Bases for columns

Started by Martin, November 03, 2009, 07:19:16 AM

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Martin

So now I have a place to ask these questions... :D

What do you all use as column bases?

Did you buy them or make them?

If you made them how?

What about table centerpiece columns?

Thanks,
M

Billy Wiz

#1
Hi Martin,

I was told Ikea sell uplighter lamps which would be ideal. Unfortunatley we don't have an Ikea down here but I found Argos sell uplighters, £9 for a box of two.

I've used them loads. Sometimes people give them back to me sometimes they don't, I just charge a little extra for the stand anyway.

YvonneH

#2
I have used the uplighter poles as bases before I knew how to use them properly.  There are also instructions on how to make your own bases and sizing templates in the BalloonIT shop.  I think it was about 5 euros for a member but not sure how much for a non-member.
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

theFPlady

#3
Hi Martin dear,

Ikea uplighters are black and heavier (and cheaper) that Argos but both are good at a great price. As said already, if you get them back, great, if not, its priced in.
Ikea are £4 each and Argos 2 for £9.50.
I spoke to my local precision engineer friend and he made up some weights for me to go over the uplighter poles if required for certain situations.
As for table decorations, you would want a lomey dish and you can get these from the balloon wholesalers. You gule the bits together and the idea is, you only use it once but I think they cost about £4.50 ish each so ironically more expensive that the big items. They are clear plastic.
Hope this helps.
Ali.
THE CHESHIRE BALLOON LADY
 THE FACE PAINTING LADY

YvonneH

#4
Nearly forgot when I went on the Qualatex Demo Day with Jodie Norris she didn't use stands for columns.

If it was a table top mini column she tied the top quad to the bottom one and then used a 260 to tie the foil into the top.  With larger columns she literally tied each layer to each other really tightly.  She also added a normal weight or 2 to the bottom of a column to hold it in place and the helium in the foil held it all upright.  Oh I should say that the floor standing columns would probably only work with 11" (or poss 9") balloons or the centre of gravity would be too far out for it to stand up right.

Out of interest for those of you with the Ikea uplighters do you happen to know how tall they are?  I ask as the argos ones are fairly short and whilst I have gardening wire (heavy duty stuff) I would prefer to keep costs down where possible.
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

theFPlady

#5
Hi Yvonne, do not know the exact height but once you take last connection with the uplighter off they are not very tall. Say about 4 feet.
 :D
THE CHESHIRE BALLOON LADY
 THE FACE PAINTING LADY

YvonneH

#6
So probably about the same height as the Argos ones then.  I would love to get the Ikea ones but my nearest store is about an hours drive away so I would spend more in petrol than I would save  ;)
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Krazy Kev

#7
My simple columns are kept upright with the help of a double stuffed water balloon which attaches to the bottom.

magic_moonie

#8
i make my own bases using steel plate and weld electricians conduit( metal pole) couplers to the centre of the plate then i can use conduit as a pole for the balloons to attach to and can be made as long or short as i need.
qaulatex sell the same sort of plates but they charge approx £50 each for them.
kerry thomas

Brenda

#9
I use wooden stands who make's my husband ( mdf we call it here in the Netherlands )
But I'm curries about the Ikea stuff you guys talk about.
Can somebody give me a website with a picture or so ?
Creative Greetings
~~~~Brenda~~~~


Billy Wiz

#10
Hi Brenda, Here's a link showing an uplighter. You only use the base and pole although I think some have used the light as well inside balloons.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50139877

Pam Pearce

#11
Personally not a fan of tying balloons together to create a column or a swag , much bettter to use some monofilament or dacron tied to a weight, gives a much better and longer lastign display.

The Ikea uplighter is called a 'NOT' and has just changed colour to black from silver - WE think are great and so versitile.  The argoss ones have no weight in the base compared to the ikea one.

You can easily change the colour of the stand by wrapping a 260 round it - just inflate is about 3" tie it on and wrap it round it will cover the pole and when runs out add another till all pole is covered.

As poles are in pieces it is easy to add extra poles from another uplighter to increse the height if need be.

Also - try using them as a balloon column with the light fitted, if there is a local plug - it looks good.

and offer the party host the rest of the pack then after they have finishsed with balloon display they get a free uplighter - otherwise you end up like us with lots of shades, tops of poles and light fittings.

Even my full size bride and grooms get built on them.

Yvonne its worth the visit  - I buy mine 10 at a time as our local Ikea is 20ish miles away

If you need extra weight - buy/have made proper balloon stands and bases it pays. (I have a lot of them too)

Pam
xx

Jo Oakley

#12
My husband made mine from thick perspex, routed the edges and attached a metal screw in fixing to the base. For the poles we found conduit to be lightweight but sturdy and the screw together fixings make assembling them quick and easy. He made the poles in varying lengths too so I can change the height of the column and the poles unscrew for easy storage too. They've worked very well for us hope you like them.
Love Jo xx

Brenda

#13
Quote from: "Jo Oakley"My husband made mine from thick perspex, routed the edges and attached a metal screw in fixing to the base. For the poles we found conduit to be lightweight but sturdy and the screw together fixings make assembling them quick and easy. He made the poles in varying lengths too so I can change the height of the column and the poles unscrew for easy storage too. They've worked very well for us hope you like them.
Love Jo xx


I like them but they look expensive.
Can you tell me what the price is?
Creative Greetings
~~~~Brenda~~~~


Pam Pearce

#14
We have a full collection of poles and bases - it depends how creative you are and what job you want them to do.

We too have a piece of MDF Paul raised it off the ground with 2 by 1 and added a MDF block underneath the centre where he part drilled a whole for plastic electrical conduit to fit and be glued into - We have these about 3 foot high and used them originaly to create the mini clowns we made for an interactive childrens festival sculpture of 50+ madeinto a walk through maze ( hence the height) - we used them again for the pirate maze and these days they are a great height for 260q twisted columns for red carpet walkways.

We also had a fabrication company make us 80+ heavier metal bases with metal electical conduit joiners welded to the centre and had them powder coated, we can then make columns etc to fit and join extra conduit if needed by adding a joiner and more pipe ( think you have to get the conduit threaded!! dont quote me man thing)

We even had a fabrication company make us square weights (20 or 30lb, heavy things) with holes in we just add to our columns for outside or balloon canopy work - its worth while checking what others can do for you locally

We also have Dandy poles and bases they come in various sizes and dont think you can buy them anymore - so if you have them and dont use them I am sure balloon people would love to buy them.

All of them I go back and collect - they have cost a lot of money, but will (other than the mini ones) out last any time we spend in the industry (and we never plan retiring)

But when we use decor columns we dont want to return to and collect or dont have archways etc to them so dont need much weight , maybe even the balloon champagne bottles or full size bride and grooms and they want to keep them I use the uplighter its so versatile.

But be careful - you think I could use this, need this, what if???? and you end uo having to move to a studio/unit like us - with the costs that go with it

Pam
xx