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For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
---------------------------------------------------

Stagecraft Digest, Issue #820

 1. Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
    by "Jerry Durand" <jdurand [at] interstellar.com>
 2. Re: What caused this cable damage?
    by "Idaho Scenic & Rigging" <idahoscenic [at] earthlink.net>
 3. Re: What caused this cable damage?
    by "Jon Ares" <jonares [at] hevanet.com>
 4. Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
    by Tony Kambic <tony [at] focusnote.com>
 5. Re: Fire Curtain Rules & Exceptions
    by "Bill Conner" <bill-conner [at] att.net>
 6. USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
    by "Andy Leviss" <Andy [at] DucksEchoSound.com>
 7. Re: What caused this cable damage?
    by "Bill Nelson" <billn [at] peak.org>
 8. Re: Academic Plotting policies
    by "Scott Parker" <scparker [at] gmail.com>
 9. Re: What caused this cable damage?
    by Bill Sapsis <bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
10. Re: What caused this cable damage?
    by Bill Sapsis <bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
11. Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
    by "Jon Lagerquist" <jon [at] lagerquist.com>
12. Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
    by "RD" <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
13. Re: What caused this cable damage?
    by Loren Schreiber <lschreib [at] mail.sdsu.edu>
14. Re: Taiko Drums
    by "Bill Nelson" <billn [at] peak.org>
15. C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
16. Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
    by Michael Heinicke <mheinicke [at] sbcglobal.net>
17. Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by "Bill Nelson" <billn [at] peak.org>
18. Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
    by MissWisc [at] aol.com
19. Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by "Daniel O'Donnell" <dan [at] mystykworks.com>
20. Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" <stagecraft [at] jeffsalzberg.com>
21. video clip
    by "David R. Krajec" <drkrajec [at] stritch.edu>
22. Re: What caused this cable damage?
    by "Delbert Hall" <delbert.hall [at] gmail.com>
23. Re: Academic Plotting policies
    by Andrew Vance <atvanceld [at] gmail.com>
24. Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by Andrew Vance <atvanceld [at] gmail.com>
25. Re: Fire Curtain Rules & Exceptions
    by "ladesigners [at] juno.com" <ladesigners [at] juno.com>
26. Re: Contact area of casters?
    by Dale Farmer <dale [at] cybercom.net>
27. Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
    by Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
28. Re: video clip
    by Davy Davis <wdavis [at] du.edu>
29. Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by Samuel Jones <sjones [at] ucla.edu>
30. Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
    by "Idaho Scenic & Rigging" <idahoscenic [at] earthlink.net>
31. July in Indy,   Frank M. et al
    by "Idaho Scenic & Rigging" <idahoscenic [at] earthlink.net>
32. Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
    by loftlight [at] aol.com
33. Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
    by StevevETTrn [at] aol.com
34. Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by "Daniel Kelly" <limeking [at] gmail.com>
35. Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
    by "RD" <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
36. Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
    by Greg Persinger <greg [at] vividillumination.com>
37. Auditorium Draw Pipe
    by <willhill [at] globalnet.co.uk>
38. Re: Fire Curtain Rules & Exceptions
    by Greg Persinger <greg [at] vividillumination.com>

*** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject
*** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to
*** one message subject in each reply.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 17:06:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Jerry Durand" <jdurand [at] interstellar.com>
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
In-reply-to: <list-30497650 [at] prxy.net>
Message-id: <1059.192.168.0.102.1148429219.squirrel [at] gandalf>
References: <list-30494427 [at] prxy.net> <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net>
 <list-30497134 [at] prxy.net> <list-30497650 [at] prxy.net>


On Tue, May 23, 2006 4:57 pm, Bill Nelson wrote:
>  I never could figure out why some people feel they have to tighten the
> bolt as tight as they can get it.
>

It must be human nature.  When I maintained the equipment on an automated
electronics test floor, we had a lot of test fixtures that needed to be
secure during testing but easily changeable.  We had a 3/4" aluminum base
with alignment pins.  You set the fixture down over the pins and lightly
tighten four 3/8" hold-down bolts (finger tight with supplied grip). 
Without fail, someone would bring in a big wrench from home to tighten the
bolts and strip out the aluminum base.

These were the same people who would bring in their own oil and extension
cords (nice smoke from cheap cords).

We had to watch them like a hawk.

-- 
Jerry Durand
Durand Interstellar, Inc.
Los Gatos, California USA
tel:  +1 408 356-3886, USA toll free:  1 866 356-3886
web:  www.interstellar.com skype:  jerrydurand




------------------------------

Message-ID: <00fb01c67ec7$7c2d8ef0$6401a8c0 [at] amd2200>
From: "Idaho Scenic & Rigging" <idahoscenic [at] earthlink.net>
References: <list-30489845 [at] prxy.net> <list-30490472 [at] prxy.net> <list-30492953 [at] prxy.net> <list-30495590 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 18:17:45 -0600

my two cents.
 is there a momentary pause, however slight, during ramp-up
to full speed? (two feet of cable wrapped)
The cables being at the headblock , if I understand
correctly, when this occurred will be an additional tension
point on the cables.
My reasoning here: if there is that slightest hesitation,
read shockload,  that is going to be a probable point of
failure on the drum, the wire changing configuration,
straight to curved.

(Am I full of it Bill, or a possibility?)

Rob't



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Munroe" <bpmunroe [at] gmail.com>
To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?


For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see
<http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
---------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the info Guys.

Some answers to your questions -

It is a 5hp ac motor, mounted on the grid opposite the
headblocks.
The piece does not move particularly fast and there are
decent accel
and decel ramps programmed into the computer.  There is no
obvious
bounce in the arbor when it is moving and we tend to keep
fairly tight
tension on the hauling lines.  The hauling line is also a
1/4" cable.
It is a long run for the hauling line so tension could be an
issue for
us.  This piece moves 4 times in the show (in, out, in,
out).

Delbert is correct about the weight distribution, being that
they are
legs.  The damaged cables were #1 (long) #3 and #4 at
center.  The
weight of the legs, but not necessarily the tension on the
cables, is
under cables 1&2 and 6&7.  Dynos are a good idea but not
practical for
us.

This set is a 2 headblock/married arbor set.  The damaged
cables were
all in one headblock.

