I don't want to drill a hole in the ceiling of the office I'm renting for my packing fill dispenser, so I'm looking for some sort of a frame to attach it to. I can find many different options from European retailers, but I can't find anything from a US company. Does anyone know of a company in the US selling something like this?
Is there a better forum for questions like this?
dpd1
9:15 pm on Sep 22, 2012 (gmt 0)
You couldn't make one out of pvc tube?
Tonearm
7:18 am on Sep 23, 2012 (gmt 0)
I'm out of the country so I'd really like something that can be delivered and easily assembled by the warehouse folk. PVC would necessitate an outdoor work area with saw and sealant, right?
MichaelBluejay
3:02 pm on Sep 23, 2012 (gmt 0)
Couldn't you easily build one out of speaker stands or bicycle mechanic stands?
Tonearm
5:35 pm on Sep 23, 2012 (gmt 0)
I'm not sure how that would be done. I need something than can be assembled on-site, indoors, with minimal space and a screwdriver. Has anyone used a "P-NUT PAL"?
TypicalSurfer
5:52 pm on Sep 23, 2012 (gmt 0)
How high are your ceilings, the capacity/size of the hopper?
Tonearm
5:42 am on Sep 24, 2012 (gmt 0)
I think the hopper is 15sqft and the ceilings are 10 feet.
phranque
7:59 am on Sep 24, 2012 (gmt 0)
hopper capacity should be measured in units of volume.
Tonearm
8:08 am on Sep 24, 2012 (gmt 0)
I'm sorry, I meant 15 cubic feet.
TypicalSurfer
12:04 pm on Sep 24, 2012 (gmt 0)
Hoppers come in different sizes like LxWxdepth so you have to be able to accommodate those dimensions, yours sounds smallish, if it were bigger I was going to suggest a gazebo type structure that you could pick up from a home improvement store. You could use the frame to hang the hopper. With 10 foot ceilings you probably have a fit, I think they generally go 7-8 feet in height but may be too large for what you are trying to do from a square foot standpoint.
MichaelBluejay
12:58 pm on Sep 24, 2012 (gmt 0)
I still don't see why you couldn't use speaker stands. They set up with no tools. Then you just run a pole from one stand to the other (strap it down with wire or something), and then hang the hopper from the pole with wire.
Tonearm
6:08 am on Sep 25, 2012 (gmt 0)
I would need the speaker stands to be 9-10 feet high though, right?
Automan Empire
3:12 am on Sep 28, 2012 (gmt 0)
First, how much does the dispenser weigh? I know it's just foam peanuts but you have to account for tugging on the nozzle, hanging/pulling on it while filling, and the risk that the "brilliant solution" could collapse or topple onto employees, provoking injuries/lawsuits. 150# or less, I would give second thought to a hook in the ceiling. A discreet hole in plaster is cheap and easy to patch, and ceiling texture is available in a spray can if you need it.
If you must go with a standalone solution, consider lightweight pallet racking as a sturdy and versatile frame. Get the tallest 48" uprights that will fit, and cross beams sized for the footprint that works best in your space. If your hopper fits between beams, you can also add shelves outside the hopper space to utilize all that cubic volume up there.
Only other improvised solution that comes to mind is a portable basketball hoop stand, with a base that fills with water or sand for stability. These are often abandoned in suburban USA.
MichaelBluejay
11:16 pm on Sep 29, 2012 (gmt 0)
I would need the speaker stands to be 9-10 feet high though, right?
Yeah, so? I know for sure they make speaker stands 9' tall, maybe taller.
