Panels, Grids, Mesh.. Oh my! ? !

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave Hinde on January 16, 2010 at 10:13am

There are several good "professional" looking panel systems that you can buy, and someone usually has a used set for sale. Personally, I use steel gridwall. My tent is a Caravan, and using the steel walls adds a lot of weight to the tent in case of bad weather. Gridwall is heavy, so make sure you have some way of transporting it. Look for a local store fixture supply house to buy the gridwall and hooks.

As for making something, I've seen panels made from wood and wire mesh, then covered with fabric. Some look very good, some look cheap and unprofessional.

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Permalink Reply by Ann Steverson on January 16, 2010 at 10:28am

Thanks Dave1

Do you cover the grid wall? My mother in law can sew anything I need. If I cover them, what fabric would I use and what do I use to attatch the artwork through it.

So far I can find any used panels for sale (I'm in north Alabama, so someone let me know if you have some or know where I can get them around here).

Thanks you again!


Dave Hinde said:

There are several good "professional" looking panel systems that you can buy, and someone usually has a used set for sale. Personally, I use steel gridwall. My tent is a Caravan, and using the steel walls adds a lot of weight to the tent in case of bad weather. Gridwall is heavy, so make sure you have some way of transporting it. Look for a local store fixture supply house to buy the gridwall and hooks.

As for making something, I've seen panels made from wood and wire mesh, then covered with fabric. Some look very good, some look cheap and unprofessional.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Hinde on January 16, 2010 at 1:38pm

I don't cover them. What I use are 1 inch gridwall hooks and S hooks from Lowes. The gridwall hooks are great with a wire back. Use 2 if the picture is large and it helps keep it straight. The gridwall is white, so it looks OK inside a white tent. You can also get it in black or chrome.

Ann Steverson said:

Thanks Dave1

Do you cover the grid wall? My mother in law can sew anything I need. If I cover them, what fabric would I use and what do I use to attatch the artwork through it.

So far I can find any used panels for sale (I'm in north Alabama, so someone let me know if you have some or know where I can get them around here).

Thanks you again!


Dave Hinde said:

There are several good "professional" looking panel systems that you can buy, and someone usually has a used set for sale. Personally, I use steel gridwall. My tent is a Caravan, and using the steel walls adds a lot of weight to the tent in case of bad weather. Gridwall is heavy, so make sure you have some way of transporting it. Look for a local store fixture supply house to buy the gridwall and hooks.

As for making something, I've seen panels made from wood and wire mesh, then covered with fabric. Some look very good, some look cheap and unprofessional.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara Sistak Baur on January 16, 2010 at 3:22pm

Here is what I have seen:

* Hollow wood doors, painted in the color of your choice. Pros: inexpensive and pretty lightweight and they look good. Challenges: you have to figure out how to attached so it helps if you are handy.

* Mesh Cloth screens from Flourish. They look easy.

* Propanels look great and are lightweight

* Wire mesh screens (Graphic Display, Armstrong, others). Light and you can make your own covers.

* Peg board -- heavy but you can paint it.

Hope this helps.

Barb
www.SistakBaur.com

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Permalink Reply by Ann Steverson on January 17, 2010 at 8:41pm

Thanks. I'll take atrip to Lowes and do some thinking. I really want to avoid spending $1000 + on panels if I can help it.

Thanks again,
Ann

Barbara Sistak Baur said:

Here is what I have seen:

* Hollow wood doors, painted in the color of your choice. Pros: inexpensive and pretty lightweight and they look good. Challenges: you have to figure out how to attached so it helps if you are handy.

* Mesh Cloth screens from Flourish. They look easy.

* Propanels look great and are lightweight

* Wire mesh screens (Graphic Display, Armstrong, others). Light and you can make your own covers.

* Peg board -- heavy but you can paint it.

Hope this helps.

Barb
www.SistakBaur.com

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Permalink Reply by Robin Anne Cooper on January 18, 2010 at 12:48am

My advice use professional set-ups I started out with creating my own system it was heavy and hard to get around. Other people have spent the time and money to figure it out, but most importantly I recommend finding a way to borrow or rent a set that you are thinking about so you can experience the pros and cons of before you buy. The Pro Panel forum has a section where people post their panels for rent and for sale, I had a case of display envy this year and bought the mesh system for my tent and do not like the way it works with my art, so defiantly try before you buy.

