Set Design and Construction: Building a set with PVC?

Building a set with PVC?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2273
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 8:40pm
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Topic: Building a set with PVC?

Posted By: radiantshadow
Subject: Building a set with PVC?
Date Posted: 2/23/07 at 2:13pm

Hi, all.

I'm working on a set concept for a show later this spring. Here's the trick: We ae sharing our performance space and have very little storage room, and only half an hour to put up/tear down our set (half an hour for each task, but that's still a terribly short amount of time).

The concept has several coatracks/trees and needs a sort of scrim or backdrop with two entrances. The set design calls mostly for suspended fabric, and I'm wondering if my company could build a suitable framework out of PVC pipes. However, I've never worked with PVC, so I don't know how tall a structure could be made, what kind of internal support it would need (would the blueprints look like the usual frames or flats or would it need to be significantly modified?), if it could support the weight, that sort of thing.

Has anyone here worked with PVC? If so, do you have any tips or old diagrams? Is there another material that might meet our needs?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Shannon

Replies:

Posted By: EddyZ
Date Posted: 2/23/07 at 8:36pm

I imagine that trusses built from 3/4-inch PVC would be rather sturdy even at great lengths. Single pipes, not so much.

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EddyZ
http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ - http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/
http://www.nailsouptheatre.com - www.nailsouptheatre.com/

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 2/23/07 at 9:12pm

That is an idea I have been wanting to try! I agree with Eddyz, that you will have to build a truss like structure for strength. Maybe use 3" PVC for the uprights for the truss. Cut a slit in the top of the uprights for the truss to slide in.

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 2/23/07 at 9:18pm

Hit a wrong button*&^%$. Also try using 1x6 lumber for the cross member and 2-2x4's for the uprights (attached together to form a 'T'). Then you can use hinges to anchor them together. They can be diassembled and stored for later use. One great plus-you can staple fabric to lumber!

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 2/24/07 at 7:38pm

With the PVC water pipe [sewerage & mains] you probably know, there are a heap of screw on fittings such as bends, angles, joiners & adaptors available. That can be utilised to make up arms & whatever as add on’s. One thing you will have to remember is water pipe has a thicker inside wall, than that of sewage.
I don’t if there is any advantage using pipe or conduit tubing as frames for flats.
I think this would be more problem than it’s worth.
However you could stick on velco to hold the scrim cloth or use reusable electric ties &/or lace it up with wire.
Frankly I’d use wood for the entrance frames.
Were you hoping to utilise lighting transposition with the scrim?
If so track it on as a traveller or Tab.
Either with a Tab track or string up a wire cable across the stage & use pulleys for the scrim.
I’m not sure why you have the ½ hour restriction. Is this for a Drama-Fest or something similar?
Actually even with bumping in/out a box set of soft flats, using toggle Lash lines to tie them together, would only take a few minutes over all.

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Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}