The overspeed is determined at the drive based on actual
versus
expected encoder pulse counts as compared to a maximum
allowed encoder
count at 100% ( ie - max allowed counts is at 100% is 1000
(for
example), so 250  at 25%, etc). The encoder is mounted to
the winch
and driven from the drum by a roller chain. We did get a lot
of false
overspeeds on many drives when we first teched the show,
several years
ago.  The automation shop adjusted the overspeed parameters
and we
have been fine since.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that these
cables
were installed just over a year ago.  We replaced headblocks
on this
set and the show curtain, do to groove damage from excessive
fleet
angle between the headblock and loft blocks on the short
cables, which
we corrected.  The is still some fleet angle on the long
cables, and
the grooves in the new headblocks feel "tight" to us.

I have the automation shop coming on Friday for some other
maintenance, so we will be taking a good look at the winch
as well.

Again, thanks for your answers, it is very helpful.

Brian Munroe
bpmunroe [at] gmail.com


------------------------------

Message-ID: <001d01c67ec9$a5c18fd0$0600000a [at] BRUTUS>
From: "Jon Ares" <jonares [at] hevanet.com>
References: <list-30488640 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 17:33:16 -0700

> What you are seeing is the center bundle (7 X 19 GAC) that is forcing 
> itself
> out through the other bundles.

So... it's sort of a wire rope hernia.  :)

      - Jon Ares
www.hevanet.com/acreative 


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:35:59 -0400
From: Tony Kambic <tony [at] focusnote.com>
Subject: RE: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
In-reply-to: <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net>
Message-id: <000001c67eca$0a0e7110$7a88c744 [at] tony>

Bill S. asked...

> Set up or not, would someone please tell me why we still use those cast
> iron
> "C" clamps.  I mean, I'm just a rigger and I don't know much about
> lighting,
> but why would I want to put something up in the air over my head that I
> could break with an 8" adjustable wrench?
> 
> Anyone?

Jerry Durand answered...

> "Because that's the way we've always done it."

And I would like to add it's what most venues have lying around and don't
want to pay for more. Nothing beats the 30 year old, orange-coated, iron
c-clamp whose nuts won't move.

...except an 8" wrench.

Tony M Kambic
Electronics Technician - City Theatrical
Freelance lighting technician, NY, NY



------------------------------

Message-ID: <064b01c67eca$1def1860$6501a8c0 [at] BCA1>
Reply-To: "Bill Conner" <bill [at] bcaworld.com>
From: "Bill Conner" <bill-conner [at] att.net>
Subject: Re: Fire Curtain Rules & Exceptions
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 19:36:36 -0500

Greg posted:  "Especially when a copy of the code book costs $90 and the 
handbook that helps explain it costs $150."

Well, if not the users who buy the books, who should pay to develop the 
codes?  While my time is volunteer and expense for travel to meetings and 
such is mostly reimbursed - like $3000-5000 per year - there is the matter 
of the NFPA and ICC (and ESTA and ANSI and so on) staff, their office and 
travel expenses, and the cost of publishing the codes.  I suppose we could 
increase taxes to make it free, but, since it's free many more people would 
demand copies, substantially increasing the costs overall.

Hey, why not have all campus security paid for by the federal government - 
that's safety right?  Why should it have to come from tuition?  And of 
course without a budget you can get all the security you need cause it isn't 
coming from tuition.  And all those fire extinguishers.  Heck, let the feds 
pay for your fire safety curtain.  Think how much has to do with safety that 
now could be unlimited.  Let's assign it to homeland security - they seem so 
very efficient and rich.

By the way - in the UK they cost about twice.

Bill C.  ASTC, ETCP CR-T



------------------------------

From: "Andy Leviss" <Andy [at] DucksEchoSound.com>
Subject: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:36:54 -0400
Organization: Duck's Echo Sound
Message-ID: <064501c67eca$29089640$2802a8c0 [at] Andy>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498052 [at] prxy.net>

Bruce Purdy asked:

>     Is there some device available on the market - or 
> something I could
> build - that has one button on it that will emulate a space bar on a
> computer keyboard? Wireless would be great, but wired would be OK.

Yup. Delcom makes USB footswitches that can emulate any key on a USB
keyboard (two if you buy the dual footswitch, which is a rocker). $34
for the single, $68 for the double.

http://www.delcom-eng.com/products_USBFSW.asp

--Andy
http://OneFromTheRoad.com

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.7.0/345 - Release Date: 5/22/2006
 


------------------------------

Message-ID: <1209.205.215.254.25.1148431288.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498053 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30489845 [at] prxy.net> <list-30490472 [at] prxy.net>
    <list-30492953 [at] prxy.net> <list-30495590 [at] prxy.net>
    <list-30498053 [at] prxy.net>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 17:41:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
From: "Bill Nelson" <billn [at] peak.org>

>  is there a momentary pause, however slight, during ramp-up
> to full speed? (two feet of cable wrapped)
> The cables being at the headblock , if I understand
> correctly, when this occurred will be an additional tension
> point on the cables.
> My reasoning here: if there is that slightest hesitation,
> read shockload,  that is going to be a probable point of
> failure on the drum, the wire changing configuration,
> straight to curved.

I was wondering something similar. There was mention of cables being
"tight" in some blocks. If the cables bound enough, I can see two
possibilities. When the binding situation cleared, the slacker cables
would undergo a shock load as they took up their share of the load. Also,
the cables that were under greater tension would undergo a near
instantaneous release of part of their load.

It would not take much, as far as actual distance, to cause this
situation. A fraction of an inch might be enough.

Bill Nelson


------------------------------

Message-ID: <90d9c9980605231742o7af4ecc7v2eb6a5f9916726d1 [at] mail.gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:42:47 -0400
From: "Scott Parker" <scparker [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Academic Plotting policies
In-Reply-To: <list-30494883 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30494883 [at] prxy.net>

City College's school of Architecture uses some form of print manager
that deducts from a prepaid account for all printing. The students get
$100 included to start and after that, they have to pay into the
account. I don't know the software, but I can find out if you're
interested.
Scott

On 5/23/06, Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu> wrote:
> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> Hey folks,
>
> We're currently reviewing our plotting/printing policies for our
> department and are wondering what other institutions do.  Currently we
> charge a fixed lab fee for our CAD class but find that invites abuse.
> (As in, "I've paid my lab fee, I can plot anything I want!")
>
> Having students purchase their own paper and ink just seems silly, and
> too hard on the plotter.
>
> Does anyone else have a "fair" system for this, or do people just not
> worry about it.
>
> As a side-issue to this, what paper resources do you provide to
> mainstage student designers?  We notice that we expect hand-drafters to
> provide their own vellum, while CAD/VW designers have been allowed free
> access to the plotter.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve L.
> --
> Stephen Litterst
> Technical Supervisor
> Ithaca College, Theatre Arts
> 607.274.3947
> slitterst [at] ithaca.edu
>


--=20
Thanks and take care, Scott

=09Scott C. Parker
=09Professor/Technical Director
=09Dept. of Performing Arts
=09Dyson College of Arts and Sciences  [at]  Pace University
=09Office/shipping: 41 Park Row, 1205F
=09Mailing: 1 Pace Plaza
=09New York, NY 10038
=09212-346-1423  Fax: 914-989-8425

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:47:09 -0400
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
From: Bill Sapsis <bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
Message-ID: <C099254D.D240%bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498053 [at] prxy.net>

Nope, You're not full of it.  In this kind of thing it can be the damndest
things that come out to bite you.

