Thread: Standing up an Armature - The Base?

Tweet

Hey gang.

Making a fairly tall PVC armature in two pieces that will join in the middle. I'm making a tall and skinny static prop.

Question is, how do I get the thing to stand up?

Do you use a 3 or a 4 way at the bottom? Doesn't that wobble?

Is there a base or a foot you can buy?

what size PVC are you using ? Are you using a board as your base ? I've seen people use the metal flanges that work with gas pipe, screw those to the board, thread in a 12-18 inch pipe nipple, and then slide your pvc armature down over that. If you are going for a more free standing unit, you could drive rebar into the ground and slide it up inside your legs.

Actually, lower half is 2 inches thick.

Also, the prop will stand about 10 feet high and is for indoor use - no staking, I'm afraid.

Maybe a hunk of plywood with a slightly smaller piece of PVC attached and a heavy barbell weight slid over it.Then slip your main prop shaft over that.OR build a square/rectangle base and put sandbags over the cross tubes for stability.

I have a couple of similar pvc props. I use this type of base; pvc sections, 2 "T's" and 4 90 elbows to make a square base. Weigh it down with a small sand bag or cinder block.

Jdubbya,

My only concern with that method is that the prop would eventually swivel forward or back in the bottom T joint.

I got lucky - found this place; www.pvcfittings.com

They have 2, 2 1/2 and 3 inch 5 way right angle joints.

Now I can make an X base for a piece of 2-3 inch pvc pipe.

Still glad I mentioned it. The sandbag idea for stability never even crossed my mind.

Hey,
Depending on the prop, could you use a Christmas tree stand and cover the stand with something?

Originally Posted by Spats

Jdubbya,

My only concern with that method is that the prop would eventually swivel forward or back in the bottom T joint.

I got lucky - found this place; www.pvcfittings.com

They have 2, 2 1/2 and 3 inch 5 way right angle joints.

Now I can make an X base for a piece of 2-3 inch pvc pipe.

Still glad I mentioned it. The sandbag idea for stability never even crossed my mind.

Spats,
As far as the swivel action, a couple of small screws in the joints solve that problem nicely but what you're doing will work.

I stick a piece of thin wood through a tee section and then screw that to a plywood base
Solid as a rock.