Pop-up Wall

[VultureChow]

So I have access to a free pop up wall. They're used for advertising at tradeshows and look like this:


My thought was to use it as a frame for a piece of crochet art. The piece would be very, very porous. Think spider web with some sections lightly filled in. Acrylic yarn to keep it light as well. The question is, of course, how it will hold up to the wind. Construction is similar to a pop up tent. Obviously I can anchor it well and perhaps reinforce the joints, but am I just asking for grief? I feel like if the covering is porous enough, the wind load won't be too bad.

[tamarakay]

Geez, I want one for something I'm doing.

Since we can't see the quality of the joints all I can say is yes reinforce. Never a bad idea. Will this be by your camp? We get some amount of wind reduction due to the city around us.

[VultureChow]

Yep. Right by my camp. I'll take the thing home and play around with it.

[Joeln]

I've repaired folding chairs and pop up awnings which use pretty much the same construction. When they break, they become difficult to fold up without breaking further so be forewarned the thing could become total moop on a failure.
Reinforcing it will be difficult, but staking it down well is a good idea.
If you have lots of porosity in your hanging, especially lots of biggish openings I would think you will be fine.
Setting it up where it gets wind protection will also help, very good would be right next to a vehicle or other substantial barrier.

Good luck VC!

[VultureChow]

Yeah. If it breaks, I think we can muster up enough tools in camp to just completely break it up. It's costing me nothing, so I think I'll give it a go.

[LowePro]

Cool idea. Seems like the force of the wind would try to tip it over, but if you add guylines, the force of the lines might collapse it down vertically. I can't tell how tall it is, but you could prob reinforce it with 2 long pieces of rebar driven into the playa vertically, one at each end of the wall. Or build a simple frame out of 2x4s secured into the playa with guylines or brackets. Good luck.

[VultureChow]

That's a good point. Maybe just some ribar and electrical conduit.

[trilobyte]

Even though it's porous, there'd be wind resistance. Think of it as similar to what you'd get if it was hanging on a clothes line on a windy day. Sure, it wouldn't blow and flap like bedsheets, but it wouldn't just hang straight down, either. The pop up wall would probably blow over in a strong wind too if it wasn't anchored down, and that would only be more likely if there's something on it that's got some resistance.

Guy lines may or may not help you, since sometimes the tension makes those expandable things less likely to hold their shape (though I couldn't really say, I've never used one of what you're talking about). I say give it a try in your yard. Tether it to something with a rope (so it doesn't blow away and/or cause damage), then try setting it up. See how it handles the normal gusts and breezes during a few hours, or a day, or a few days if you've got a yard you can set it up in. Hopefully it'll work for your needs.

[Savannah]

I used to raise one of those for trade shows in my previous line of work. They are stronger than they look, and relatively lightweight considering the job they do, but it's hard to say if one would survive the week or not. That said, they pack (rather) small, so if you're driving out, you're getting it for free, and the art is porous or more porous than usual, guy it down in good places and give it a shot.

[gshmee]

so, how did it go out there?