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Buying Show Shelves


PSC

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I am not sure if this is allowed. Can i post links to shelves i am looking to purchase to see if anyone has purchased them and likes them? I found some on ebay i like the looks of but i'd like some feedback as to their sturdiness and durability.

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Ok here are 3 different shelves i kinda like, i like the first one the most. But worry about the sturdiness and durability of the shelves. Anyone purchase any of these and have any feedback as how they hold up to outdoor shows?

 

I like this one cause the shelves aren't set and i could use the back shelf slats to hang things http://www.ebay.com/itm/270699088931

 

This one is pretty but a bit darker than i would like seems like it would be less likely to tip backward as the first one i posted but it weighs 50 pounds http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Panel-Room-Divider-Folding-Screen-Wood-Shelves-Privacy-Dorm-Room-Partition-/181492903461

 

This one isn't as wide so i would have to buy at least 2 per wall of my tent so pricier www.amazon.com/Home-Shelf-Wooden-Bookcase-Kd/dp/B00FFTXC2Y/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1410149346&sr=8-32&keywords=Wood+folding+shelves

 

If anyone has any other suggestions would be appreciated.

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For outdoors (even indoors), you'll want to put a finish on the displays; raw wood will absorb moisture from standing in the grass, on dirt, etc. You may even consider placing a metal cup or plate underneath the legs where they contact the ground.

 

You should also be thinking about how you are going to stabilize the stands. Ground is not level. I have a similar set of stands and to help stabilize the units, I took one-gallon plastic zip-lock bags and filled them about 3/4s with pea gravel. After closing the tops, I placed duct tape over the seals to reinforce them. I asked my wife to make a heavy duty cloth covering that fastens at the top with velcro. I place these over the bottom rung on the stands, half the weight hanging on each side. Works for both outdoor and indoor shows. With the units you are looking at, you might have to remove the slat just above the bottom one so you have enough room to put the beanbag on/off. Put one on each end of the unit. There are other options, like eye-bolts that you can drive a stake through, etc. But give some thought to how you will stabilize the units.

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I like the the looks of the light colored one on Ebay.   The  seller does have a good rating, with 324 sells.   Plus 174 of those units sold.

 

What are the dimensions of the shelves?    You need to know because I would be concerned about sagging.   Also, I would consider getting a 4th shelf, even 5th shelf.  68" is about the height of most standard doors.  Unless you have mostly tall items, 3 shelves would leave a lot of open space.

 

Another question ..... will that shelving support the weight of pottery?    The description of the shelf is lacking IMO.  Unless I just didn't see it, and Iooked.     What type of wood is this?  You need to know the depth of the shelves.   I would want to know about the slats as well.

 

Second thought, those shelves sort of look like those closet shelves.   I have a lot of those for displaying ornaments and jewelry.   If that is what they are, I don't

think it would support pottery shelves.   I'll grab a picture and let you compare.

350_shelf1.jpg?t=1410191728606350_shelf2.jpg?t=1410191728606

 

 

350_shelf3.jpg?t=1410191728606

 

If those shelves are made from these closet boards, I don't think they will be suitable to hold pottery.  You see the one slat that has slipped.   These slats are held in place by a very small finishing nail.    Another problem would be the stabilizing,  as Brisket pointed out.   From experience these panels are not stable.   Too much give in structure.   I've done everything with these panels.   Built entire booths from them.  BUT I always use tie wraps to secure them to something else.  I have to use those wire grids  behind the panels to stabilize a booth.   Below are those panels (painted white) used for an entire booth.   The tall ones are tie wrapped to the metal frame and the shorter ones are supported by a 4 foot metal grid on each corner.   

 

250_showshelf.JPG?t=1410191728606

 

IF these shelves are made from these same panels, personally, I would not trust them to hold pottery.

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I like the first ones best. I thought "nope" to the second set as soon as you said "50 lbs." I know I would get tired of schlepping them around. Also, they give you much less horizontal display space than the first set.

 

The first set does not give the weight (unless I missed it) but you could ask the ebay seller. They are intended to be portable so it seems likely they are easy to move. You could paint or stain them if you like the darker color better.

 

I like the third shelves too, but they are roughly half as wide as the first set. You would need to get two of them to equal the display space of the first ones.

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if you read the description that the seller has posted in the ad, the first set of shelves will only work for indoor shows. the length of the shelves is posted as 58 inches.  the material used is whatever they pick and could be mdf of a questionable quality.  at that length, they WILL sag.

 

dirt roads, the height is 68 inches, standard doors are 6 feet, 8 inches or 80 inches.  this is a common error as the guys who volunteered to hang some drywall for me could testify. too tall for the standard suv and dangerously tall for showing.  the width is 12 inches which is ok for single layer of pots but skimpy for platters and such.  picture a domino standing on its end, the proportions appear to be similar.

 

if you try to use it outdoors, the slats will cause trouble in high winds and that unit could blow down.  judge what separation you like and remove the extra slats.  they are not doing anything useful.

 

you might be better served by taking the price you are willing to pay to a competent carpenter.  show him/her the plans posted by mark c and ask what the carpenter can do for you.

 

see mea's comment for the second one and double it.

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I see drawbacks to all these choices

1st-Not sure of the materials-so weight will sag them.

The second is too heavy and bulky and not a good display space

The 3rd are just to narrow and wimpy at least for me.

 

I would

A keep looking

or

B make my own that fit my work from some lumber

Mark.

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I.e. the first shelves: I transport in a pick up truck so i think the height would work ( i'm 5’2" and can lay into truck bed with plenty of room above my head) tho the same seller has a 58†tall model too and the seller sells extra shelves. My set up is currently a table with table top 4 foot mdf shelves ontop in the back of the tent and two tables on the side with clay jewelry on one 5' table and various bowls and platters on a 4’ table. I want to replace the side 4’ table and if i like it then replace the back table too. The are mdf and pine. My pots aren't heavy and my current mdf shelves have lasted 3 years of 20 shows a year.

 

I'm looking to do nicer shows and the tables while look nice at the shows i do now, look so non professional compared to the setup i see when i go to the show i want to get into. I'd like to stick to wood shelves and i make clay garden masks so the slats are very attractive to hang them on.

 

Anybody have any links to other shelves that would work better? I'm not talented with wood to make my own.

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If you aren't stacking pottery, I think those shelves would work just fine.     I have a lot of those panels around (had them from previous business)   and use them for shows and for display in my public show room.   Not many potters have hanging items so I was thinking stacks of platters, etc.  I find them extremely effective for hanging merchandise.   I would buy that shelving unit since you don't have to worry about weight.   Just use a tie wrap to secure it to your tent pole in an outdoor show and it should stabilize it.

 

Those slat board hooks fit right in too.

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Do most potters stack? The only pottery i ever saw stacked at shows was a slip caster. She had stacks of very cutely glazed cereal bowls, plates and mugs but every shape was exactly the same as the next in the stack tho her glazed cats on those wares were slightly different.

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My concern with the stacking was the sturdiness of the slats.   As I showed in that picture, I have had quite a few of those slats come loose (I just nail them back in).  I have so many of those panels and only do 2 shows but if I didn't have those I would consider those shelves  myself because they were be great for displaying jewelry, ornaments & hanging items.     With the convenience of the stand up shelf.    Do I stack?  I would say so .... 10-20 items in some cases.   And my pottery is on the thick side so thinking of my own, I was thinking ... no way.   But considering your situation ... I think they would work quite well.   

 

And that's a good price too because retail on those panels is about $30-$40 each.  For what you are doing, they would work :)   My initial post was somewhat discouraging but looking at your set up ....I think they are a very viable option.

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