Curving raked platforms.

[SweetBennyFenton]

Hello all. I'm currently working on a show that will require a curving raked platform and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them before.

It's a bit of an "C" curve at about a 15 Deg. rake. The whole thing is about 24 feet long. I can't just build the thing flat and then tilt it because it needs to be level from one side to the other as you walk along it..

So, long, curving, raked walkway build on a college theatre budget. Anyone?

[Charc]

I wasn't quite clear what you meant, so I made this quickly. Is this what you are talking about?

Edit: I'm a terrible carp, so I'd wait for Van's advice. However, why couldn't you great it flat first then tilt it? I don't follow the but about "must be level from one side to the other. You mean SL to SR? If you make it, then add the angled sections last, cut to fit, then the vertical supports?

[Footer]

Ya... more info would be good. If you have a router, this really will not be that hard. Just did a show with a rake that the high point was DS that was very oddles shaped, I have a few ideas that work..

[Traitor800]

The easiest way to do that would probably be to make a gated rake, where basically you lay out stud walls for your rake and then drop plywood that is cut to shape ontop of. by doing that you can create almost any shape rake that you want.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Traitor800

The easiest way to do that would probably be to make a gated rake, where basically you lay out stud walls for your rake and then drop plywood that is cut to shape ontop of. by doing that you can create almost any shape rake that you want.

If... your deck is strong enough. Doing stud wall legs works extremely well with triscuits or doubled up 3/4 ply in alternate directions. With single sheet your going to get a deck that will deflect a pretty good amount, unless you put in supports just like a standard 4x8.

[gafftaper]

I"m not sure why you can't build it flat and tip it up. As long as your bracing is correctly placed it'll be level from side to side.

[Van]

Originally Posted by SweetBennyFenton

Hello all. I'm currently working on a show that will require a curving raked platform and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them before.

It's a bit of an "C" curve at about a 15 Deg. rake. The whole thing is about 24 feet long. I can't just build the thing flat and then tilt it because it needs to be level from one side to the other as you walk along it..

So, long, curving, raked walkway build on a college theatre budget. Anyone?

"You keep using that word,I don't think that word means what you think it means."

You lost me, It's on a rake but it's level? Does the open part of the "C" point downstage?

[SweetBennyFenton]

The open part of the "C" is downstage and faces a bit tward center.

It's hard to describe, I'll post a picture when I get it in CAD.

If I built it flat, then tipped it up, the ends of the "C" would not be raked in the direction of the curve, but just tward center stage.

Basicly, the platform needs to twist as it curves so that the rake will only take you down the ramp, not off one of the sides.

Again, I'll try to get a picture up when I can.

[What Rigger?]

This almost looks/sounds to me like you need Thrasher magazine's skate ramp how-to book. Lotta weird sh*t in there.

thrashermagazine.com

[jonhirsh]

Sounds like a compound rake. Tricky stuff.

jh