Getting ready to paint some parts on the 1200.

[John Schmidt]

Since my wife wouldn't let me confiscate the ironing board, this is what I came up with for about $8-9 since I had a lot of the parts stashed already. It allows me to walk around the part being painted, giving me full access from all angles and I don't have to either hang it from the rafters or spend time cleaning overspray off my hand from holding it. In the pics the areas I'm pointing to are adjustable, the frame can be adjusted up/down with the chain.



The "fingers" are adjustable up/down at the elbow, the 3" fingers and caps are glued in place, the caps are triple dipped in Plasti Dip, giving a bit more grip to the part being painted, less apt to slip.


Additional rotational adjustment at this collar gives still more angles for various parts to sit on. The tee is glued on, just the coupler is left loose so it can turn the entire upper apparatus.


I found when adjusting the frame up/down with the chain, the feet weren't always flat on the floor. So by leaving this tee loose you can turn one or both feet to accommodate the frame angle, making the stand quite stable.


Time to do the side covers? Just bring the fingers up level and lay the parts on top, giving full access from all sides.


Want to do the fenders? Set them on the fingers, then feel underneath and if the fingers aren't making good contact/support, just raise or lower them until they do, making them quite stable.


All done? Just fold it up and stash it in the corner.


I'm sure others have come up with their own version of a paint stand, this is what I came up with using what I had on hand and a little pocket change at Home Depot. Plus, since it's all sched 40 PVC, if I ever need to repair something around the house or the irrigation system I have plenty of spare parts. 

[Bighead]

Can't wait to see it finished John

[The emperor has no clothes]

That's pretty ingenious 

[gordonv]

I like it too. Also can't wait to see the rest of the project come together.

My concern is with the moveable fingers. How tight are they (deep)? Could they ever fall out, causing the piece to fall.

Maybe drill a small hole through the T into the finger, for a small finishing nail to hold it. Too fixed? Get your dremel out and using a shaft rasp (?) rotate the finding while the rasp is in the hole and make it into a slot. Now put a small screw into it, so the finger wont pull out, but allow movement in a groove. Understand?

Might be easier to figure out the deep of the finger into the T, using a thin blade saw, cut through the T half way. Now you have your slot, just place a thing screw into the finger. Would be a lot easier.

[John Schmidt]

Gordon, they're quite tight, takes some effort to turn them. The elbows are what moves, the fingers are seated/glued all the way in them and the els(not glued) likewise deep into the tee. Dry PVC parts don't move very easily one inside the other. But when you add the glue the two parts become quite slickery(technical term). By the same token, the coupler at the top of the leg where the finger apparatus sits....it takes a good grip to get it to turn so as to change the overall angle of the finger mount.

[mike72903]

Good job and idea.  Going to file that idea away.  Once built a jewelers bench entirely from PVC except the top of course. I've always said that with PVC pipe, nylon wire ties and silicon sealant a person could build a society.  Then after decades when it started to fall apart a little duct tape would keep it going for a few more years

[John Schmidt]

Hey Borg, re. duct tape....you can always tell sloppy workmanship by the wrinkles in the tape.