There was mention of marrying two pipes together.  Well, depending on the
method used it is very difficult to insure that the load is evenly
distributed between the two pipes.  There will most likely be movement
between the two.  

And here's another thought I just had.  If you are using typical headblocks
that may mean that you are running the winch drive line through the 3/4"
groove that used to hold the operating line.  This may mean several things.

1)  the groove is too wide for the 1/4' drive line and there may be some
slippage.  In this case slippage will cause bounce.

2)  Depending on who made the headblock and what year and whether the stars
where in alignment, the groove cut for the 3/4" operating line could be as
much as 1/2" deeper than the grooves for the 1/4" lift lines.  This means
that the diameter of the headblock at the 3/4' groove is narrower than at
the lift lines which, in turn, means that the drive line is trying to run at
a slightly different speed than the lift lines.  More slipping and jumping
around.  And as every Mick Jagger wannabe knows, the more slipping and
jumping around you have, the more you get a chance for a shock load.

People please remember this is all conjecture at this point.  The only way
to truly understand what is going on is to duplicate the situation exactly
in a controlled environment and then observe it.

Yeah.  I have time for that.  Sure I do.

Be well folks
Bill S.
ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre
www.sapsis-rigging.com
800.727.7471
267.278.4561 mobile

Join the Long Reach Long Riders on their 3rd annual cross country charity
motorcycle ride.   <www.LRLR.org>







On 5/23/06 8:17 PM, "Idaho Scenic & Rigging" <idahoscenic [at] earthlink.net>
wrote:

> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> 
> my two cents.
>  is there a momentary pause, however slight, during ramp-up
> to full speed? (two feet of cable wrapped)
> The cables being at the headblock , if I understand
> correctly, when this occurred will be an additional tension
> point on the cables.
> My reasoning here: if there is that slightest hesitation,
> read shockload,  that is going to be a probable point of
> failure on the drum, the wire changing configuration,
> straight to curved.
> 
> (Am I full of it Bill, or a possibility?)
> 
> Rob't
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian Munroe" <bpmunroe [at] gmail.com>
> To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 3:53 PM
> Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
> 
> 
> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see
> <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> 
> Thanks for the info Guys.
> 
> Some answers to your questions -
> 
> It is a 5hp ac motor, mounted on the grid opposite the
> headblocks.
> The piece does not move particularly fast and there are
> decent accel
> and decel ramps programmed into the computer.  There is no
> obvious
> bounce in the arbor when it is moving and we tend to keep
> fairly tight
> tension on the hauling lines.  The hauling line is also a
> 1/4" cable.
> It is a long run for the hauling line so tension could be an
> issue for
> us.  This piece moves 4 times in the show (in, out, in,
> out).
> 
> Delbert is correct about the weight distribution, being that
> they are
> legs.  The damaged cables were #1 (long) #3 and #4 at
> center.  The
> weight of the legs, but not necessarily the tension on the
> cables, is
> under cables 1&2 and 6&7.  Dynos are a good idea but not
> practical for
> us.
> 
> This set is a 2 headblock/married arbor set.  The damaged
> cables were
> all in one headblock.
> 
> The overspeed is determined at the drive based on actual
> versus
> expected encoder pulse counts as compared to a maximum
> allowed encoder
> count at 100% ( ie - max allowed counts is at 100% is 1000
> (for
> example), so 250  at 25%, etc). The encoder is mounted to
> the winch
> and driven from the drum by a roller chain. We did get a lot
> of false
> overspeeds on many drives when we first teched the show,
> several years
> ago.  The automation shop adjusted the overspeed parameters
> and we
> have been fine since.
> 
> In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that these
> cables
> were installed just over a year ago.  We replaced headblocks
> on this
> set and the show curtain, do to groove damage from excessive
> fleet
> angle between the headblock and loft blocks on the short
> cables, which
> we corrected.  The is still some fleet angle on the long
> cables, and
> the grooves in the new headblocks feel "tight" to us.
> 
> I have the automation shop coming on Friday for some other
> maintenance, so we will be taking a good look at the winch
> as well.
> 
> Again, thanks for your answers, it is very helpful.
> 
> Brian Munroe
> bpmunroe [at] gmail.com
> 



------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:47:47 -0400
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
From: Bill Sapsis <bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
Message-ID: <C0992573.D241%bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498327 [at] prxy.net>

Exactly!!!!



On 5/23/06 8:33 PM, "Jon Ares" <jonares [at] hevanet.com> wrote:

> So... it's sort of a wire rope hernia.  :)



------------------------------

From: "Jon Lagerquist" <jon [at] lagerquist.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 18:16:22 -0700
Subject: Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
Reply-to: jon [at] lagerquist.com
Message-ID: <44735176.13453.7509BB [at] localhost>
In-reply-to: <list-30498393 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30498052 [at] prxy.net>

You may also want to talk to John Chapman at Response-box.com

> >     Is there some device available on the market - or 
> > something I could
> > build - that has one button on it that will emulate a space bar on a
> > computer keyboard? Wireless would be great, but wired would be OK.

Jon Lagerquist
Technical Director  [at]  South Coast Repertory
Costa Mesa, CA


------------------------------

Reply-To: <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
From: "RD" <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
Subject: RE: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 19:17:10 -0600
Message-ID: <075d01c67ecf$c89bc6a0$c083c447 [at] doom1>
In-Reply-To: <list-30496090 [at] prxy.net>

Sounds like several of the lawsuits I have had at the studios. Doom 

-----Original Message-----
From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of
ladesigners [at] juno.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 4:15 PM
To: Stagecraft
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!

