AusBonsai

I started off with a project, and ended up with a problem...

This is an easily portable, foldable cheap photo background for bonsai. The frame is made of Tas. oak mouldings top and bottom, with channel-section aluminium sides that fold in. The feet swivel back in line with the bottom. The corners pivot around shortened nails, with the heads held in place with superglue (yup, cheap and nasty).
The corner braces sit on shortened nails that sit out from the base.
The background is dark suiting padding, chosen because it makes tree leaves glow when my camera averages it's exposure. This was the alternative fabric:
And this is the stuff I chose:
So far, so good. I attached the fabric to the frame with velcro, and watched the whole thing sag horribly:
The problem is the cheap, nasty little hinges - they have no sideways strength at all. They were all I could find at the Usual Shops.
(Yup, superglue again...)

The temporary solution is some swing-down braces within the sides:
THE QUESTION IS (finally there)

DOES ANYONE KNOW OF THIN, LONG-LEAFED, SOLID HINGES THAT WILL DO THE JOB? The sideways leverage around them is quite large. I'm stumped.

Any ideas appreciated.

Gavin

Hi Gavin, it would alter your design but what about the hinges on the rear(red) and a locking clip of some type on the front(green),,,instead of the hinge on the side..

I have been playing with the idea of a portable background but havent solved the issue as yet. Large trees are a problem to get background for. I have a large mobile screen that i wheel around but it is cumbersome. I will watch with interest.

G.day mate. box making suppliers sell all sorts of hinges. I will try and put a link here but i'm not sure if they have what you want. http://www.veneerinlayaustralia.com.au/ ... ml&Rec=815 i will have a think on it .
Mark

Hi Gavin
Looks like a great project and a pretty smart way to "hide" it away when not in use.

Another (perhaps cheaper) way of producing a background is to get a blank art canvas complete with backing frame from a discount store. Something similar in size is only around $25 or so. You can then paint by brush or spray can. Either matt paint or sand back very lightly after painting to give a textured look

I used to perservere with cloth backgrounds but after copying the above idea from my Dad, I wouldn't go back to cloth (plus I don't have to iron it each time I want to take a photo )

Regards
Steve

Craig, when the top and bottom hinge sideways and the middle hinges forward and back my head hurts. Can't see how it will fold. Haven't got a better idea yet, mind you...

Bodhi, yes, the thing is meant to move around easily, and be light. It's about 1m high by 1.1m wide, but if you were mad you could scale it up...

Magzy, yes, I found those folk, and some others, but none had slender, strong strap hinges. Not yet. Possibly in Nauru or Estonia.

Steve, the canvas is a good idea, but I wanted the thing to fold up and be easily portable, to go places. I choose the odd "fabric" backing because it didn't crease - it's certainly a problem with most fabric. That and the wrinkles as it hangs/sags/stretches. To store it and transport it, I'm rolling the "fabric" around a tube of cardboard that the frame slips inside.

Thanks for your thoughts gentlemen.

Gavin

GavinG wrote:Craig, when the top and bottom hinge sideways and the middle hinges forward and back my head hurts. Can't see how it will fold. Haven't got a better idea yet, mind you...

now my head hurts didn't think about the top folding,, just the middle

Hi Gavin,

You can buy for around $100 two posts in the form of tripods that telescope out and back in with a bar accross the top to hold the material.

Just google it and you will find some chinese websites for such.

Lightweight and a bit flimsy however.

Grant

Sorry Grant, I can do lightweight and flimsy far better than any damn website! And probably cheaper and nastierer as well. Bring on the superglue!!

I've found some stronger strap hinges on Evilboy, so I'll keep you posted if and when they turn up.

Gavin

Hi Gavin,

this could turn into a very long thread with a blow by blow description of each subsequent patch and failure I fear.

Whatever you do don't become unhinged.

You can regale me over a drink or two at our next dinner.

Grant

Gavin,
check this out for idea.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-2-8x3m-P ... 1e69e96982
and this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Backdrop-Pan ... 4cfebd0a02

this is what i use for location shoot. not just a background, also gives ambient color on the subject. you can choose your fav color.
regards
BKI

Thanks BKI,

I have ordered a couple of these and will see how they go.

Grant

Hi Gavin, how about some hollow tubing! so they slide into that, and you have stops built so they only go so far. Super Glue again.

My Pup

Hi Gavin and all,

I purchased two of the photographic backgrounds and trialed them here at the collection.
Using diferent apperture settings you can get a reasonable result .

Grant

Ok you wont get thin leafed hinges and expect them to be strong. Your only option is to get a heavy duty one and cut to size with a grinder. The other two possabilities are small gate latch on either side.... or simply drilling a few holes through your setup, ie, the piece of wood in channel alluminium and use a screw with a wing nut.Use one on either end. That way you dont need tools to set up and tighten.