Overhead rigging for locations?

[Michael Carter]

I've never used one, but I can image a wall spreader (the kind that work with 2x4 or 2x6 lumber) being pretty handy. I'd fear punching through a wall with 'em, but when I've considered them in the past, I've always assumed I'd spread the load with something like 2' squares of padded 3/4" plywood.

The main issue with those is your lumber needs to be cut fairly specifically, meaning you need some sort of power saw nearby or you take good measurements when scouting.

Grip manufacturers also make side by side 2x4 and 2x6 lumber holders that allow you to gang lengths of lumber - that would be a quick way to rough in the proper width, and then fine tune it with the spreader end-bolts.

[RyanT]

+1 for this, I've used them a bunch of times in a number of different situations and they always work great.

[Moseph]

Here's what I use for my wall spreader:
IMG_0988.JPG
Just a couple pieces of cardboard with gaff tape (the softer type) on one side and griptape on the other side. These are taped up to the walls first with the griptape facing out. Then I put the wall spreader up between these. There's more gaff tape on the ends of the wall spreader that grips very tightly with the griptape. This allows the rig to stay up way more securely since there's a significantly higher amount of friction with the griptape than with a bare wall, it doesn't damage the paint on the walls the way sticking the griptape right on the walls would, and it reduces the chance of punching a hole in the wall because the cardboard compresses a bit under the pressure.

[Michael Carter]

I'd still want to stick all that stuff to something like plywood!