What type of folding tables, for displaying jewelry, at Art Shows
and Craft Shows do you find the best in terms of portability? I’m
interested in a combination of tables that would make up an 8’ x 30"
surface. And if you would be so kind to share your source with me.
Rick Copeland
Silversmith and Lapidary Artisan
Colorado Springs, Colorado
http://home.covad.net/~rcopeland/
I use two 4’ folding tables which I got from Home Depot. I find two
easier to manage than one 8 footer. I got an 8 foot black fire proof
skirt that fits over them and this set-up works well for me, and is
sturdy enough to hold my heavy glass cases. I was careful to get a
fire proofed skirt, as Many of the places where shows have this
requirement.
Alma
We went to Costco and got 8 foot plastic top tables for about $75
that are light enough for wobbly me to slide into the van by myself
but sturdy metal legs that lock. Then a very nice floor length table
cloth does wonders to hide the table and the stored items underneath.
Silver & Cameo Heritage Jewelry
www.corneliusspick.com
Hello,
I purchase camping tables in stores like Kmart and Walmart. They are
super light weight, the legs fold in, and they’re easy to drag
around. The down side is, they tend to only last about two to three
years before breaking down.
Augest Derenthal
Cry Baby Designs
Both Costco and Home Depot carry folding tables.
Alana Clearlake
What type of folding tables, for displaying jewelry, at Art Shows and Craft Shows do you find the best in terms of portability?
First, let me mention that my eye was caught at Sam’s Club the other
day by some folding tables with adjustable height. If I needed
tables for shows, they looked ideal.
That said, let me add that I don’t like tables for shows. I really
don’t like that table-and-skirt look; I think it doesn’t look
professional, and it doesn’t provide secure storage. I find
pedestals much more flexible and good-looking. I started out with
cardboard ones from Elaine Martin. They just collapse flat when not
in use. I made fabric tubes to cover them. However, I kept having to
cut them shorter as the bottoms got ruined by rain.
I now have three wooden ones that I designed and had built by the
local shop teacher. They are three-sided like a lecturn; the sides
have hinges and fold flat. They have a shelf inside, about a quarter
of the way down. He kinda overbuilt them, with two-by-two frames and
heavy plywood plus piano hinges, but they’re fabulous-- storage
inside, very sturdy. I put velcro on them and cover them with fabric
that can also cover the opening in back if I want a cleaner look or
hidden storage. I have individual tops for them, covered with a
layer of padding and black fabric. The tops are several inches wider
than the pedestals, and hold my glass-and-clip display cases.
In addition, I had the good luck to buy, used, a bunch of corrugated
pedestals, just like my cardboard ones, but white plastc. They are
light, attractive, and waterproof. I usually use two, covered to
match my wooden ones, to hold up a piece of black-fabric-covered
particle board, about 26" x 5’, but it could be any size. This makes
for an extremely versatile disply set-up. I usually set it up in a
Z-shape that gives me tons of display in a 10 X 10 space.
I don’t know where to buy the plastic pedestals. The guy I bought
them from had brought them to Chicago from Australia for SOFA and
didn’t want to haul them back. But if you know they exist, you
should be able to find them on line, right? I don’t think they could
cost any more than the cardboard ones, which are pretty overpriced
at around $30 at Elaine Martin.
One last note on display, to make absolutely sure you get more
than you ever wanted: I recently got a rolling plastic
set of drawers at Office Depot that fits inside my pedestals, though
I’ve seen artists use them free-standing. It holds all my sales
materials, postcards, boxes, bags, tools, pens, pricetags, etc, in
an organized and accessable way. I love this thing!
Noel
The best tables for show use are made by Lifetime and are carried by
the arch enemy Wally World. (You can also go to lifetime.com
Their factory is just down the street from my store and I have had 3
family members work there from time to time, although they all work
elsewhere now! No official affiliation, just happy with the product.
They are light weight and are a molded resin. They also have a
guarantee. (I have a chair from them that needs to be returned, I’ll
post how well they honor the guarantee after I find 5 minutes to do
that!) They have several different options for tables that you can
see on their web site. Good luck!
In addition, I had the good luck to buy, used, a bunch of corrugated pedestals, just like my cardboard ones, but white plastc. They are light, attractive, and waterproof.
I also used to use the cardboard pedestals from Elaine Martin Co. I
covered the cap on the bottom with bathroom vinyl wallpaper.
A person could make their own pedestals out of Coroplast and white
duct tape.
Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay
Noel,
I’ve been looking all over the internet for “Elaine Martin”, i.e.
“Elaine Martine indoor display”, “Elainemartin.com”, “emartin.com”,
etc.
No luck. How do we find her to see samples of her display
“furniture”?
Thanks,
Kay Taylor
Shockingly, Elaine Martin does not seem to have a website. You can
find their phone number by looking it up on line, they are in
Mundelien, Illinois.
Call for an old fashioned paper catalog. I found this contact info.
on line, hopefully it is still current. I tried the phone book and
they are not listed.
1 800-642-1043 25685
Hillview Court. STE.E, Mundelein, IL 60060.
Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay
I've been looking all over the internet for "Elaine Martin", i.e. "Elaine Martine indoor display", "Elainemartin.com", "emartin.com", etc. No luck.
Hmmm… it’s been a few years. I find references, but no actual
site. Maybe they’re gone. I found this: Elaine martin po box 674,
deerfield, il 60015 0674 642 1043
It seems is was www.emartin.com, but no more.
However, a search for display pedestals +corrugated yielded this:
http://www.easypedestal.com/economypedestal.asp?CatID=3
and this: http://www.kelvin.com/plcp_toc.html
This looks interesting:
http://www.pedestalexpress.com/Trade_Shows.asp
None of these is exactly what I have, but some trade show display
company must have them, or buy 18"x 18" x 36" (or whatever)
cardboard boxes and cut the top and bottom off.
Noel
Talking of catalogues, I have been having problems getting through
to Rio Grande from the UK. However I eventually did manage to set up
an account with them with a promise of three catalogues. After
watching the mailbox for two weeks, this morning the outer packaging
arrived from Rio with a note inside from Parcel Force worldwide
telling me that the contents had been lost and please to accept their
apologises. They go on to say that they are taking action to ensure
this will not happen again. Looks like I am back to square one, top
marks to Rio who spent $35.50 on the postage.
Sam Trump.