rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft

On Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:42:26 +0100, Lloydj
wrote:

> On Oct 4, 1:53 am, a...@ wrote:
>> Does anyone have plans for making 4x8 parallels. Or can you recomend
>> a stagecraft book that has plans. I'm having issues with the hinges
>> when trying to fold it up.
>
> Not that you mentioned it, but once you discover how a parallel is
> made, DON'T make them out of construction grade 2x4s. I had a TD do
> that once (with the Producers approval because it was so cheap) for
> the Chicago Lyric Opera production of "Medea" and was an unmitigated
> disaster. It wasn't long after the parallels were built that the
> lumber began drying out and twisting every which way pulling apart
> joints and wrecking any semblance of accuracy.
> Use well dried select 3/4 or 5/4 stock and take the time to jig it up.
> Lloyd
>


& the brief answer is thw hinges on one of the diagonals go on the outside
of the joint.(OK, i'2 the hinge & the hinge pin.