Introduction

[[Director] drew ryan]

Hello all you fine people. I wanted to let you know what this forum is about.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I can hang that . . . Is this bolt that I got from Home Depot strong enough . . . Can I use spyder wire to hang this curtain . . ." Well, this is the place for you. If you have any questions about the way to hang a light, speakers, curtains or anything else that needs to go in the air or on a wall. Please ask away. Enjoy.

[WilliamR]

1) Can I really hang this huge subwoofer with coat hanger wire and paper clips?
2) Can I really hang the speaker over the pulpit from the speaker wires themselves?
3) Can I really save money by buying screws at the Dollar Tree?
4) Can I really use the electrical wire to hang the lighting rig and catwalk?
5) Can I really use thumbtacks to tack up 120v electrical? It pokes through that little groove in the middle of those 27 extension cords so well.
6) Can I really just hang the last guy who did all the installs in the old building using these methods?

(Sorry...could not resist. Having one of those days here.)

[sorry]

Ok - this is a good place for me to post what a guy in our church did...

I was having trouble getting my remotes for the projectors to "reach" the projectors to turn them on/off. So, he climbed the tall ladder, and put a little mirror to the side of the infared light on the back of the projector. This allows me a bigger "eye" to hit with the remote. The infared light hits the mirror bounces into the projector eye.

Pretty cool, huh?

[[Director] Joseph B]

I was thinking about doing that! Now that I know it will work I'll have to give it a try.

[smtv]

Originally Posted by Joseph B

I was thinking about doing that! Now that I know it will work I'll have to give it a try.

I thought of it first, I think back in the '70s.

[Mikey]

Money saving tip of the day!!!!

Save the chain from old hanging light fixtures in your home when you install new ones.
You never know when you'll have to hang a speaker or a light truss.

[cmchamp]

Hmmmm.
Life saving tip - always rig with a safety factor of 5:1 to 10:1 - meaning that every piece of material you use for rigging is 5 to 10 times stronger than you need.
Here in Michigan, we don't have siesmic (sp?) requirements, but depending on your location nationally or internationally, you may have siesmic stress requirements to meet by building code. This is another important specification to remember.
Glad you started this forum Drew.
C.

[Mikey]

Alright, all kidding aside.

This would have been handy a few years back when the church I attended decided we could hang our own speakers. I did as much research as I could and got them hanging. I purchased what was in stock at a couple of local suppliers.( Fastenal and the like) By the time it was all done, the weakest link in the rig was the 3/8" forged eyebolts at a design ratio of 12:1. ( Even at the 30 degree angle) I suppose I could have saved the church some money, but I was nervous as could be hanging those things up there. I was not taking any chances.

Quite frankly, I don't have any interest in doing it again either.

[cmchamp]

Mikey
I figured you were jesting - however, as practiced in other forums I participate in, when it comes to safety, it's best to keep jesting to a minimum as the casual reader might take it as 'gospel truth' - go out, use what they see here in their church - someone gets hurt, and our wonderful host - Tim - is held liable for what we put here.
As for the 12:1 - it's much better to be safe than sorry.
C.

[prochlea]

"Money saving tip of the day!!!!

Save the chain from old hanging light fixtures in your home when you install new ones.
You never know when you'll have to hang a speaker or a light truss. "

NEVER DO THIS!

You never know when an old chain is going to have a weak spot. I was installing speakers at a ballroom place a couple years ago that was being remodeled. They had taken the chandeliers down while doing the work, and when the electricians were re-hanging them (using the original chain) one link broke and the huge chandelier came crashing down. It was a major disaster. There was an insurance guy there within the hour. Luckily there was no one underneath it when it fell.

When rigging something that could fall, never use "used" hardware from an old install. There is rigging gear made for touring use that can be used and re-used, but if you are installing something permanent, buy new hardware. If you're doing an install as a company, the company can be held liable. If you're doing it for the church on your own, the church would be held liable. Not to mention the incredibly obvious fact that we don't want anyone getting hurt.

[Kai]

Drew, Nice move starting this forum! Rigging is one of the most dangerous things you can be asked to do. Personally I think every church that has full time technicians should invest in sending them for certified training on temporary, permanent, and open space rigging (not to mention fall protection). Every tech that may be in a position to rig should know how to build drift lines, crimp sleeves, properly use shackles, slings, and chain, tie knots, research ratings, and inspect the gear used for the trade. This should be fundamental.

Rigging is a big part of my Job as a theatre technician in a fly house, and alot of times we have to get creative about it, especially when performers are invloved, using redundant systems along with primary safeties and so forth. This can only be done through certified training.

So, if you are on staff at your church, mention that it is definately in the churchs best intrest to send you to a rigging course!

Originally Posted by Drew Ryan

Hello all you fine people. I wanted to let you know what this forum is about.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I can hang that . . . Is this bolt that I got from Home Depot strong enough . . . Can I use spyder wire to hang this curtain . . ." Well, this is the place for you. If you have any questions about the way to hang a light, speakers, curtains or anything else that needs to go in the air or on a wall. Please ask away. Enjoy.

WOOT a rigging Forum

loving it