For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
---------------------------------------------------

Naw - it is more dramatic with a 20K, especially when the current is
ruptured under load by the leads pulling out during the light's fall.
/s/ Richard
____________________________
Can we see it again with a Mole 10K?  :)
Clive Mitchell



------------------------------

Message-Id: <6.1.1.1.2.20060523180809.02a708d8 [at] mail.sdsu.edu>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 18:26:34 -0700
From: Loren Schreiber <lschreib [at] mail.sdsu.edu>
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
In-Reply-To: <list-30498052 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30498052 [at] prxy.net>

I can't speak to the damage done to the cable--Bill and Delbert are far 
more capable at that sort of thing.

But I had an encounter with a similar rig at the Dallas Opera recently, 
where the current reading on my winch varied significantly depending on 
where the married arbors were in their travel. Obviously, there were stiff 
places in the track. Two arbors were married because the load was more than 
one line set could handle--so we are talking about a lot of weight. One 
could watch the arbors move and it looked smooth throughout the travel. The 
read-out on my winch said otherwise. When the arbors encountered a stiff 
point in the track, the load on the winch increased significantly and then 
dropped quickly below the average load for a second and then continued. 
That means the load was bouncing--not so much that one could see it, but 
enough, I should think, to work-harden the cable at the point of highest 
stress.

Bill and Delbert, tell me what you think--but I think the point of highest 
stress in a line set cable is when it is turning over the head or loft 
blocks. That is where one might expect to see damage from repeated 
loadings. I would suggest watching the panel on the AC drive and see if 
there is point where load seems to increase momentarily. This subtle bounce 
might also account for the overspeed, as the stretched cable recovers its 
original shape. If the encoder is on the motor, rather than the drum, then 
even small variations in the load will show up as large variations at the 
drive.


Loren "Grits" Schreiber, Technical Director
School of Theatre, Television and Film
San Diego State University

Long Reach Long Riders announce dates for the 2006 Charity Ride.
Check out www.lrlr.org   for more information, and then join us! 


------------------------------

Message-ID: <1270.205.215.254.25.1148434397.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org>
In-Reply-To: <list-30487039 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30487039 [at] prxy.net>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 18:33:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Taiko Drums
From: "Bill Nelson" <billn [at] peak.org>

> Thanks for all the input from everyone.
> Just to clarify, the reading was 106dBA, slow.  And it
> was a near continuous 106, spiking higher at louder parts.
> I tried using our drum shields, but that seemed to make
> it worse - deepening the bass rumble, and only blocking
> the higher sounds of the rim shots.  Is there such thing
> as an absorbing drum shield? (rather than the reflective
> plexi ones)  Seems to me like that would be the best bet.

There are "drum gobo" sets available. I don't know how effective they may be.

When we have had R&R bands as part of musicals, we put the drummer in a
"cave" and used moving blanket pads for sound deadening. Probably not
idea, but it was inexpensive.

Bill


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 21:41:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
In-reply-to: <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net>
Message-id: <1132.24.58.7.223.1148434899.squirrel [at] webmail.ithaca.edu>
References: <list-30494427 [at] prxy.net> <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net>

Uncle Bill Asked...
> ---------------------------------------------------

> Set up or not, would someone please tell me why we still use those cast
> iron
> "C" clamps.  I mean, I'm just a rigger and I don't know much about
> lighting,
> but why would I want to put something up in the air over my head that I
> could break with an 8" adjustable wrench?

Force of habit?  It's not a good reason, but I'd wager it's a combination
of that and lack of education on the alternatives.

My feeling is that very few people know the limitations of cast iron or
that there are better technologies available.

And a money squeeze.  I've been buying only the cast aluminum clamps for
the six years I've been at Ithaca to replace aging cast-iron clamps and
I've barely made a dent in our stock.

That being said, has anyone ever directly witnessed a cast iron C-clamp
broken with an 8" wrench?  I demonstrate how it is possible to over-stress
the clamp and dimple/puncture the pipe/truss in my class.  I'm not a small
guy and with an 8" wrench (and one year a 10" litespeed wrench) I couldn't
do it.  Oh sure, I f*cked up the pipe I was clamping to, but just couldn't
finish off the clamp.

Steve L.


------------------------------

Message-ID: <20060524014725.21683.qmail [at] web82202.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 18:47:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Heinicke <mheinicke [at] sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
In-Reply-To: <list-30491903 [at] prxy.net>

Her reaction also seems odd. No expression of suprise
or pain. Her head doesn't move at all, but her whole
body seems to be thrown sideways. I vote that it was a
setup.

Mike Heinicke

--- SS <cueonego [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see
> <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> 
> Anyone seen this clip yet?
> 
> http://www.break.com/index/reporterhit19.html
> 
> 
> -- SS
> TTS-EKU
> 
> "Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" until
> you find a suitable rock. "
> 


------------------------------

Message-ID: <1336.205.215.254.25.1148436295.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org>
In-Reply-To: <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30494427 [at] prxy.net> <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net>
    <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 19:04:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
From: "Bill Nelson" <billn [at] peak.org>

> That being said, has anyone ever directly witnessed a cast iron C-clamp
> broken with an 8" wrench?  I demonstrate how it is possible to over-stress
> the clamp and dimple/puncture the pipe/truss in my class.  I'm not a small
> guy and with an 8" wrench (and one year a 10" litespeed wrench) I couldn't
> do it.  Oh sure, I f*cked up the pipe I was clamping to, but just couldn't
> finish off the clamp.

I posted the same thing in an earlier reply. I have seen the bolts bent
and the pipe badly scarred, but I have never seen a clamp fail.

Bill


------------------------------

From: MissWisc [at] aol.com
Message-ID: <320.4c27766.31a51c3e [at] aol.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 22:17:34 EDT
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!

bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com  writes:
<<  Set up or not, would someone please tell me why we  still use those cast 
iron
"C" clamps.  I mean, I'm just a rigger and I  don't know much about lighting,
but why would I want to put something up in  the air over my head that I
could break with an 8" adjustable wrench?  >>

For the same reason we still use the qwerty keyboard... use so  widespread 
that has become a habit. 

Kristi  


------------------------------

In-Reply-To: <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30494427 [at] prxy.net> <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net> <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net>
Message-Id: <82F0BEBF-1210-492F-ACCA-3A3A2A4A34EE [at] mystykworks.com>
From: "Daniel O'Donnell" <dan [at] mystykworks.com>
Subject: Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 22:27:24 -0400


On May 23, 2006, at 9:41 PM, Stephen Litterst wrote:

> That being said, has anyone ever directly witnessed a cast iron C- 
> clamp
> broken with an 8" wrench?  I demonstrate how it is possible to over- 
> stress

Yea, I have.  Resulted in a 1Kl6 falling 25' and landing between the  
ME and PM.  Caught the ME on the ankle after a bounce.  He limped for  
weeks.

