My DIY booth setup

My first art fair is coming up. It is a small local show with some oddities. For example, the booth size is 8 x 6 feet. It is the perfect venue for me to test the art fair waters. I want to make a booth setup that has the following characteristics:

As inexpensive as possible
Easy to store and move
Reasonably* rugged
Very configurable
Lightweight
Individual
Stable

I have read and heard that ProPanels are the best and that there are other options (mesh, etc.). I could possibly even afford some used propanels, for one wall at least, but I'd rather make my own.

Here is the design I came up with:

The panels are basically upholstered foam with pine frames. They will be joined along each long edge by 8 set screws which will press against hardwood or metal dowels (approx 4" each.) I like this approach for many reasons. One, if it doesn't work very well then I will break it all down and be left with a bunch of 2 x 4 foot canvas frames, plus foam which I can use for other projects. If it works the way I expect, I'll have a highly configurable booth setup that can easily be extended into a 10x10 or even 10 x 15 booth.

So far I have started a proof of concept by making 4 of the panels. Thus far I have 4 frames with four foam inserts and 8 fabric panels. The miters are good. The first frame bows a bit in the middle because I overclamped, but I have solved that issue (via the magic of rulers and tape). I need to find a good adhesive but if I can't, I will use my old standby of scrim (50% wood glue, 50% water).

Pics of that will come when I have something stable set up. If it works, I think I'll have the rest done in a weekend.

I have no concerns about using this as an interior setup with a couple of minor exceptions.

1) I'll need to make a clever corner jig because as it stands these panels will be exactly 8 feet wide and so I can't use a 2x2 in the corners. I'm planning to use top and bottom corner brackets made from perforated sheet metal and then zip-tying the corner frames together. This is not ideal but the alternative is to make some of the panels 48" x 22" so that I can have nice corners. I'm just not that motivated right now to make special corner panels.

2) I have no proof that these panels are fire retardant. The fabric is, and I'm varnishing the wood with polyurethane, but still if I used this at a big, picky show I might need to rethink some things.

Regarding the transition to outdoor use, the panels will be water resistant (varnished, made with titebond II glue) but they are not waterproof. If subjected to standing water they probably would not hold up long. Also, I believe the setup can withstand some wind but I'm not sure about strong winds. I would basically be relying on the canopy walls for wind resistance at that point.

Replies

Deb Fox January 18, 2011 at 2:09pm

Most shows require your canopy and panels to have a fireproof certificate ( even some outdoor shows). I use a fireproof canvas set up from new venture products.com I also have their canopy system that probably meets most of your ctiteria. When I cannot wrangle help for a set up I am able to do it alone. Shows are fun to do but the set up and especially tear down can be wearing. Good Luck
Rob Lineberger December 5, 2010 at 11:35pm

I have done my first art fair and the homemade panels fared well! Here are a couple shots. More can be seen at http://www.roblineberger.com/images.
- Karole Bowlds > Rob Lineberger December 21, 2010 at 4:41pm
  
  nice job! Looks good, but watch the wrinlkes! Just curious, what did it cost for materials?
  
  Hope you enjoyed the show, and had a decent experience!
  
  Karole
Robert Szabo November 15, 2010 at 5:57pm

For my first show I borrowed panels. They were made of interior doors, the ones that are hollow in the middle. They can be painted any color and repainted when they get scratched. There were holes drilled into the bottom in each side that a tube went into to be used as legs like on the pro panels. You can put a ring around the tube with a thumb screw so they are adjustable for setting up on in uneven ground. I think all the hardware is available at a hardware store. They worked well for me. Doors may not be cheap though and do take up a lot of room but they are light weight.
Melanie Rolfes November 15, 2010 at 4:25pm

Thanks for sharing. Most people are looking for ideas.

A friend of mine made his own walls and he used raw silk for the fabric. He then painted the silk a pretty charcoal color. The silk is really sturdy. He scrubbs them and worse case can always touch up the paint. It looks much nicer then the carpeted pro panels I have.
- Leslie Turner > Melanie Rolfes July 1, 2011 at 11:56pm
  
  Melanie- What did your friend make his walls out of? I love the idea of silk "papered" walls, but how did he hang stuff?
- julie susanne > Melanie Rolfes January 5, 2011 at 7:13pm
  
  Hi Melanie-
  
  This is interesting. I like the idea of it; what was the texture of the silk, was it canvas-like or burlap-like, or smoothe? Also, any ideas what it was painted with?
  
  Thanks,
  
  ~~julie susanne
  
  juliesusanne.net
  
  Beyond The Artist's Way Blog
  - Melanie Rolfes > julie susanne January 5, 2011 at 7:28pm
    
    Julie have you seen raw silk before? I remember their use to be a womens clothing store that only did raw silk clothing. Anyway it is not smooth, but has some texture to it. Somewhere between canvas and burlap I would say. He just used regular indoor house paint, flat I think so touch ups didn't show.
    - julie susanne > Melanie Rolfes January 5, 2011 at 7:33pm
      
      Melanie-
      
      Oh, yes...thanks so much!
      
      ...and Happy New Year!
      
      ~julie susanne
      
      Beyond The Artist's Way by julie susanne
      - Elizabeth Bennett > julie susanne January 6, 2011 at 10:19am
        
        Dharma Trading Company (fiber arts supply) carries raw silk pretty inexpensively (I dye with it). It's a natural beige with nubbies.
        
        Eliz

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