[David DeWeese]

Thanks all for the replies!

The normal light weight electrical conduit can be bent fairly easy, but was too flimsy to make a decent top frame out of. The rigid conduit I used is heavier and threaded, but not as heavy as iron water pipe.

I borrowed a 3/4-inch pipe threader from my brother, cut and threaded each piece, and used the threaded connectors that are sold to use with this type of conduit to join everything. The curved pieces are sold already bent and threaded, and were the radius I wanted, so that worked out good.

The horizontal top pieces are the normal lighter conduit I flattened with a press to make the connection points with the bows. I used two 1-inch pieces of square bar stock on either side of the pipe to flatten the center connection points.

The rigid conduit is galvanized, so to make the paint stick I brushed on a phosphoric acid "metal prep" solution and waited overnight before painting..

I really haven't decided what to do about the canvas yet....any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks, David