Set Design and Construction: Fastening Lauan

Fastening Lauan

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=3551
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 10:04am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Fastening Lauan

Posted By: thrillwill
Subject: Fastening Lauan
Date Posted: 10/21/08 at 10:22am

Hi all,

Just a quick question about fastening lauan to the flat with cornerblocks and keystones. I normally use clout nails and glue but was wondering if I could replace the nails with 9/16" staples from my staple gun - with glue of course.

I'm worried that the staples (while so much faster) won't provide the compression the glue needs to do its thing. Anyone have any experience with this?

Will.
www.classiccityarts.com

Replies:

Posted By: skoehler
Date Posted: 10/21/08 at 1:55pm

Pneumatic staples work great. The only problem I have had is that if the pressure is too high, they sink into the luan, if too low they stick up. We used to use joint compound to fix the holes when staples were driven too deep though, worked great.

-------------
Steven Koehler
Managing Director
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
www.lafayettecivic.org

Posted By: thrillwill
Date Posted: 10/21/08 at 2:03pm

Yeah I was worried about that. I think I'll experiment with a couple of corner blocks and see what happens. I'll post an update here after I get to the scene shop and try it out.

-------------
Will Leamon
http://www.classiccityarts.com

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 10/21/08 at 2:15pm

We often use a nailer (with stapels) and we have also used screws (drywall). As seams are usually taped or dutchmaned anyway, it hasnt really seemed to matter with us.. I know its a shortcut, but we don't bother with glue either. If you are in a position that your flats last a long time, then I guess every little bit helps in keeping them together and looking good. We do a lot of "stick built" work in the main theater that I work. With that being the case, a lot of our luan flats wind up incorportrated to a point that they either need to be replaced frequently or have the window/doors/special feature hole patched well... In our case, it has been easier to build them a little (dare I say it) shoddier, understanding that if we get three or four shows out of one, we did well.. Just our way.

P.S. as far as waste goes, the pieces/parts continue to filter down and be reused untill we feel they are not worth saving..

-------------
Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:55pm

I prefer not to use hard [Studio] flats, but lately I have been recommending to 'gesso' these with unbleached calico [muslin] or anything like 'Tobacco cloth', which I believe is cheap & readily available there.

With the frame;- http://theatre.sjsu.edu/~culley/PartsFlat.html - http://theatre.sjsu.edu/~culley/PartsFlat.html the trick is not in the quantity of glue applied, but the amount squeezed out, that counts in good jointing.

Using the 'gesso' method how you attach the hard board skin to the frame, is not as important as it is in having sturdy frame work, using corner gussets, keystones, Toggle & diagonal braces. To keep the frame on the square.

The shrinking of the unbleached calico reinforces the the frame & attaching the hard board skin to the the frame. Also the texture surface blends in, if calico Dutchman are used to mask joints. Giving a seamless cloth finish to a set flat wall. Also you flats will last years longer as surface damage can be easily repaired with calico.

-------------
[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: thrillwill
Date Posted: 10/22/08 at 9:04am

Actually I was just wondering about the attachment of Cornerblocks and Keystones. Not the actual skin for the flat. But they are hard/studio flats. That's because on one set piece I want to cut windows into the flat, gel them and then back light them. Hopefully this will give a nice welcoming 'glow' to the building.

I think the confusion is stemming from the fact that I am using scrap lauan for the CBs and KSs. Like MartyW said you use it all... one way or another.

-------------
Will Leamon
http://www.classiccityarts.com

Posted By: skoehler
Date Posted: 10/22/08 at 2:03pm

Ah,
Well the staples would still work, but I think you might have difficulty in stability. Lauan is not built in the same way as plywood, the stresses on the corner blocks and keystones might be too much. Of course if you are suing a hard covered flat, you might want to try a hollywood flat instead of a traditional with corner blocks and keystones.
http://lordarbus.com/THEA142/8_Scenery_Walls_Platforms_Stairs.pdf
page 5 of the above details how to build the flats.

-------------
Steven Koehler
Managing Director
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
www.lafayettecivic.org