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Permalink Reply by Ann Steverson on January 19, 2010 at 6:51pm

Anybody seen/ used the panels. They're cheaper than propanels, so I wondered if they'd be ok. I don't know if they are even the same type of material. http://www.csnsupply.com/Best-Rite-689D3-XX-BS1443.html

Also, what about just hanging through canvas, is it strong enough to hold w/ upholstery hooks? http://www.csnsupply.com/Best-Rite-689D3-XX-BS1443.html

I've posted want adds looking for used propanels, but no luck as of yet. I haven't found a local gridwall source yet, but I have another store to visit Thursday. I thought my tent woud be my only investment, but alas I see this is where the big bucks will go.

Thanks so much for everyone's help.

Robin Anne Cooper said:

My advice use professional set-ups I started out with creating my own system it was heavy and hard to get around. Other people have spent the time and money to figure it out, but most importantly I recommend finding a way to borrow or rent a set that you are thinking about so you can experience the pros and cons of before you buy. The Pro Panel forum has a section where people post their panels for rent and for sale, I had a case of display envy this year and bought the mesh system for my tent and do not like the way it works with my art, so defiantly try before you buy.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Matteson on January 31, 2010 at 12:51am

After having tried a few different things out (plastic grids, peg board, covered peg board) out I would suggest getting some heavy Metal Grids. They help keep the Tent from blowing away in strong winds. I purchased some from a local shelving supplier. The only problem is they are ugly grey. The ones I got are small and it takes 6 of them to make up one side of the tent. We connect them together with zip ties. I paid $40 for 12 of them!! Once we have the grid wall zipped together, we then zip tie the 'wall' to the metal legs and upper rail of our tent. It sure makes it sturdier and with our added 5 gal buckets filled with concrete on each corner our tent has withstood 50mph winds. This year I am going to look into getting them painted white. Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of paint I should get that will hold up on the steel shelving? I must say in checking out the Flourish Mesh walls I was very impressed about how the wind goes right through them if the tent walls are up and the tent remains in place in strong winds. They look 'easy peasy' but cost around $600. Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Ann Steverson on January 31, 2010 at 11:46am

Thanks, Jennifer. I have any EZup tent. Do you know if the walls being connected directly to the tent causes a problem in the event of rain? Would the rain run down the walls and to the artwork?

Thanks for all the help,
Ann

Jennifer Matteson said:

After having tried a few different things out (plastic grids, peg board, covered peg board) out I would suggest getting some heavy Metal Grids. They help keep the Tent from blowing away in strong winds. I purchased some from a local shelving supplier. The only problem is they are ugly grey. The ones I got are small and it takes 6 of them to make up one side of the tent. We connect them together with zip ties. I paid $40 for 12 of them!! Once we have the grid wall zipped together, we then zip tie the 'wall' to the metal legs and upper rail of our tent. It sure makes it sturdier and with our added 5 gal buckets filled with concrete on each corner our tent has withstood 50mph winds. This year I am going to look into getting them painted white. Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of paint I should get that will hold up on the steel shelving? I must say in checking out the Flourish Mesh walls I was very impressed about how the wind goes right through them if the tent walls are up and the tent remains in place in strong winds. They look 'easy peasy' but cost around $600. Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Matteson on January 31, 2010 at 1:20pm

No there is no problem with rain as long as you have your tent sides on and the Tent top flaps over the sides. Although, with EZups they will implode if there is heavy rain. I've seen this happen a few times. To prevent that, use big metal pinch clamps to pull the top side flaps tight so there is no sway coming down from the peak of the tent. This is done by placing the clamp on the center of each side of the top flap. The weight of the Clamps pulls the top down to take out that sag. It makes the rain run off instead of collecting on the top.
I've learned alot about these little tricks just by walking around the Art Fair and asking what things are for. It's good to check out Artists tents after they have buttoned up for the day to see what they have done to protect their artwork.

