rolling platforms and brakes
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Johnson, Laurie
Oct 30, 2009, 2:32:08 PM10/30/09
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Greetings, oh wise ones:
I am in need of some direction on how to build a rolling platform that can be braked easily. We are doing “The Canterbury Tales”, and in the Miller’s Tale, Nicholas needs to fall/roll of the top of a 5 ft platform. I need the platform not to move. I know I could use wheels with brakes on them, but those are problematic for the quick scene changes needed for this show. I think the answer is probably an easy one, but I am flummoxed. Thanks in advance for sharing your brilliance.
Laurie Johnson
Fruita Monument HS Drama Club
Fruita, Colorado
Ken Zinkl
Oct 30, 2009, 2:46:12 PM10/30/09
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easy way, wagon brakes http://www.rosco.com/us/hardware/wagon.asp
The fun way (and not cheap) using pancake cylinders and compressed air from http://www.fabco-air.com/ I haven't done this in a while and the last time I borrowed a system from a local college and just had to run air lines. So I am not the best to give directions on how to do this.
Ken
Kenneth Zinkl
Auditorium Manager
Fort Zumwalt East High School
600 First Executive Ave.
St. Peters, MO 63376
636-477-2400 ext. 2490
Fax: 636-926-3345
NOTICE TO RECIPIENTS: Any information contained in or attached to this message is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this transmittal, you are hereby notified that you received this transmittal in error, and we request that you please delete and destroy all copies and attachments in your possession, notify the sender that you have received this communication in error, and note that any review or dissemination of, or the taking of any action in reliance on, this communication is expressly prohibited.>>> "Johnson, Laurie" <ljoh...@mesa.k12.co.us> 10/30/2009 1:32 PM >>>
The fun way (and not cheap) using pancake cylinders and compressed air from http://www.fabco-air.com/ I haven't done this in a while and the last time I borrowed a system from a local college and just had to run air lines. So I am not the best to give directions on how to do this.
Ken
Kenneth Zinkl
Auditorium Manager
Fort Zumwalt East High School
600 First Executive Ave.
St. Peters, MO 63376
636-477-2400 ext. 2490
Fax: 636-926-3345
NOTICE TO RECIPIENTS: Any information contained in or attached to this message is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this transmittal, you are hereby notified that you received this transmittal in error, and we request that you please delete and destroy all copies and attachments in your possession, notify the sender that you have received this communication in error, and note that any review or dissemination of, or the taking of any action in reliance on, this communication is expressly prohibited.>>> "Johnson, Laurie" <ljoh...@mesa.k12.co.us> 10/30/2009 1:32 PM >>>
Leffel, Lindsey
Oct 30, 2009, 2:44:17 PM10/30/09
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You can purchase wagon brakes at Lowes or Home Depot, they have adjustable height and you simply screw them into the platform framing, and the crew member sets them when they set the platform. They
still have some wiggle room, but work pretty well. Another option is a drop pin system, but can be difficult in a quick change. I'm sure there are many others out there as well. Check out this old thread on Control Booth for some more ideas.
http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/scenery/4167-wagon-brakes.html Good luch!
From: hst...@googlegroups.com [hst...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Johnson, Laurie [ljoh...@mesa.k12.co.us]
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 1:32 PM
To: hst...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [hstech] rolling platforms and brakes
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Matt Breton
Oct 30, 2009, 2:48:38 PM10/30/09
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Hi Laurie,
Instead of casters with brakes, you might want to look at using a hydraulic lift of some kind.
On The Donkey Show, we have two go-go boxes that travel throughout the show; sometimes they need to be static and sometimes they need to move with performers on them. We use a gas-cylinder lift, which jacks the box up high enough that the casters move freely; when it drops down, the edges of the box keep it secure to the floor.
It works like a charm, but the gas cylinders do need to be recharged from time to time, and there's a slight but audible hiss when the boxes are lifted.
Matthew Breton
Design for Theater and Dance
-
From: ljoh...@mesa.k12.co.us
To: hst...@googlegroups.com
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:32:08 -0600
Instead of casters with brakes, you might want to look at using a hydraulic lift of some kind.
On The Donkey Show, we have two go-go boxes that travel throughout the show; sometimes they need to be static and sometimes they need to move with performers on them. We use a gas-cylinder lift, which jacks the box up high enough that the casters move freely; when it drops down, the edges of the box keep it secure to the floor.
It works like a charm, but the gas cylinders do need to be recharged from time to time, and there's a slight but audible hiss when the boxes are lifted.
Matthew Breton
Design for Theater and Dance
-
From: ljoh...@mesa.k12.co.us
To: hst...@googlegroups.com
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:32:08 -0600
Subject: [hstech] rolling platforms and brakes
Daniel Rich
Oct 30, 2009, 3:59:25 PM10/30/09
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Laurie,
We use a system that we found in one of the stagecraft handbooks years ago, in involves mounting the wheels on hinged units so they can be lowered to roll the platform and raised to lock it. I don't have access to the book right now, but it may be from the Wagons section of "The Stagecraft Handbook". Unfortunately, it isn't the easiest thing to describe without drawings....
The caster unit is made up of two pieces of 2x4 slightly shorter than half the distance between the legs of your wagon, and one slightly shorter than the full distance between the legs. you hinge the two short pieces together end-to-end, then lay them down so the hinge is down. Lay the long piece on top of them and screw through it into one of the short 2x4s. The casters go near the ends on the bottom of the short pieces. To mount it under the platform, you put it between the legs and use hinges on top of the unit -- on one top of the long piece, one on the short piece.
Attached is a really rough drawing I just made up in Google Sketchup to give you a better idea what it looks like. We usually use yet another hinged piece of wood mounted on the rear leg to hold the castors down to the floor when we need to move it.
Matt Breton wrote:
We use a system that we found in one of the stagecraft handbooks years ago, in involves mounting the wheels on hinged units so they can be lowered to roll the platform and raised to lock it. I don't have access to the book right now, but it may be from the Wagons section of "The Stagecraft Handbook". Unfortunately, it isn't the easiest thing to describe without drawings....
The caster unit is made up of two pieces of 2x4 slightly shorter than half the distance between the legs of your wagon, and one slightly shorter than the full distance between the legs. you hinge the two short pieces together end-to-end, then lay them down so the hinge is down. Lay the long piece on top of them and screw through it into one of the short 2x4s. The casters go near the ends on the bottom of the short pieces. To mount it under the platform, you put it between the legs and use hinges on top of the unit -- on one top of the long piece, one on the short piece.
Attached is a really rough drawing I just made up in Google Sketchup to give you a better idea what it looks like. We usually use yet another hinged piece of wood mounted on the rear leg to hold the castors down to the floor when we need to move it.
Matt Breton wrote:
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