---
Daniel R. O'Donnell
dan [at] mystyk.com
http://www.mystyk.com



------------------------------

Reply-To: <stagecraft [at] jeffsalzberg.com>
From: "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" <stagecraft [at] jeffsalzberg.com>
Subject: RE: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 22:33:04 -0400
Message-ID: <00e901c67eda$62684a10$6501a8c0 [at] Dell>
In-Reply-To: <list-30500270 [at] prxy.net>

I've seen two clamps shatter in the air.  I never want to see a third.
Fortunately (well, fortune had nothing to do with it; proper safety
precautions did), both fixtures had safeties.

> > That being said, has anyone ever directly witnessed a cast iron C-
> > clamp
> > broken with an 8" wrench?  I demonstrate how it is possible 
> to over- 
> > stress
> 
> Yea, I have.  Resulted in a 1Kl6 falling 25' and landing between the  
> ME and PM.  Caught the ME on the ankle after a bounce.  He 
> limped for  
> weeks.


------------------------------

Reply-To: <drkrajec [at] stritch.edu>
From: "David R. Krajec" <drkrajec [at] stritch.edu>
Subject: video clip
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 21:33:04 -0500
Message-ID: <JKEMJFLLJELICALBEPDPAEAJCNAA.drkrajec [at] stritch.edu>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498052 [at] prxy.net>

Watch the clip again.  She doesn't even BLINK when the can hits her on the
head.  Also, after it bounces off her bean, where does it go?  It bounces
off her hand on the desk!  As Delbert pointed out, no screams!  It's seems
to be a fake.  A pretty good one, but a fake.

David K.

-----Original Message-----
From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:02:02 -0400
From: "Delbert Hall" <delbert.hall [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!

I have watched this video now several times at half-speed and it has
definately been "created."  Several new things stand out after a closer look
1) the sound that occurs when the instrument falls is not natural, 2) the
reported does not scream, yell, or whimper when the instrument hits her, 3)
there is no distinct sound of the instrument hiting the reporter or the
desk, just the odd background sound of it falling, and 4) the instrument
falls faster AFTER it hits the reporter than before it hits her.  Someone
had a good time making this.

-Delbert



------------------------------

Message-ID: <b7318c480605231936g24d8fb8dib5145c002f399563 [at] mail.gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 22:36:11 -0400
From: "Delbert Hall" <delbert.hall [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: What caused this cable damage?
In-Reply-To: <list-30499228 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30498052 [at] prxy.net> <list-30499228 [at] prxy.net>

> Bill and Delbert, tell me what you think--but I think the point of highes=
t
> stress in a line set cable is when it is turning over the head or loft
> blocks. That is where one might expect to see damage from repeated
> loadings.

I agree Loren.  The bending of the cable puts additional stress on it.
The more the cable bends, the greater the stress.  There could be many
causes for the failure of these cables.  There could be a combination
of things that resulted in the failures.  Anything we say here is pure
speculation. To know what really is happened, we would need to inspect
the system completely.  I would first check the fleet angles of the
cable, check the bearings on the sheaves,  check that the arbors run
smoothly on the tracks, check the sheaves for signs of wear due to
excessive force, and finally measure the load on each cable (static
and dynamic), if I found no other problems.

There is a problem somewhere in the system.  Replacing the cable is
not fixing the problem, just delaying the next reoccurance.

Loren said:
I would suggest watching the panel on the AC drive and see if
there is point where load seems to increase momentarily. This subtle bounce
might also account for the overspeed, as the stretched cable recovers its
original shape. If the encoder is on the motor, rather than the drum, then
even small variations in the load will show up as large variations at the
drive.

Good suggestion.  The problem will probably turn out to be something
simple that is being compounded by the motor, but this is just a
guess.

--=20
Delbert L. Hall

------------------------------

In-Reply-To: <list-30494883 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30494883 [at] prxy.net>
Message-Id: <F8981BFF-C600-4593-91D7-03EB7597CAAA [at] gmail.com>
From: Andrew Vance <atvanceld [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Academic Plotting policies
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 21:36:45 -0500

On 23 May, 2006, at 16:18 , Stephen Litterst wrote:
> As a side-issue to this, what paper resources do you provide to  
> mainstage student designers?  We notice that we expect hand- 
> drafters to provide their own vellum, while CAD/VW designers have  
> been allowed free access to the plotter.

My alma mater did [and still does I believe] require hand drafters  
and CAD-ers alike to provide their own paper for classroom projects.   
[Oddly, though, hand drafters have to provide their own pencils,  
templates, etc. while the department provides the ink and computer  
station for the computer savvy folk.]  If they're drafting/plotting  
drawings for a realized show, the department provides the paper for  
both.

--
Sincerely,

Andrew Vance
Lighting Designer
atvanceld [at] gmail.com




------------------------------

In-Reply-To: <list-30499803 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30494427 [at] prxy.net> <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net> <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net> <list-30499803 [at] prxy.net>
Message-Id: <B4AA29AF-667E-441F-B410-45C928300F1B [at] gmail.com>
From: Andrew Vance <atvanceld [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 21:45:09 -0500

>> That being said, has anyone ever directly witnessed a cast iron C- 
>> clamp
>> broken with an 8" wrench?

I guess technically it was a speed wrench, but I have witnessed cast  
iron C-clamps breaking with wrenches back in college.  A friend and I  
were hanging a show in our black box theatre [some pipes accessible  
from the catwalks, some from a ladder].  I was up in the catwalks  
while he was hanging lights on a ladder across the room.  As he was  
tightening the C-clamp with his speed wrench, the clamp snapped in  
the middle of the C.  He had one hand on the yoke and the speed  
wrench happened to catch the bolt, so he was able to keep the unit  
[which was also safetied to the pipe] from falling.

That, however, is the only time I've seen one fail.  Like others have  
said, I've seen my fair share of bent bolts and damaged pipes.  I  
have noticed that the larger of the two rental houses in town doesn't  
send any units out with cast iron clamps on them.

