DIY Butterflies: Anyone can help me make the frames?

[Homunculus]

Hi guys, large scrims, silks, butterflies. Can anyone please give me some pointers on how you would make a frame? The fabric I can buy/make on my own, but it's the huge frames that are god awfully expensive that I would love to be able to make somehow and mount on some stands.

I'm talking about large things like this

but probably even much larger than those pictured.

Can anyone assist or point me to a resource?

Thanks

 

[Justin Kuhn]

PVC, but it might be tough breaking them down.

 

[Paul Hudson]

There are two ways. One is conduit and conduit corners. The corners come with set screws. This way is very cheap but durable. The second and better method is to find an industrial metal shop, there is one in every large town. Buy 1 inch alluminium square tubing (they will cut it to length).
Then buy one 10 foot piece of 1 1/4 steel, square tubing. Make your corners and mounts from this.

The second method requires a lot more skill and access to tools like a welder and chop saw but the results are excellent at a fraction of the costs of buying new.

 

[twocik23]

You could try bending the tubes, then connect them with some sort of expandable dowel to T fit.

http://members.westnet.com.au/neilmarnie/tubebender.htm


What material are you using ?

 

[treynolds]

There is already a sticky about making these

Here is the instructions it shows in a PDF.
http://www.day7studios.com/nrestudios_archive/diy/sunshade/sun_diffuser.pdf

They just used PVC for the pipes and ends.

 

[Jeff Anderson]

Would avoid PVC for anything over 6' or so. Too flexible to really hold its own shape unless you go to a really wide diameter. Works great for small inexpensive frames though as long as you arent too hard on them. I've got a 5' one I use for photography quite a bit. Packs up nice and light.