I told you about my trip to the hardware store last week and the beginning of the Mandap/Chuppah build. I’m still in the process of getting all the pieces cut. Unfortunately, the hardware store will not cut your pieces, as I had read in others DIY posts. So it’s up to you, or someone you know to cut the lengths you need. With that said, here are a few things to keep in mind when you begin your build.

1. Identify the building material you want to use. There are two types of PVC pipe for general purchase. The first, and most common, you can find at your local hardware store (Home Depot is my choice). This PVC is used for general contract plumbing and while it is white, there are unsightly red ink markings down the length of it. There are also numerous black bar codes on the PVC as well. The other option is called furniture or medical grade PVC. From what I have read, it is a bit stronger, as it is created to withstand human weight. On the up side there are no markings on the outside, and it comes in numerous colors, white being the most popular. The down side is it is more expensive, sometime $1-2 more per foot. I found some great suppliers of here and here.
   
   1. I chose to go with the standard PVC from the hardware store, mainly for cost cutting purposes, and also cause I was anxious to start building and didn’t want to wait until the product came in.
      
   2. Picking your pipe diameter is dependent on your needs as well. I would suggest working with 1 ¼” to 1 ½“. I chose to work with 1 ¼” pipe to ensure that any fabric casings I created wouldn’t need to be any larger than 2″ and it had sufficient stability.
      
2. Determine what size you want the final product. I suggest keeping the height of the unit 8′. You want to ensure everyone will be able to pass under it easily. Second question is the shape. Do you want it to be completely square (6′x6′ or 8′x8′) or something in between (6′x8′). Knowing this will ensure you buy enough PVC without buying too much.
   
   1. For Example, I originally chose to build my unit 8′x8′x8, in order to have plenty of room for several people underneath. After reviewing the space I allotted to place for the structure, I decided I would be better off with a 6′x6′x8′ structure. Since the pieces of PVC come 10′ in length (at Home Depot, at Lowe’s they are only 9′ in length), I determined I could build the 6′x6′ structure as well as purchase the additional pipe to create a 8′ structure.
      
   2. Here is how it all laid out. I determined I needed 10-10′ PVC pipes. 4 of them were dedicated to creating 6′ pieces. Those 4 pieces left me with 4-4′ pipes in the end, and with a coupling, this would give me 2 of 8′ legs. I would then need an additional 2 pieces of pipe to create the other two legs. Unfortunately, this leaves me with 2-2′ useless pipes (but I will find a purpose for them in the long run!)
      
   3. Now as I already mentioned, I decided to have an 8′ structure available as well. This meant, with the legs in place from the first structure, I would only need to purchase 4 additional pieces of pipe, for a total of 10.
      
3. Will you need to transport this item or is it a permanent structure?
   
   1. If you do not need to transport the item, or will only be erecting it once, maybe twice, you might consider keeping the poles in their maximum length. So if your structure is 6′x6′x8′ then you would have 4-6′ poles and 4-8′ poles.
      
   2. For me, it was very important that I could erect the structure quickly and transport if from location to location. With that in mind, I kept all the PVC pieces to a maximum of 4′. This way all the pieces could fit into a bag and be carried away.
      
   3. To accommodate the portability, I am using 8 couplings to join my 3′ and 4′ poles. These items are readily found at the local hardware store and are inexpensive. Each end of the pole fits snugly into the connector and the combined length will give you your desired product.
      
4. Extra pieces. If you chose to go with the local hardware store, there are items you will need to purchase that they do not carry. If you order your PVC, just make sure you include them in your order.
   
   1. First and foremost, there is an elbow or corner piece that will hold your structure together. This will allow you to attach the top corners of the structure, giving you smooth right angles. You will need a total of four.
      
   2. I was fortunate enough to call around to a local pipe store, which carried them in stock, so I did not have to order mine. The best price I found in my research was at USP Home.
      
   3. You will also need a flange, or a foot base. I have seen many options, from flower pots filled with cement, to cake pans filled with cement.
      

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      The last thing I wanted to worry about was carrying around heavy cement items. Since my partner and I are not She-Rah, I wanted something comparable, but not so cumbersome. Aside from that, in any display, the pots or pans would need to be covered so they wouldn’t be an eye sore. I knew that the bases needed to be wide to give stability to the structure. In my research, I came across foot flanges that are used by Pipe and Drape companies.
      

      
      (from i.weiss.com)
      

      The problem I had with this idea again was the cost. I didn’t want to spend as much on just the bases as I did for everything else. That is where the 3 hours in Home Depot came in last week.
      

   4. Here is what I developed; pictures will be in the next post. I took a 3″ toilet flange and placed the wider part down. With the assistance of the Home Depot staff, I found a condenser piece that took the 3″ hole opening down to 1 ½“. The pipe I chose to use was 1 ¼” but I liked the fact the pipe ran through the entire base and touched the floor. This would ensure that the 8′ structure remained 8′ and not add inches. There were no adaption pieces to accommodate the ¼” space and the Home Depot staff member had no other suggestion.
      
   5. Here is where my brain went to work. I traipsed around the store looking for a rubber casing I could place on the bottom half of the pipe. The rubber against the plastic would ensure a tight fit. However, I was not very successful. I finally happened upon some rubber washers used in sinks and drains. After finding the right size piece, I was in business. The entire structure held together snugly. But I still wasn’t happy; each washer would cost me $2.50. The final product, rubber bands. I ran over to Office Max and grabbed a bag of large rubber bands. It took 8 rubber bands wrapped on each other, but they worked better than the washer and the whole bag cost me $1.99. A much better solution.
      

That’s a bit to digest for this week, but I should have the final structure in place to show you next week. Then onto decor!