Ann Steverson said:

Thanks, Jennifer. I have any EZup tent. Do you know if the walls being connected directly to the tent causes a problem in the event of rain? Would the rain run down the walls and to the artwork?

Thanks for all the help,
Ann

Jennifer Matteson said:

After having tried a few different things out (plastic grids, peg board, covered peg board) out I would suggest getting some heavy Metal Grids. They help keep the Tent from blowing away in strong winds. I purchased some from a local shelving supplier. The only problem is they are ugly grey. The ones I got are small and it takes 6 of them to make up one side of the tent. We connect them together with zip ties. I paid $40 for 12 of them!! Once we have the grid wall zipped together, we then zip tie the 'wall' to the metal legs and upper rail of our tent. It sure makes it sturdier and with our added 5 gal buckets filled with concrete on each corner our tent has withstood 50mph winds. This year I am going to look into getting them painted white. Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of paint I should get that will hold up on the steel shelving? I must say in checking out the Flourish Mesh walls I was very impressed about how the wind goes right through them if the tent walls are up and the tent remains in place in strong winds. They look 'easy peasy' but cost around $600. Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Sara Youngman on February 1, 2010 at 2:07pm

If you find a less expensive way to go than propanels, or flourish mesh please let me know. I've been searching for months without luck.


Jennifer Matteson said:

No there is no problem with rain as long as you have your tent sides on and the Tent top flaps over the sides. Although, with EZups they will implode if there is heavy rain. I've seen this happen a few times. To prevent that, use big metal pinch clamps to pull the top side flaps tight so there is no sway coming down from the peak of the tent. This is done by placing the clamp on the center of each side of the top flap. The weight of the Clamps pulls the top down to take out that sag. It makes the rain run off instead of collecting on the top.
I've learned alot about these little tricks just by walking around the Art Fair and asking what things are for. It's good to check out Artists tents after they have buttoned up for the day to see what they have done to protect their artwork.

Ann Steverson said:

Thanks, Jennifer. I have any EZup tent. Do you know if the walls being connected directly to the tent causes a problem in the event of rain? Would the rain run down the walls and to the artwork?

Thanks for all the help,
Ann

Jennifer Matteson said:

After having tried a few different things out (plastic grids, peg board, covered peg board) out I would suggest getting some heavy Metal Grids. They help keep the Tent from blowing away in strong winds. I purchased some from a local shelving supplier. The only problem is they are ugly grey. The ones I got are small and it takes 6 of them to make up one side of the tent. We connect them together with zip ties. I paid $40 for 12 of them!! Once we have the grid wall zipped together, we then zip tie the 'wall' to the metal legs and upper rail of our tent. It sure makes it sturdier and with our added 5 gal buckets filled with concrete on each corner our tent has withstood 50mph winds. This year I am going to look into getting them painted white. Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of paint I should get that will hold up on the steel shelving? I must say in checking out the Flourish Mesh walls I was very impressed about how the wind goes right through them if the tent walls are up and the tent remains in place in strong winds. They look 'easy peasy' but cost around $600. Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Amy Schulz on February 2, 2010 at 2:20am

There are spray paints that are specific for metal. I bought 2x6 and 2x8 black gridwall and I think they look pretty good. It only takes 5 of them to make up a side.

Jennifer Matteson said:

After having tried a few different things out (plastic grids, peg board, covered peg board) out I would suggest getting some heavy Metal Grids. They help keep the Tent from blowing away in strong winds. I purchased some from a local shelving supplier. The only problem is they are ugly grey. The ones I got are small and it takes 6 of them to make up one side of the tent. We connect them together with zip ties. I paid $40 for 12 of them!! Once we have the grid wall zipped together, we then zip tie the 'wall' to the metal legs and upper rail of our tent. It sure makes it sturdier and with our added 5 gal buckets filled with concrete on each corner our tent has withstood 50mph winds. This year I am going to look into getting them painted white. Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of paint I should get that will hold up on the steel shelving? I must say in checking out the Flourish Mesh walls I was very impressed about how the wind goes right through them if the tent walls are up and the tent remains in place in strong winds. They look 'easy peasy' but cost around $600. Hope this helps!

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