PSA: I had to choose between a $200 cooler for a wedding arch or a $50 foam block setup for a big event last Saturday.

I went with the foam blocks to save money, but they completely failed halfway through the setup, and I had to scramble to support a massive arrangement with zip ties and a lot of stress, so has anyone found a reliable mid-price solution for heavy outdoor pieces?

3 comments

3 Comments

michael_burns23d ago

Oh man, that sounds like a nightmare. A buddy of mine tried to save cash on a garden party arch with cinder blocks and PVC pipe. A strong gust came through and the whole thing folded like a cheap suit, flowers everywhere. He ended up bolting heavy duty shelf brackets to the inside of a wooden frame for the next one, which held up fine. It wasn't cheap, but it was less than the pro gear and he hasn't had a problem since.

lilyr2523d ago

Yeah but come on, how bad was this gust? I've seen plenty of DIY stuff hold up just fine. Sometimes people just don't build it right in the first place. It doesn't always mean you need to go buy the most heavy duty hardware out there. A little common sense goes a long way.

anna_stone4517d ago

It's the classic cheap, fast, good triangle. You can only ever pick two, and cheap and fast usually ends with a trip to the hardware store anyway.