--
Sincerely,

Andrew Vance
Lighting Designer
atvanceld [at] gmail.com




------------------------------

From: "ladesigners [at] juno.com" <ladesigners [at] juno.com>
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 03:08:53 GMT
Subject: Re: Fire Curtain Rules & Exceptions
Message-Id: <20060523.200927.28846.2776 [at] webmail31.lax.untd.com>

If the NEC was free or at low-cost by being available on-line, it would =
not increase the costs per capa, it would lower the costs per capa and s=
ave some trees and distribution costs at the same time. The cost of deve=
lopment is already being borne by the writers and their employers, as we=
ll as by manufacturers. Some institutions will want a hard copy, just as=
 some law offices want bound case books, but many lawyers are satisfied =
with on-line or CDs/DVDs where they can do full global searches for code=
 passages similar to a Google search. That way, you can find conflicts b=
etween Handicap Codes and Historical Preservation Codes, between Plumbin=
g Codes and Electrical Codes, or between Grading Codes and Zoning Codes =
adopted by a particular jurisdiction, as some communities adopt only por=
tions of various codes from  different year code editions. I am happy to=
 pay $20 per year for a fully searchable updated Encyclopedia Britannica=
 on DVD each year that I can put on my desktop as well as laptop compute=
rs.
/s/ Richard
_________________________

I suppose we could increase taxes to make it free, but, since it's free =
many more people would demand copies, substantially increasing the costs=
 overall.
Bill C.  =


   


------------------------------

Message-ID: <4473D1C6.202 [at] cybercom.net>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 23:23:50 -0400
From: Dale Farmer <dale [at] cybercom.net>
Organization: I'm working on that....
Subject: Re: Contact area of casters?
References: <list-30467463 [at] prxy.net>
In-Reply-To: <list-30467463 [at] prxy.net>

Michael Heinicke wrote:
> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> 
> Can anyone tell me how to calculate the floor contact
> area of a caster? I would like to figure out how much
> pressure a cart is going to place on the floor, but I
> need to know the area of contact first. I am assuming
> that there is a formula for this, I just haven't found
> it and don't know where else to look.
> 
> Thanks,
> Mike Heinicke
> 
> 
> 
   It varies with the kind of caster, the surface you are rolling on, 
and how much weight.   For a steel caster wheel rolling on a cement 
floor, the actual contact area is quite tiny.   That same steel wheel in 
mud is going to sink down rather further for a much larger contact area.

   --Dale


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 23:40:17 -0400
Subject: Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
From: Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
Message-ID: <C0994DDF.11311%bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498393 [at] prxy.net>

> Yup. Delcom makes USB footswitches that can emulate any key on a USB
> keyboard (two if you buy the dual footswitch, which is a rocker). $34
> for the single, $68 for the double.
> 
    Thanks Andy, and everyone else that made suggestions. This foot switch
seems to be the closest to what I'm looking for - maybe with a long USB
extension cord (Is there such a thing?) it might work.

    I should clarify what I was thinking about. As I said, the Sound Byte
software uses the spacebar to advance and play the next track. I was
thinking it might be a good way for me to start the music cues from onstage
in my one-man show.

    I want to have the music just start when I want it to, but not look like
I'm going over to the sound system and pushing a play button. A wireless
button in my pocket, or a small footswitch on stage that I can
surreptitiously step on would be great.

    I know that this can be done with MIDI show control, but I was wondering
if it might be possible to take advantage of this simple and inexpensive
software to do the same thing. A long shot, I realise, but it's a thought -
and it doesn't hurt to ask. :-)

Bruce
-- 
Bruce Purdy
Technical Director
Smith Opera House




------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 21:57:28 -0600
From: Davy Davis <wdavis [at] du.edu>
Subject: Re: video clip
Cc: drkrajec [at] stritch.edu
Message-id: <1514abb151761a.151761a1514abb [at] du.edu>

If I remember correctly, and it is very, very  possible that my memeory is faulty, I first saw this on the web 15 years ago.  Look at her attire and hairdo, why are there no network/station credits visible on screen that you can check out.  Who first posted this and where did they hear about it.  We need the details and we need them now, or this will go on forever.....
Davy

William Temple (Davy) Davis
Chair, Department of Theatre
University of Denver
Denver, Co 80210

----- Original Message -----
From: "David R. Krajec" <drkrajec [at] stritch.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:33 pm
Subject: video clip

> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <" 
> target="l">http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>-----------------------
> ----------------------------
> 
> Watch the clip again.  She doesn't even BLINK when the can hits 
> her on the
> head.  Also, after it bounces off her bean, where does it go?  It 
> bouncesoff her hand on the desk!  As Delbert pointed out, no 
> screams!  It's seems
> to be a fake.  A pretty good one, but a fake.
> 
> David K.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stagecraft [stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:02:02 -0400
> From: "Delbert Hall" <delbert.hall [at] gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!
> 
> I have watched this video now several times at half-speed and it has
> definately been "created."  Several new things stand out after a 
> closer look
> 1) the sound that occurs when the instrument falls is not natural, 
> 2) the
> reported does not scream, yell, or whimper when the instrument 
> hits her, 3)
> there is no distinct sound of the instrument hiting the reporter 
> or the
> desk, just the odd background sound of it falling, and 4) the 
> instrumentfalls faster AFTER it hits the reporter than before it 
> hits her.  Someone
> had a good time making this.
> 
> -Delbert
> 
> 
> 


------------------------------

In-Reply-To: <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30494427 [at] prxy.net> <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net> <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net>
Message-Id: <92E8A681-4B4C-4176-8C29-9A896CB7D0E2 [at] ucla.edu>
From: Samuel Jones <sjones [at] ucla.edu>
Subject: Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 21:00:33 -0700

Um....  It's cheaper?  Of course we all know that price is never an  
object when it comes to safety.

Sam

Samuel L. Jones
Technical Director,
Dance Program, Dept. of World Arts and Cultures, UCLA.
sjones [at] arts.ucla.edu
(310) 207-0392 (home)
(310) 825-5823 (office)
(310) 993-4172 (cell)


On May 23, 2006, at 6:41 PM, Stephen Litterst wrote:
> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http:// 
> stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> Uncle Bill Asked...
>> ---------------------------------------------------
>
>> Set up or not, would someone please tell me why we still use those  
>> cast
>> iron
>> "C" clamps.  I mean, I'm just a rigger and I don't know much about
>> lighting,
>> but why would I want to put something up in the air over my head  
>> that I
>> could break with an 8" adjustable wrench?
>





------------------------------

Message-ID: <018701c67ee6$c00ea180$6401a8c0 [at] amd2200>
From: "Idaho Scenic & Rigging" <idahoscenic [at] earthlink.net>
References: <list-30501533 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 22:01:34 -0600

Bruce

You might need a  booster  for your USB signal.
I run a large printer across this room and I was getting
errors until I put a self powered USB inline.  (think
walwart and 4 port bus)
Mine is 3' off the printer to the bus and then 25' to the
back of my PC.
your needs may vary.
USB "extension"  cords available from Comp USA, Staples, ad
nauseum.

