairs back in the classrooms they came from.
there's the back wall of the gym that used to get decorated, you can kind of see where the stage used to be before they walled it in sometime in the 70's to make a music classroom behind it. the school was built in 1937 by the WPA.

38 Comments

chakayiab 5 years ago

Did it wobble at all? I made a 7 ×7 no center pole . I hoping to just put concrete in the vertical poles to stop the swaying.

EricS188 6 years ago

I'm one of the senior class sponsors at my school, and we're planning a PVC backdrop for our graduation this year. The concern we have is the drapery covering the support posts. How did you get it to cover the PVC pipe so completely?

dkrmwiz 6 years ago

we used the plastic sheeting you get from the prom supply catalog, it's big enough to cover anything and pretty cheap.

cewinfield 6 years ago

I made this identical backdrop for about 80 dollars. I purchased all my material from Home Depot. It turned out great

dkrmwiz 6 years ago

cool! it's easy to modify. this building isn't a school anymore, it's now the administration building for our school district. the gym is used for girls volleyball.

reggiej 9 years ago

I have an 8X8 banner which I build a stand for using pcv. I was planning on using it at our family reunion so peoplecan stand in front of and take pictures. The pieces 3/4 inch pcv but the problem that I am running into is stablity. I tried sticking 1/2 inch pcv inside of 3/4 inch but there is just too much sway. I am afraid the whole thing is going to come toppling down. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this more stable.

FunE2 8 years ago

I built and 8 x 8 ft. backdrop using 3/4 Schedule 40 pvc and only standard "T" and 90 degree elbows. Legs were assembled using 2 pieces about 15 inches each glued into the straight ends of the "T" fitting. A roughly 30" piece of 1/2 inch thin-wall conduit was inserted through the legs and the "T" and the ends were capped.(You will need 2 of these). This was all glued together. An short upright was added and topped with another "T" and a cross brace linked the two leg sections. Another upright was added to each side and at the top an elbow was added. A cross bar was added at the top to complete. Because the legs were weighted with the conduit, I never experienced any instability. I do not have pictures as I got rid of it a while back, but I can send a drawing if you like.

dkrmwiz 9 years ago

use the 1 1\2 inch PVC pipe

dkrmwiz 9 years ago

It may be the type of PVC you are using, some is more flexible than others. Check what diameter I used on my project, I think it was 1 1/2 inch. It's been so long ago, and we don't have this setup any more since the move to the new school. It got lost in the move :(

manmohanpipe 10 years ago

Very well said.
These tips are really amazing. I appreciate it for sharing them





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templets 16 years ago

We used a similar technique to make a backdrop and front for a puppet stage that would hold 10 kids. It worked out great. Went up and came down fast and easy. Instead of the 4 and 5 way connectors, we used offset 3-way T-s, which are commonly available at home stores. We hung curtains on the structure by clamping them w/ small ratcheting tarp clips (also available at home stores). To better stabilize the backdrop (cloth can be heavy) we 3/4" steel rods or rebar in the bottom cross supports.

your realtor 16 years ago

I just went to home depot and could not find the 4 and 5 way connectors. I am building this frame for a backdrop at a wedding March 7th next month. Can you tell me how you used the 3-way T-s exactly. I would really appriectiate it.

JimTheSoundman 10 years ago

For anyone trying to figure out how to substitute three-way connectors "T's" for the five way connectors, it is difficult to explain but I'll try. You will need three three way connectors to sub for each five way connector. Now imagine you are looking down at the floor from the top of one of the vertical posts. The end result you want is basically legs going N, S, E, and W, with a vertical post coming straight up. So you'll cut your four legs, you'll have your west and north leg connected to a T, then a short stub of pipe which connects to another T facing straight up with the vertical post, then another short stub of pipe and another T which has the S and E legs. So you'll end up with four legs but the N and S ones will be offset from the vertical post a bit instead of directly inline as they would be with a 5-way connector. Hope this makes it clear.

Jaino 16 years ago

Were you able to figure out the details for the backdrop? Piping size and type of connector? I am trying to build one myself also for my wedding in April.

your realtor 16 years ago

Yes, I did i found it in my old cubmasters book. I only had to go as far as a 4-way and i found that at a home depot. Not all home depots had it, so you can just call them first and save the driving. Do you want all the details or to call? Do you live in Houston? Let me try to explain and if you do not understand then we can talk. I made mine 8 feet tall by 16 feet wide. you can go taller but you probably can not hang anything heavy on it. I am realizing that I really do not even know how to add the images unless I can draw it and scan it. Are we allowed to exchange phone numbers on this or do you have a fax machine or an e-mail address or i also will just try the add images and see what happens. Let me know. I will try the images, I just got a new 4 in one and have to learn how to operate the new one verses the old one I knew so well. well I tried and no go. what about an e-mail or fax number? Tracey

dkrmwiz 16 years ago

it tell where to get everything and the dementions above, i think it's pretty complete...

cmjmed1 12 years ago

Thank you too the Pipe-draping Master. I have two daughters getting married in 2012 and am in need of this accessory in both weddings. This will allow me to use the same draping for two events saving me tons of rental money. Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cush 14 years ago

You can also get the 4- and 5- way PVC fittings from www.formufit.com.  Theyre pretty cheap, and is where I get mine for my projects.  You wont find them at home depot, as they are not plumbing-grade fittings, they are furniture grade.

catherinem1 12 years ago

okay, this is great news, as i am currently needed something like this. where can i get the fittings from in South africa though as none of the stores stock these, some dont even know that they exist?
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