Flats out of 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=4840
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 9:02pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Flats out of PVC?
Posted By: Darren
Subject: Flats out of PVC?
Date Posted: 10/16/10 at 6:51pm
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I recently heard about someone constructing flats out of muslin stretched over PVC. Has anyone tried this? Any tips for how to do it best.
I'm looking to make some low-cost but durable flats that can be stored easily. If anyone has some other unconventional ideas, please let me know. Thanks. ------------- Darren Farrington Theater Management and Production Consultant http://darrenfarrington.com - www.darrenfarrington.com |
Replies:
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 10/16/10 at 7:27pm
There is a previous topic about using PVC pipe for construction of flats;-printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=2273 - Set Design and Construction: Building a set with PVC?I don't know how they got on as I don't think they ever played back? also printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=4414 - Set Design and Construction: PVC pipe support capability?------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Darren
Date Posted: 10/16/10 at 9:01pm
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Thanks. I did do a search for PVC first, but didn't realize that I was only searching the past six months. ------------- Darren Farrington Theater Management and Production Consultant http://darrenfarrington.com - www.darrenfarrington.com |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 11/01/10 at 2:17pm
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Why PVC? I suppose it can be disassembled and so easier stored. I don't know that it would be more durable nor cheaper. And from my perspective , not easier to make.
Recently we remade our stock of flats. We opted to make Broadway flats covered with luan plywood rather than muslin. The plywood was much cheaper than muslin. Also I'm sure that the 1x4s used were cheaper than PVC pipe.
I think you should take another look at PVC/muslin vs 1x4s/luan. Perhaps you won't change your mind, but maybe you will. ------------- KEB |
Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 11/01/10 at 11:30pm
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Ever since Mr. Lowell described how well luan burns at the annual bonfire, I have been considering other materials. For this show we are trying corrugated cardboard.
------------- David M |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 8:21am
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If burn is your concern, I hope that cardboard is fire retardent. The biggest fire I ever witnessed was a box factory when I was a boy. The venting in the corrugated made the most amaizing chimney effect causing each piece to become its own minnie furnace for the short duration of its burn life. ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 8:25am
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Also, I would have to chime in with KEB54. I'm not sure I'm seeing either the ease or economic value in going with PVC. We too are primarily Luan users. Not only does it make a fairly inexpensive, durable flat, but allows for specialty pieces to be stick built right along side it and still appear "contiguous" ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 9:58am
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I'm a little skeptical of cardboard too, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm spraying the raw cardboard with retardant and mixing retardant into the paint I'm putting on it. I have not done any testing yet. Another reason to consider cardboard was that the school is set up to recycle cardboard so I can do my tiny bit toward greenness. Not that I actually believe in global warming, but there are a lot of people making a lot of green by pushing it :-)
------------- David M |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 10:28am
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Not to green, however, if there is any storage available, Luan can last years and be used in show after show... ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 10:37am
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My 2 big musicals this year will not be using many flats and we do have a small stock of traditional flats( a mix of muslin and Hollywood style). Seussical will all be cutouts, and King and I will need a lot of custom shapes as well. I'll post Seussical pictures if it turns out OK in case someone wants to buy some of it :-)
------------- David M |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 11:16am
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We did king and I a couple of years back.. pretty easy set
------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 7:26pm
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David there is a post from George Pettit about applying fire retardant on cardboard http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4413&KW=cardboard&PID=23414#23414 - http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4413&KW=cardboard&PID=23414#23414 also on his website;- http://www.cortecscenery.com/">  I still can't see the use of PVC in making up flats as a goer, when it comes to constructing 'Stiles & rails? It may work on the odd smaller studio flats or headers, but not with much wider or taller 6' x15'+ ones. ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Darren
Date Posted: 11/03/10 at 9:33pm
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Glad to see all the conversation about this. The thought of PVC was a whim. In the end, we went with standard Broadway flats using 1x4s and luan. ------------- Darren Farrington Theater Management and Production Consultant http://darrenfarrington.com - www.darrenfarrington.com |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 11/03/10 at 10:56pm
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A few comeatre groups here are opting to construct, what I call 'box framed' studio flats. Which seems to be easier to knock up but bulkier when storing them.
Like any studio flats erected in a set, they always seem to be what they are, hard flats usualy when the 'dutchman' aren't applied that well, unlike the broadway [soft] flats where calico [muslin] or roller bandage is used for the dutch jiont masking.
There again if the studio flats are covered in unbleached calico, utilising the shrinkage to tighten the surface, this would give the best results of the both skinning worlds & give a painted canvas finished surface. ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |