cheap cross bar

Looking for a cheap crossbar, up to 10 feet long, to hold muslin backdrops. I am leaning towards this telescopic crossbar for <30:

http://www.cowboystudi​o.com/product_p/crossb​ar.htm

Are there better options out there at the 30ish price point range?

kenwood33 wrote in post #16655109
Looking for a cheap crossbar, up to 10 feet long, to hold muslin backdrops. I am leaning towards this telescopic crossbar for <30:

http://www.cowboystudi​o.com/product_p/crossb​ar.htm

Are there better options out there at the 30ish price point range?

The cheapest crossbar you'll find is a length of PVC pipe from a hardware store.

DC Fan wrote in post #16655656
The cheapest crossbar you'll find is a length of PVC pipe from a hardware store.

+1, made one myself, works just fine. Obviously not professional but does the job.

DC Fan wrote in post #16655656
The cheapest crossbar you'll find is a length of PVC pipe from a hardware store.

go over to electrical and get some EMT conduit, It's actually cheaper and infinitely stronger, than PVC.

kenwood33 wrote in post #16655109
Looking for a cheap crossbar, up to 10 feet long, to hold muslin backdrops. I am leaning towards this telescopic crossbar for <30:

http://www.cowboystudi​o.com/product_p/crossb​ar.htm

Are there better options out there at the 30ish price point range?

I also suggest 1" (or larger) electrical metallic tubing (EMT - also called conduit) over PVC. It is galvanized (zinc coated) steel. It is a lot stronger, yet still inexpensive.

Enjoy! Lon

FlashZebra wrote in post #16655753
I also suggest 1" steel electrical conduit over PVC. It is a lot stronger, yet still inexpensive.

Enjoy! Lon

listen to this guy, he's smart.



of course if you need to travel with it, you'd want something else.

Yes sorry I do need to travel with it. That's why I was leaning towards the telescopic option.

Electrical conduit looks fine for home use for sure.

I used 3/4" PVC and then used 1/2" electrical conduit. The conduit was too small so every four inches I wrapped duck tape around the conduit, about six wraps I think, to just enough that it would go into the 3/4" PCV with just a small amount of friction. It holds excellent (no sagging). As a matter of fact I made my whole frame for the back drop the same way. I just slip it all together when needed and take it apart for storing. Just don't sand or trim the ends of the PVC or the joints so they fit tight when put together. Ten foot section of electrical conduit, a section of PVC, and a small roll of duck tape under ten dollars.

Sorry forgot to add: Using a sleeve (coupling) you can glue it to one section of the PVC and then join two sections together say two 5' sections to make ten feet, the same can be done with the conduit but to make the PVC and the conduit stronger do not make the coupling of the two in the same spot. Say PVC at 5' and conduit at 6' for one section and 4' for the other.

i had a telescoping cross bar, but was not happy with it (i think it was by Impact). it became flimsy after a short while. also one end was narrower that the other (obviously), which I found annoying.
to be fair, it was like 10 years ago. things might have gotten better in the telescoping world . i use lumopro, though: http://lumopro.com/pro​duct.php?id=48
it is more expensive that what you are looking for, but it works for me. hope this helps a bit.

Linco makes a good crossbar. I have their 2-piece telescopic crossbars and they also offer a 4-piece interlocking one. Well worth more than $30 but you can get one from their eBay store for about that price. Their member name is Lincoinc168 if you search for it by seller. FYI, I'd buy a curtain rod before anything from Cowboy Studio again.

I have had one of these for a few years:
http://www.skaeser.com …ERLOCKING-CROSSBAR/Detail

$23. I've set it up a few dozen times, I suppose. I've tried to be very gentle with it and it is still pretty tight and straight, though the heaviest thing I put on it are 10x20 muslins.

FlashZebra wrote in post #16655753
I also suggest 1" (or larger) electrical metallic tubing (EMT - also called conduit) over PVC. It is galvanized (zinc coated) steel. It is a lot stronger, yet still inexpensive.

Enjoy! Lon

This, plus you can cut it in two, put a joint in it for transportation. The joint is stronger than the pipe and also helps stiffen the pipe.

I recently got this setup. It isn't super heavy duty but should be fine for muslin or paper (not sure about a whole roll).

The crossbar is 10' wide and breaks down into 4 sections so you can do longer/shorter. It looks very similar to the one BTNorris mentioned. This kit just comes with the stands and a really nice carry case for the whole thing. I have only used it once so far to drape a blanket over for newborn photos, but happy with it so far for $39.


http://www.amazon.com …keywords=backgr​ound+stand

I got an IKEA curtain rod - they come in two diameters, get the thicker one. Way sturdier than PVC, but not as sturdy as the conduit - but not as heavy either.

Get the curtain rings too, to easily clip your fabric backdrops into place.