moving scenery wagons

[techie_stg]

what is the conventional wisdom on moving stage wagons? I am building some wagons that range from 4X8 to 2X8 with a minimum amt. of scenery on them (desk, door flat, bed, etc.). I want to make the change as quick as possible- so I thought i'd put fixed casters on one end, with a minimum floor clearance, and fixed blocks on the other end of the wagon. When rolled into place and released, the wagon should not slip around with movement. To move the wagon, I thought of using a "j-bar" type of apparatus on the non-caster end to drag or steer the wagon offstage- elevating the end just enough for clearance, only using the casters on the other end of the wagon to roll on. Anyone ever tried this...and succeeded? Any thoughts?

thank you

[propmonkey]

why dont you just use smart casters and elephant clamps?

[lights11964]

we did this just recently in our spring musical. we used 4x8 sheets of plywood with maysonite on either side to make it slick on casters. next u place casters on 2x6. the more casters u have , the easier it is to move the platform. these 2x6's with the casters are then screwed into the stage floor. the sheet of plywood can then be laid on top of that. the stage is then raised to the height of the wagon. the raised floor will keep the platform in place.

hopefully this makes some kind of sense.

[ship]

J-Bar is an interesting idea. How are you going to get it under the platform since it's flush to the floor?

Very time consuming between times when it slipps off or in changing directions without it also doing so.

I like the idea of using breaks, much less have shimmed the platform at times before. As long as the shim can be made fast to the stage so it won't slip, it elevates the platform off the legs.

Might also look into something called a "tip jack." As a concept it can be done with a platform/wall assembly.

In a past design, I had a Keel of a boat supported by three wheels. Once the front end was hoisted to the grid, the rear end of the platform than rested on the floor and not the wheels. Perhaps some sort of platform that normally is at a slight angle but supported by the wheels. Once it's jacked up in some way so it is off the wheels, it than is supported on one end by frame to floor, and on the other end something under it to level the platform and prevent it from moving. This could get tricky in how but possible.

Otherwise there is air cushions and other means. Perhaps even a track for the casters that is blocked into place so the platform can't move until the blocks are removed.

USITT and Yale tech briefs should have lots of other ideas on the question.

Short of installing platforms fast to the deck - say flap hinges made fast once the wagon gets in place, it's a question of weight and friction or surface area preventing the platform from moving. A platform half on the stage, and half on the wheels than only has half the surface area of the platform edge touching the stage. It thus when the other end is castered not provide much friction or prevention of moving given the casters. My thoughts at least - that is unless in some way you lock, block, break or jack up the casters on the castered end.

[techie_stg]

what is an elephant clamp?

[techie_stg]

some great thoughts. I'm guessing that a "tip jack" is a lot like a j-bar, but perhaps more dependable for not slipping off- maybe? It may be possible to unload the weight from the fixed casters by adding blocks that contact the stage when the steering end of the platform is dropped back down- maybe a lot to ask of angles and leverage over an 8ft length, without lifting the end several inches. If the steering end also has blocks to keep it a small distance off the floor, the j-bar/tip jack might work?

[propmonkey]

an elephant clamp is somewhat of a jack that you can attach to edges of platforms and when down, stabilize the platform and keep it form moving. i just did a google seach and didnt find anything maybe it goes by another name. we've been using them for i don't knwo how long at my school. ill dram a pic of find one.

[jwl868]

You may need to consider the weight of the 4x8 plus the scenery. May be heavier than you think.

The repeated rolling of the casters over the same line may damage the floor.

Make sure the casters are tied into the framing of the wagon, not the deck.


Joe

[SuperCow]

We just call them (elephant clamps) brakes.

[JP12687]

At my local community theatre, they were doing a production of Fiorello and flew in an entire set...that was kinda interesting