Need to build a jail cell wall
hi : i am participating in a show and need to build a jail cell wall. so far i plan to use pvc pipes (spray paint black) and a 4x4 at the bottom with 1x4 along sides and top. however it needs to be a free standing wall ; not attached to anything. does anyone have ideas how to make it free standing. maybe cement blocks to hold it down? i am using 4x4 to make it bottom heavy. anyone want to help me build this this weekend? lunch on me. thanks.
JailCellJust screw a 2x4 perpendicular to the 4x4 along the bottom to make a "T" shape on each end.
That wouldn't be too visible and doesn't add a lot of weight. Maybe 1 foot on either side of the 4x4 should be enough to provide stability.
Mark Mc. 
Or you can build everything on a plywood base wide enough to prove stability.
Here's some quick sketches of both options...
Rebecka Pretty tough to add ridgidity to a pvc jail like enclosure depending on the highth?
If there is a overhead stage type rigging rack overhead...it can just be supported from Two lines (cables ) from the overhead rigging.
If it's not a stage...then use a 4x4 (untreated pine or poplar...) drill holes to accept the pvc 3/4" size spaced etc. Take a 20" wide 1/2 inch thick plywood, and affix (screw) that 4x4 to the center lenghthwise. Then you would have a flat surface wide enough so it won't tip over, and the 4x4 would accept the raw ends of the pvc pipes.
Tie the top pvc pipe ends with PVC T's....
If the jail cell can be CPVC...you can use electrical pipe...the gray stuff, and that would eliminate painting. Only problem is there are no Tees for that PVC conduit.
Hope that helps, or gives an idea...
embryodad I see Mark Mc posted while I was typing..... He shows the exact scenario.
Scenario?? .... That's the Scene....
u might be onto something with plywood base mark thanks for that idea. i was going for 6 foot high x 10 foot wide cell wall. i'll let you know how it goes. thanks
I would add an additional piece of wood about half way up and runs from left to right. Drill holes in the wood and run the pvc through the wood. Many jail cells have a cross bar to add some structural rigidity.
emaxxman Ha ha now I get it!! Good performance! Nice jail cell wall you made there!! I'm impressed!
H-town Mama 
Lori...since '73 Great topic Has anyone ever been in jail ? Where when and for what and how long ?
Hi all - I posted under the handle jailcell so that family didn't know about this surprise show.
I ended up putting together the jail cell myself in a few hours over a weekend. It came out really well!
Luckily it didn't need to have a whole lot of functionality so I was able to just go with the bottom-heavy 4x4 to support the 2x4s along the side and top. I think it came out great!
RyanOMac 
What are those bars, 16" o.c.? You'd have to be the size of an NFL lineman for that jail cell to contain you (-;
ianimal haha! Thanks iAnimal -- It was an 8ft long 4x4 and I had Home Depot cut ten 10 ft x 1/2" PVC pipes down to 6 feet but only used 7 of them for a variety of reasons, one of which losing battery power for drilling the 1" holes. I think I actually made them 12" apart but yes, you can still slip through them side-ways. Adding a horizontal bar through the center would've added better effects.
Believe it or not I first attempted to drill a 1/2" drill figuring that it would help when I brought out the 1" but it actually hindered the drilling process based on the type of 1" drill bit I had. so I ended up having to drill slightly adjacent to the pre-drilled 1/2" holes.
Luckily my mom lives basically right next to Home Depot so the 4 or 5 trips I took for various reasons came in handy. Though it definitely wasn't a measure twice, cut once solo job and took longer than I would've liked. Got it done over a weekend though and it came out OK.
Anyone interested in seeing the show video? :-)
I HAVE seen the occasional video shot through the bars of a jail cell, ironically enough. The first few minutes of them, anyway...
ianimal : yes, I have seen that same vidoe. funny how everyone in the video really seems to be having a good time in jail.
aguy 
Christine Oh please post the video.. I'm just dying to see what these people here have to say... I think they would all be speechless or wordless.. Whatever .... Just post!!!
Htown Mama - you might recognize the piano bench sitting under the TV in video, lol
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