Rob't
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Purdy" <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 9:40 PM
Subject: Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)


> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see
<http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> > Yup. Delcom makes USB footswitches that can emulate any
key on a USB
> > keyboard (two if you buy the dual footswitch, which is a
rocker). $34
> > for the single, $68 for the double.
> >
>     Thanks Andy, and everyone else that made suggestions.
This foot switch
> seems to be the closest to what I'm looking for - maybe
with a long USB
> extension cord (Is there such a thing?) it might work.
>
>     I should clarify what I was thinking about. As I said,
the Sound Byte
> software uses the spacebar to advance and play the next
track. I was
> thinking it might be a good way for me to start the music
cues from onstage
> in my one-man show.
>
 a small footswitch on stage that I can
> surreptitiously step on would be great.
>


------------------------------

Message-ID: <019101c67eec$d3ffdbe0$6401a8c0 [at] amd2200>
From: "Idaho Scenic & Rigging" <idahoscenic [at] earthlink.net>
References: <list-30467463 [at] prxy.net> <list-30501219 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: July in Indy,   Frank M. et al
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 22:45:05 -0600

Frank Merrill
and other List Indianapolisians.

Due to Indiana's recent withdrawl of their strict fireworks
policy (YAHOOO) and the fact  that my eldest son, his wife,
and my only grandson live there, I will be visiting your
fair city NOT as a pass through at Verizon Music Center, but
as a vacationing citizen.

The reason I am posting:   there is a possibility of me
considering a move to your fair city.

Would anybody who cares please contact me off-list to inform
me of names- local IA's- theaters etc.
that hire semi-Old Pharts.

I'll be there July 2 -6

Thank you for the band width

Rob't
robriddle [at] earthlink.net


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 00:57:43 -0400
From: loftlight [at] aol.com
Message-Id: <8C84D05B9CC63AD-E4C-B22 [at] MBLK-M30.sysops.aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498381 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!

I believe it'  a fake.  The movements aren't consistant with the action 
of the can falling and her expression doesn't change to "Holy Sh-t!"

AAron Meadow
Lighting Designer
P/Fx 212-995-1120
Cell 917-656-1639
LoftLight [at] aol.com
www.meadowlight.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Kambic <tony [at] focusnote.com>
To: Stagecraft <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
Sent: Tue, 23 May 2006 20:35:59 -0400
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!

    For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see 
<http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
---------------------------------------------------

Bill S. asked...

> Set up or not, would someone please tell me why we still use those 
cast
> iron
> "C" clamps.  I mean, I'm just a rigger and I don't know much about
> lighting,
> but why would I want to put something up in the air over my head that 
I
> could break with an 8" adjustable wrench?
>
> Anyone?

Jerry Durand answered...

> "Because that's the way we've always done it."

And I would like to add it's what most venues have lying around and 
don't
want to pay for more. Nothing beats the 30 year old, orange-coated, iron
c-clamp whose nuts won't move.

...except an 8" wrench.

Tony M Kambic
Electronics Technician - City Theatrical
Freelance lighting technician, NY, NY



    

------------------------------

From: StevevETTrn [at] aol.com
Message-ID: <322.4ecb7e7.31a54cc5 [at] aol.com>
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 01:44:37 EDT
Subject: Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom... on Reporter's Head!

In a message dated 5/23/2006 7:21:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,  
bigclive1 [at] ntlworld.com writes:
>I've only ever used your 
>American  clamps on one job (Disney) and didn't like them.
 
May have been 3rd party rental stock?  Here in Florida the Disney  overhead 
safety gurus have insisted that we only use load rated lighting  clamps such as 
the aluminum ones.
Not very many bent metal clamps on this side of the pond.  If you  really 
want to have your hand bitten, try the old Clancy SureClamps.  No  wrench 
necessary to tighten but look out when you go to pick one up.
 
SteveV
Orlando, FL
 

------------------------------

Message-ID: <ace46fdd0605232251h1fd12284o7f9aa5afbb0ab9cb [at] mail.gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 01:51:40 -0400
From: "Daniel Kelly" <limeking [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
In-Reply-To: <list-30501878 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-30494427 [at] prxy.net> <list-30496730 [at] prxy.net>
	 <list-30499483 [at] prxy.net> <list-30501878 [at] prxy.net>

Megaclamps, which are manufactured of aluminum by Lightsource, have a
working load limit of 375 lbs. and are cheaper than cast iron pipe
clamps. The problem is, the lighting manufacturers still only ship new
instruments with the  damn iron crap. One would think that one of them
would switch over, giving their product an edge while saving some
dough. Must be a conspiracy or something. A big safety cable cartel
maybe?

On 5/24/06, Samuel Jones <sjones [at] ucla.edu> wrote:
> Um....  It's cheaper?  Of course we all know that price is
> never an object when it comes to safety.
>
> Sam

------------------------------

Reply-To: <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
From: "RD" <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
Subject: RE: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 00:27:02 -0600
Message-ID: <07a101c67efb$124b65a0$c083c447 [at] doom1>
In-Reply-To: <list-30500561 [at] prxy.net>

Witnessed hundreds of them doing just that. Doom 

-----Original Message-----
From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Andrew
Vance
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:45 PM
To: Stagecraft
Subject: Re: C-Clamps (was Re: Can Falls Down, Goes Boom...)

For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
---------------------------------------------------

>> That being said, has anyone ever directly witnessed a cast iron C- 
>> clamp
>> broken with an 8" wrench?

I guess technically it was a speed wrench, but I have witnessed cast  
iron C-clamps breaking with wrenches back in college.  A friend and I  
were hanging a show in our black box theatre [some pipes accessible  
from the catwalks, some from a ladder].  I was up in the catwalks  
while he was hanging lights on a ladder across the room.  As he was  
tightening the C-clamp with his speed wrench, the clamp snapped in  
the middle of the C.  He had one hand on the yoke and the speed  
wrench happened to catch the bolt, so he was able to keep the unit  
[which was also safetied to the pipe] from falling.

That, however, is the only time I've seen one fail.  Like others have  
said, I've seen my fair share of bent bolts and damaged pipes.  I  
have noticed that the larger of the two rental houses in town doesn't  
send any units out with cast iron clamps on them.

