Thread: Breaking down columns?

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Any suggestions on how to make columns that can be taken down or apart that would still withstand the weather? We are completely running out of room now, I have to columns at the gate into our cemetary...but would like 4 more. Any ideas how to make them collapse somehow or break down for easier storage? Was thinking some sort if pin/hinge type thing, but don't want the rain to destroy them. Any suggestions?

I wrestled with the same problem with the two large entrance columns I'm building. Ultimately, I decided to not have them collapse. Instead, I'm putting a door on one face, held in place with cabinet magnets. At the end of the season, I can then bring the column in, snap off the opening panel, stuff in items I need to store, snap the cover back on, and be done with it. I have 6 smaller columns that don't collapse but that have a removable top. At the end of last season, I filled them with things like lighting, loose skelly parts, rebar, and the like.

What type of materials do you generally use to protect yourself from props being destroyed by the weather?

You can always go the route of sono tube covered in foam and painted. you an easily attach sections of sono tube together by cutting 4 pieces of wood to fit inside, that extend past each end which you can screw to. then all you'd see it small screw holes. If your sections were short enough you could do that with wing nuts and bolts from the INSIDE and you'd never see them!

you might try some "T" Nuts and then build your column out of 4 flats or panels using 2x2 frame and foam skin. Basically it would be bolted together through the 2x2's .

Here's what a tee nut looks like http://www.instockfasteners.com/PRODUCTS/teenuts.ASP

My cemetery columns are built in sections for ease of storage. The base of the columns are made out of a plywood, wooden frame, and foam board and the top section of the columns are square plastic fencing posts. The bases and the top posts are separate and join together by means of a wooden key on the base post that the top post fit over. They, the columns, are joined together with the cemetery sign that fits into slots in the plastic columns and is capped of with finals. The whole assembly is made stable by the plywood base and doors built into the base of the columns that allow me to stack bricks inside. Hope this helps and I haven't completely confused you Hacknslash?

spookzilla is right a stacking system is another solution to breaking it down.

Think of it as if your columns are made of giant lego bricks. the bottom has say rods that fit in holes to the bottom of the next section and so on. They won't be flat, but they will be less bulky and maybe easier to store.

This of course depends on the look you're going for on the columns. If they are a smooth concrete look it will be hard to hide, but a brick or stone look you can design it so the section line up at a mortar joint and it would be hard to tell they're actually seprate sections once put together

I've been thinking about a column that is four panels that slip into grooves in the base and cap. To store, you pull the cap off, lift the panels out of the base, and stack everything flat.

Originally Posted by Long_Tom

I've been thinking about a column that is four panels that slip into grooves in the base and cap. To store, you pull the cap off, lift the panels out of the base, and stack everything flat.

excellent idea!

interesting we are starting new columns this year and never even considered building them to break down. This definitly requires further investigation