Light hanging question To drill or not to drill..

I currently have a pretty ghetto light hanging setup.
2 2x4's with a steel pole in between; with my light hanging off the pole.
(visualize a clothes line scenario)
The pole and the legs I made for the 2x4's keeps it stable sort of
until I need to adjust the light height or bump a 2x4 which causes
the whole deal to get a little shakier than I like..
Maybe I need to make longer legs with heavier brackets?
So I'm trying to think of another way to do this.

I'm not really crazy about drilling into my plaster ceiling to set hooks...
Because down the road I will probably move and/or add more lights and
don't want to pepper the ceiling like that.
So what I'm considering is getting a umbrella stand which I can hopefully
fabricate a pole to hang the light off of.
Another thought instead of buying a umbrella stand was to mix
some concrete up and pour it into a concrete block and set a pole
into that. Don't really feel like mixing anything up though and the costs
would probably be about the same except more work.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?
One room I did; I just screwed a 2x4 across the ceiling so I could
mount hooks off that instead of the actual ceiling but again I am
attempting to do this without having to remodel a room when I move on.

how big is your room. Got any pics of set up ?

Here is what I use. Cheap and very effective. Change height with a little effort, but still easier than what your method explained.
http://www.erico.com/products/CADDYSPEEDLINKLD.asp

Personally, I'd just do what you did before (2x4 mounted to ceiling, everything attached to that). A little container of plaster, a putty knife, some paint, and an afternoon and the place would look good as new.

dadio161: 10x10x8 but I have it sectioned off to a 4x6x8 roughly.
No pics.. But maybe my old 1mp camera will work..
I'm guessing everyone just drills into the ceiling joists and says fuck it
from the lack of responses..

nubiebud: I like the looks of the hardware thanks for the link.

Leothwyn: I agree but this is transitional.
The room is still growing itself so what might work today might not
in 3 months.

so instead of using the 2x4 poles I was thinking
of using something like this and picking up
some more galvanized pipe to make a T and run a light off each side.
View attachment 929440
dam tried to delete my attached pics..

For my lights, I am going accross a 44" span. I reinforced the wall using a piece of 1 x 3 wood on both sides of closet and installed these easy closet rod hangers and a closet rod. I used the pieces of wood so I would have something for the screws to bite into.

I kinda like your new idea using the umbrella stands. You could run a length up both sides , then use 90 degree elbows and run another accross. Just like a PVC stand but with fence post for strength.

Thanks Dadio161
I like your idea too and would use that if possible.
Yes that was what I was thinking as well with the stands.
As I expand I could add another stand turn one of those elbows
into a T and just keep growing..
At least that seems to be the best I can think of for now.
I thought of the microphone boom stands too but I don't think they
would be able to hold the weight very well.

cymbaline said:

I'm guessing everyone just drills into the ceiling joists and says fuck it
from the lack of responses..

Click to expand...

If you've got sheet rock get those Hilti screw in anchors work just fine and they're not too unsightly. If you live somewhere where you rent or may need to take it down either a touch of spackle will cover it up.