Hello AT,
I tried to search for a 84'' or longer swing rod to hang some fabric as a room divider to my small studio. It needs to be one arm, wall mounted. Unfortunately ceiling mounts or a floor-to-ceiling bar with a swing arm does not fit my purpose. All I'm looking for is a longer version of simple swing towel bar like the one in the picture. Does anything like this exist?
Thanks! Uma
Dear Uma,
We've never heard of anything like that and doubt that anything that long would bear the weight! If you want to divide the room, we think you'll have to work off of the ceiling or by rod or wire across the room. Here are our best links on this approach:
>> How To: Hang Curtains Across Any Space
>> Hospital Track at Medical Products Direct
>> How To: Build Felt Sliding Doors
>> Finalist #3: David & Im's OneSpace
Anyone else??
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I have something from Restoration Hardware like this. It doesn't extend to the lengths that you're looking for, but maybe if you put one of them on each side of the room and expanded each one all the way, you'd almost span the breach. Just make sure to use anchors when you drill.
Here it is: http://tinyurl.com/2xxl2a
view cakekick's profile
The longest size that swing-arm curtain rods come is 36" when fully telescope-extended, so even two wouldn't go all the way across 84"... and it is because suspending that much weight from a single point on the wall just doesn't work. A longer rod would bend or pull out of the wall.
view wende in the twin cities's profile
Did you consider this: Anywhere Telescoping Curtain System from Umbra? Not exactly what you wanted, but close (as Wende pointed out, there is a reason what you are looking for is hard to find - physically impossible).
view Aaron's profile
What you want is basically an 84" flagpole coming out of your wall horizontally.
This is possible but the structural forces involved demand much sturdier materials than a typical curtain rod.
I would guess it would have to be joined to the wall at a stud with multiple deep screws, and the rod may need to have an I-beam cross-section to minimize sagging.
This is something you'd probably need to design/construct yourself or have someone else do for you. I doubt you will find what you need ready-made.
view Michael's profile
even if you found a rod that long, it wouldn't work. it's basic lever stuff. unless you had a huge amount of weight on the wall side to balance it out, it would lean or not rotate at all.
so, what is the look & purpose you're going for? if you want a room divider that won't hurt the ceiling, try steel wire. you can get it cheap at a hardware store or a kit at ikea. if you want something you can move, try a shoji screen.
view mariegael's profile
I've been considering something similar, Uma, so I feel your pain.
It sounds like you'll never get the free standing swinging action you're looking for, but you could still make it adjustable somehow. Maybe stabalize the other end of the horizontal rod (with a Stolmen rod floor to ceiling in middle of room) and make it detachable? Then you could swing it manually from Stolmen hook to another hook (maybe on the wall). That way it can divide the room when you need it to and lay flush against the wall at other times.
Not sure how to logistically do this, but that's one direction you could take this.
view Steverino's profile