ok so me and my old band mates are building a freaking huge cross (approx 12 feet tall) and need some way to support it so it will stand up

the other band members have a bit of know how when it comes to this stuff, but im clueless

but anyways, we need a quick simple solution which will allow this cross to stand tall and free


plz respond fast as the show we are using this for is on friday!

__________________

Maybe you could just put part of the bottom section nside a large cement block? Or hang it up from the ceiling?

Ever seen those portable basketball goals that are 10 feet tall and easy to move? Get one, take the backboard and goal off, and attach the cross to it.

Done

__________________

....Ingenious

__________________

Wait a sec....if he is planning to hang this thing upside down, would that change anything? How much will it aproximately weigh when it is completed?

__________________

Upside down or right side up makes no difference as long as it is balanced a bit. There will be no problem with light materials.

Unless they plan to build the thing out of railroad ties it should hold the weight easy. It is just a starting base. There will be details to work out and the ideal will have to be engineered a little, like how to attach the cross, but I think it will work out the best.

Unless anyone has a better ideal.

__________________

Hmm...I suppose so. That is a pretty good idea. It would be mighty cool if you could post pictures of the final result Necro_Butcher.

__________________

Yup, I would like to see it too

__________________

lol please tell me youre going to invert that bad boy

__________________

Lol, I don't know. A right side up one would really throw everyone. I'd do it

__________________

yeah but an upside down 12 foot cross would be hilarious

__________________

Only if were painted pure white.

__________________

Or blacker than the blackest black...times infinity.

ok to clarify some things


-the ceiling of the venue is way too high to hang anything from
-the cross will be upright (we have a skeleton to hang on it)
-the basketball thing is a great idea, ill see if i can track down one
-this would probably weigh about 50 lbs all total

but incase i can't. i need more suggestions, keep them coming ppl

__________________

...lean it against a wall?

So are you bulding a church or something?

i dont think the leaning against a wall will work in this situation, the just the way the venue is setup.....

__________________

Get the bassist to hold it

__________________

slamdunk crucifix?

__________________

HAHA yes. You gotta take a picture of it once it's all set up man. maybe get your gig on video

__________________

Unless it will show embarrasingly much, you might construct it like a stage props; i.e. attach a board as broad as the base of the cross to the... well, the base of the cross, as long as is necessary to balance it and then a diaganol support or two. I don't know how many times me and my group got away with that kind of thing.
However, I'd prefer Soul's idea anyday were it an option.
Good luck with the gig, and don't forget the duct tape.

__________________

better yet, get some random bare-chested friend to drag it on stage, and the vocalist should flog him with a whip while he is dragging it.

Then let him lie on the ground on the cross, and pretend to drive the nails into his hands with a pink doublesided dildo

__________________

an upside down cross would be easier to balance. (lower center of gravity) but if you must have it right side up..and assuming it will be behind everything (ie you won't be able to see the base)...just build a few 45 degree angled supports. you could even put one on each side for maximum stability.

another way would be mount some eye hooks (i think they are called) in the bag and use a black cable (or whatever would blend in to not be seen) and tie it to some rafters or something.

or just get a decently thick and wide flat board for a base...position the cross base in the center of the board..drive a huge nail or nails into the cross through the base board and then everyone just help out to lift/pull and then it will be set.

Ahhhh, I can tell you children aren't carpenters at all, for you've missed the most logically easiest stand structure possible......

Assuming you've used 4x4 wood for the cross--those are fence posts by the way....

Arrange four 2x4s like so, then with wood glue, screw--don't nail--the pieces together. The cross goes in the middle of course.....

Done.

__________________

haha good call...completely forgot about that layout. does the same thing as one of my ideas..but with less wood.

but why wood glue over nails..or even screws?

Man I'd just stick the skeleton to it and have it upside down.

That would be cliche' but grim.

__________________

Hahah, cool, post pics when your done. But ya, Soul' idea and powers' idea works good, ad should be easy to do.

__________________

If you don't want the stand to fall apart, use screws. Wood glue just helps.

__________________

Use balsa wood to construct it.

that would be light as and much easier to balance.

Soul's idea is sounding good. all id add to the though is to make sure it can be held up by the basketball pole's base. those thingsa are made to be filled with water, but you might try filling it woth rocks, if possible. you wouldnt want the cross to fall forward and crush people, even though that would be quite the event of the night.

Thats true but I would worry about the cost and the risk of damaging it. Good ideal though. They are going to need something light.

Go with Powers ideal. It is more practical than mine was.

__________________

heh, i hadnt seen his, though i thought of something similar when i read the topic.

Simple....

Dig a small diameter hole.




Eureka!!!!!

In a building Bia?

__________________

Bia is being a smartass, but yes, maybe a pile of real dirt around it would look extra cool

__________________

put electric christmas tree lights on it
if it's upside down that is..

__________________

Good idea with the Christmas Lights...you could also have upside down Christmas trees, and a homeless guy dressed up as Santa masturbating on the crowd.

__________________

you should support it with a bucket filled with gasoline and a match

__________________

...brutal

__________________

hey dudes

the show was last night


we just ended up leaning the cross against the back wall, it was still a good 12 feet tall

we also attached a sweet morbid looking skeleton to it


and wrote "LOL" on the top of it


ill post pics as soon as i track some down!

__________________