Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: bracing tall pieces- help!

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   Help! How do I construct the braces for set pieces 8' (width) by 16' (height)? These are free-standing buildings with irregular rooflines. I was told the braces can only extend 4' back from the flats, but can be secured to the stage floor. I've only used 8' flats before, and I had braces extend 3' on those. I assume that I should use 3 braces per "building" - placed at edges and at the center - so 4' spacing. What should I use for bracing? 2x4's? The height of these pieces is worrying me ... they are twice the height and 4 times the size the the flats I've constructed. 
Thanks,
Emily

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elaidlaw Walk-On Joined: 5/05/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: bracing tall pieces- help! Posted: 4/22/11 at 7:13am
	Help! How do I construct the braces for set pieces 8' (width) by 16' (height)? These are free-standing buildings with irregular rooflines. I was told the braces can only extend 4' back from the flats, but can be secured to the stage floor. I've only used 8' flats before, and I had braces extend 3' on those. I assume that I should use 3 braces per "building" - placed at edges and at the center - so 4' spacing. What should I use for bracing? 2x4's? The height of these pieces is worrying me ... they are twice the height and 4 times the size the the flats I've constructed. Thanks, Emily

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vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 4/22/11 at 9:13am
	Hi Emily, Remember that bracing a straight line of set pieces is far more difficult than bracing if a few are angled. Its similar to trying to stand a book up closed vs. open. If the pieces can zig-zag a bit, the bracing will be far more effective and easy. You won't even have to have them lean back to brace....and the back row of pieces will apear more dynamic. I always used to use 2x4s with a hinge at the corner and half a slip pin hing at the ends. That made the 'jacks' reusable and storable when folded. When you attach, you attach the other half of the slip pin hinges at the set piece. Note that the ends were cut to the right angles to join the set pieces.
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
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PaulyWally Player Joined: 2/03/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 4/23/11 at 11:27am
	I'm not sure if your set pieces are conducive to this. But do you have a fly system or grid system that you can also secure them to with wire from above?
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didj1028 Star Joined: 1/25/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 54	Posted: 5/11/11 at 7:44pm
	if you can secure to the stage floor you'll have little trouble. Usually (because I have a good supply of them) if I can get away with it (sightlines, actor entrances, and such affect this) I just use more flats behind running back perpendicular, screw things together well, screw into the floor, add a few 1x4 cross braces and good to go. The point about not being one straight line is a good one.
	Geoff Ehrendreich Waterloo Community Playhouse Waterloo IA
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Set Design and Construction
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