air lifts
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=3863
Printed Date: 4/29/24 at 12:23pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: air lifts
Posted By: edesigns
Subject: air lifts
Date Posted: 3/03/09 at 7:37pm
We are trying to create an elevator using a platform and an air lift that would raise 2 people off the ground 32".
I've tried industrial rental places but now luck. I thought by inflating the cushion under the platform using an compressor off stage would work but noone has this item. Any ideas of constructing it where it's safe for the actors?
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Replies:
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 3/04/09 at 8:53am
my first thought, to do it low tech and on the cheap would be to borrow from Arcamedes, "Give me a lever..." Consider some kind of "see saw" lift with sufficient weight to lift your actors... Rough Idea, but could probalbly do it if I worked it out a bit.
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Marty W
"Till next we trod the boards.."
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Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 3/04/09 at 9:47am
What is the action in the scene?
What does it need to look like is happening?
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David M
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Posted By: edesigns
Date Posted: 3/04/09 at 4:39pm
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Thanks for the idea. One huge problem that we have is the elevator is right in front of the audience. We convert our gym into a theatre for all the productions so we don't have any hidden areas.It makes our designs quite challenging but they are always spectacular.
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Posted By: ddave
Date Posted: 3/04/09 at 7:43pm
We built a lift for BIG for my piano. We used 4 electric car jacks. They have about 12" travel. Maybe combined with a lever?
Pictures:
http://home.comcast.net/~davidtief/projects/BigPiano/BigPiano.html
Elevator picture is about 2/3 of the way down the page.
If you are interested, I can give more details of how to synch them, etc.
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Posted By: oeow
Date Posted: 4/08/09 at 9:09pm
I have a wheelchair lift that I used for my production of Thoroughly modern millie... I may be willing to let it go apart from the set. it has about 5' of lift - and used it with two girls tap dancing on it as it lifted
Let me know!
p.s. It is designed so that set pieces can be attached - its "wheelchair liftness" is very well hidden
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Posted By: edesigns
Date Posted: 4/08/09 at 9:34pm
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Thank you for the idea- Our show was fabulous!! We had a neon sign, a NYC skyline and an elevator made from a folding metal screen. The students made it come to life and I think it was our best show yet!
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