Canopies are a Weighty Issue
August 16th, 2009
by Shasta McLaughlin
copyright 2008
The weather can really affect how your outdoor show goes. Wind, rain, and sun are all considerations.
Items that will help are a plastic cover and tarps to put on sides of canopy in case of rain. I don’t recommend counting on driving tent stakes into the ground at most shows so weights for all four corners are necessary. Considering the overall weight is important as you must be able to lift them.
Some examples of weights are: small buckets with a piece of PVC pipe in them then filled with concrete, a piece of PVC pipe filled with concrete, even a plastic milk jug filled with concrete, sand or water might work. With all weights safety must be considered so be sure weights are firmly attached to canopy not swinging in the wind and paint them a bright orange so they can be seen. Make sure any container you use is sturdy enough to hold the weight you are placing inside before using.
How to make bucket canopy weights:
Put length of PVC pipe over bottom of canopy pipe. Drill holes in the PVC pipe and the canopy pipe at the same time (so holes will align). Mark canopy pole and PVC pipe with colored paint or electrical tape so each of the four corners is a different color. Repeat for each corner. Put PVC pipe (hole up) in small plastic bucket and fill the bucket with concrete being careful to keep the concrete outside the PVC pipe and below the holes. Let dry. Place these on the ground slide in canopy poles and line up holes, slide screws through and place a nut firmly on the end.
How to make PVC canopy weights:
A short length of PVC pipe filled with concrete can be made by drilling a hole through a pvc cap and threading through an eye loop. Then glue the pvc caps on one end of the pipe.
Carefully fill the pipe with concrete, be sure the eye loop is secured into concrete. Let dry then glue on pvc cap on other end. String a sturdy rope through the holes and tie a secure knot. Hang these on the corners of your canopy.
You can also:
Fill an empty milk jug or brightly colored laundry detergent bottle with sand. Thread a rope through the handle and tie knot tightly. Hang on the corners of your canopy.
Gallon jugs of water can be used as weights. Take empty jugs and fill with water at the event for ease of packing and carrying. The handle of the jug makes a natural place to tie to the canopy.
-Family Comforts
Do you have ideas for canopy weights or pictures of how to make them? We would like to see them.
Thanks,
Shasta McLaughlin
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Categories: Canopies & Tents for Art/Craft Shows, Weights for Canopies & Tents
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Awesome items!! Give us the full lowdown along with loads of pictures when you get back.
great tips. I enjoyed reading this