Manfrotto Expan Background System Questions

1. How do you get the the paper counter weight on?? I have had no luck with it at all. After quite a while trying I just put the whole bar on top of the bottom edge of the paper and walked away.

And

2. How do you keep the paper from unrolling? I just switched to the expan system and while the roll itself doesn't turn, the paper unrolls partially by it's own weight. When I used a stand and bar, I just clamped it, but with the expan system I can't put a clamp inside the roll because the expan is in there.

Help?

Tighten the small twisty knob on the non-chain side. Don't make it too tight or you can't adjust it with the plastic chain.

FYI - the counter weight has a plastic shapped "c" that holds the paper on the bar. i.e. Bar, paper, plastic (snaps on). If you want to clean the edge, use a razor after the paper is locked in.

I've started using a piece of hardwood shoe moulding with a sticky magnet along the back edge. On finished floor, you can change the "wall / seamless" color and have a finished edge with the shoe moulding... Something to think about cause the bar is "not" finished.

MrScott wrote in post #11793781
Tighten the small twisty knob on the non-chain side. Don't make it too tight or you can't adjust it with the plastic chain.

It's not the roll that is actually turning to unroll the paper - the paper is poofing out and unrolling itself off the stationary roll. For the life of me I can't figure out how to make it stop. I wonder if putting the weight at the bottom would stop it. I'm headed downstairs now to try again with the weight. I didn't realise the plastic part can come off. Thanks!

PS: I was also wondering how I was going to attach a strip of moulding to the paper to use with my cool new faux wooden floor. Thanks for the magnet idea too.

Athena wrote in post #11793900
.....the paper is poofing out and unrolling itself off the stationary roll. For the life of me I can't figure out how to make it stop.

tape or a clamp.....

The Loft Studios wrote in post #11793920
tape or a clamp.....

a really big clamp that goes all the way around the roll?

nope.....
Just a small or medium sized "A" clamp, just to keep the paper from turning.
Clamp one part of the clamp on the inside part of the roll and the other part of the clamp on the outside part of the roll.
Just like you see pictured in the upper right.....
Although in this example, the paper is already rolled out..... the same technique would apply when the paper is rolled up.
And actually, a clamp on each side would be even better.....

That is exactly how I used to do it when I had the paper on stands with a background pole through the center of the roll. But I have the expan system now and it fills the inside of the roll up on the ends, so I can't clip it like that anymore.

Athena wrote in post #11793900
It's not the roll that is actually turning to unroll the paper - the paper is poofing out and unrolling itself off the stationary roll. For the life of me I can't figure out how to make it stop. I wonder if putting the weight at the bottom would stop it.

So you're saying that the expan is locked down tight, but the paper is unrolling itself a few times and hanging down a foot or so?

If yes, you'll need to weight the roll or tape it as Loft recommends. I would hesitate in weighting the roll mounted horizontally bc it will develop creases in the paper that look like poo after a few months or quicker in a humid local. For long term storage, you need to tape it tight and stand it vertically. These help, if you've got a 9'+ ceiling...

Savage TPC12 - Background Paper Roll Storage Rack

Yes, that is exactly what is happening. But you know what? After I got that bloody counterweight attached to the bottom last night it wasn't happening anymore. So the answer to #2 was to figure out #1. So thanks again for that. Now I just need to do it for the other two rolls and I'm set. For now they are still taped up.

We have a very, very dry climate here. Terrible for my skin, but I guess great for the paper rolls.

I love that storage idea. I'd love even more to have 9' ceilings. I'm afraid I'm stuck with 8' and just barely even that. But I'll keep it in mind for one day...