--
Sincerely,

Andrew Vance
Lighting Designer
atvanceld [at] gmail.com




------------------------------

Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 01:51:43 -0500
Subject: Re: USB Foot Pedal/Big Button (was Re: Sound Byte)
From: Greg Persinger <greg [at] vividillumination.com>
Message-ID: <C0996CAF.B0FC%greg [at] vividillumination.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-30501533 [at] prxy.net>

Bruce,

In that case look at the Keyspan presentation remotes.

They are set up to hit the space bar for powerpoint but also have other
buttons that I think can be designated.

I use it for powerpoint and have never set it up for anything else but it is
wireless RF has a good range and has been very reliable.

Greg Persinger


on 5/23/06 10:40 PM, Bruce Purdy at bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com wrote:

>    I should clarify what I was thinking about. As I said, the Sound Byte
> software uses the spacebar to advance and play the next track. I was
> thinking it might be a good way for me to start the music cues from onstage
> in my one-man show.
> 
>     I want to have the music just start when I want it to, but not look like
> I'm going over to the sound system and pushing a play button. A wireless
> button in my pocket, or a small footswitch on stage that I can
> surreptitiously step on would be great.



------------------------------

From: <willhill [at] globalnet.co.uk>
Subject: Auditorium Draw Pipe
Message-Id: <E1FioRi-0006wR-EW [at] webm9.global.net.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 09:10:22 +0100


<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #5167c6 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">Hi all,<BR>
<BR>
I would be interested to learn of user experience of auditorium draw pipes used for temporary&nbsp;front of house multicore runs. We propose to install one and would like to know pros and cons.&nbsp;Diameter of pipe, type of pull line, redundant pull line?, anti friction devices (!), etc.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks,<BR>
<BR>
Will Hill,<BR>
Norwich Theatre Royal,<BR>
U.K.</BLOCKQUOTE><BR><hr>Message sent via Global Webmail - http://www.globalnet.co.uk/ <br>Up to 8Mb broadband now from just £9.99 a month

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 03:45:06 -0500
Subject: Re: Fire Curtain Rules & Exceptions
From: Greg Persinger <greg [at] vividillumination.com>
Message-ID: <C0998742.B0FF%greg [at] vividillumination.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-30498382 [at] prxy.net>


on 5/23/06 7:36 PM, Bill Conner at bill-conner [at] att.net wrote:

> Well, if not the users who buy the books, who should pay to develop the
> codes?  <Snip>

Well if each county in the country paid $500 a year to the NFPA as a
licensing fee to use the copyrighted material of each book that they adopted
as code, NFPA would pull in an estimated $2 million per code book that could
be used for development. Combine this with memberships and grants that it
already receives and it seems like it might head into the ballpark. Increase
the license a bit more to make the required operating budget.

It seems as though a couple thousand out of the county budget would be
peanuts compared to the cost of developing it's own code system. This cost
could be defrayed by adding a dollar to every permit pulled.

To the end user internet downloads would be free, $10 and shipping for a CD,
$20 and shipping for the book. You pick.

I also think that if a NFPA document is adopted as law it should be made
available electronically at no charge so that those that need to obey the
law can know what the law is and follow it.
 
> Hey, why not have all campus security paid for by the federal government -
> that's safety right?  Why should it have to come from tuition?  And of
> course without a budget you can get all the security you need cause it isn't
> coming from tuition.  And all those fire extinguishers.  Heck, let the feds
> pay for your fire safety curtain.  Think how much has to do with safety that
> now could be unlimited.  Let's assign it to homeland security - they seem so
> very efficient and rich.

In the same spirit as your post, don't you think it is kind of silly for a
bunch of safety experts to sit around and dream up the next catastrophe you
need to save us from, figure out how to keep us from that catastrophe, not
freely distribute the information, call us idiots when the catastrophe
happens and people are killed, and be the first ones to jump up and down
screaming that your safety policies were not followed while testifying
against us when we are placed on trial. How do you expect us to follow the
rules if we don't know what the rules are.

Oh yeah that's right we should have bought the book. What is the price of
audience safety? Well $83 to keep them safe from electricity, $73 to get
them out of the building safely, $67 to make sure the fire alarms operate
properly, $89 to get the plumbing for the sprinklers correct, $80 to make
sure you can get people in wheelchairs out... That's $392 and that's just
the beginning. 

Not everyone works in educational theater with budgets to buy code books.
Not all programs have big budgets. Ah yes then there is the "well people's
safety is worth much more then the money" argument. Yes it is so if it is
really about safety hand over the documents and figure out another way to
fund the business that it seems the NFPA has become.


With all due respect for you and all the other fine folks on this list that
are involved in codes and standards organizations, my hats off to you and
your efforts. I do appreciate what you do. However safety in our industry
comes down to the people making good choices and I just don't understand why
the people making the rules don't want to figure out how to make it easy for
people to use the compiled information to follow the best practices you work
so hard to define.

In my opinion this requires two things. The information is easy to obtain
and the information is easy to understand. Without the information people
won't implement the procedures as they won't know what to implement, and if
they do have the information but no understanding of the information they
will not implement it either.

I think that overall the code is fairly well written for most technical
savvy people, and there is always the handbooks you can buy if you need more
explanation, but I think the code people fail in the area of distribution.

It seems counterproductive and counterintuitive to not forward the cause of
safety with widespread distribution of Electrical and Life Safety Codes.

Granted just because it would be available doesn't mean it would always be
used but at least it takes away one more excuses not to.

On another industry forum where I am a subscriber, code questions are asked
almost weekly. When they are told they can find this in a certain section of
the code they ask where to get a copy. When informed of where and the price
they ultimately end up not making the purchase. Typically these are
individuals that would be paying for the books out of their pocket.

I feel these are people that would take the time to study the appropriate
sections of the various codes if they were made readily available to them. I
think doing so would help further the cause of safety.

For the record I do have my own copy of NEC and I probably need to update it
and purchase Life Safety Code as a reference, but I am not ready to shell
out $160 to do it yet as it comes out of my pocket.

I would venture to guess that most people on this list would download and
refer to the codes if made available for free on the internet. I would also
guess that most people on this list, if they don't already have the code
books, will probably not purchase the books anytime in the near future. I
would also say that it is unlikely that if they don't buy the codebooks they
will not go check them out from the library either.

Thanks for your work, but I feel until the code distribution practices are
changed you will never be as effective in your efforts as you could be and
that I sincerely believe that you want to be.

Greg Persinger










------------------------------

End of Stagecraft Digest #820
*****************************