Differences in focusing techniques.

[gabe]

Hi, today I started working at a new theatre program, I know the TD from last year but I haven't worked with him until now. We were doing a demonstration for a few actors and were refocusing a few lights. Now, at school whenever I have to pan a light I use the panning nut (read: f**k nut), when this guy adjusted a light he went straight for the pivot nut at the bottom of the C-clamp. I asked him about why he did it this way and he said that he used the panning nut just to set the height and then didn't touch it. Is this how most of you all focus your lights? Or do you do it differently?

thanks,

[Teck]

We usually use the bolt at the bottom of the clamp instead of the panning bolt because our panning bolts tend to break or bend pretty bad.

[moojoe]

i never use the F**k nut. its way to inacurate. whenever ive tried to focus using that, the light just shakes so much its imposible to do much.

[DarSax]

I usually use the panning bolt, but not always. I have one of those mini-clamp wrenches (I forget the name, it's not a litespeed, it's one of the really small ones), and they have a place to adjust the panning bolt. I've never broken any that way (plenty at my theater have been sheared off), but if the bolt is rusted, then I have to either break out the ol' adjustable (which I keep with me anyways), or go for the bottom. So if I can I'll use the panning bolt, but oftentimes I'll have to use the bottom one instead.

[Goon]

I've been focusing lights for over 33 years. I can focus my entire rig of 400 conventionals in 60 to 90 minutes, tops, -that's with one person in a bucket and one person on the remote. Clients are amazed because other venues they go to will take all day to focus.

Tighten that little side bolt so it will NEVER move. On the bolt at the bottom of the c-clamp, make sure the washer is below the yoke (never use rusted washers). Tighten the bolt just enough so the yoke will swivel with two-handed pressure but the bolt doesn't move. You won't even need a wrench to do your focus. Maintaining lights to work like this really pays off in time and aggravation.

For the tilt, on units (like Altmans) that have a tightening knob on both sides, leave the left side just loose enough to move and tighten down only with the right.

Do these things and you're reward will be the fastest and easiest focus.

[Footer]

In theory you should never loosen the bolt on the clamp, though it is a pain in the arse to use the "pan" nut to pan the fixture. I usually end up grabbing the fixtures yoke and pulling on it till it moves then make sure I lock it down very well.

[moojoe]

bragging a bit?

but always pending on the situation. yea, if im doing a gig that will last only a day or so, and wont have much outside forces, ill do something like that.
but if im outside or doing a perm to semi-perm install, you always tighten down as much as possible. would you want to have to go up and refocus every few months or if a strong gust of wind came through?

oh, and Darsax, are you talking about the mega-combo wrench? its like 3 inches or smaller...
i like those, and i have one on my keys, but for most work, its recomended that you use a c-wrench or a lightspeed or something, since those are average of 8inch handles, you can get a fair amount of torque, whereas a 2 or 3 inch wrench, you wont have much torque at all.

[BillESC]

We refit all of our instruments with Cup Washers. This allows you to move the yoke of the fixture without having to loosen the bolt and stays where you leave it due to the constant pressure.

[DarSax]

Originally Posted by moojoe

bragging a bit?
oh, and Darsax, are you talking about the mega-combo wrench? its like 3 inches or smaller...
i like those, and i have one on my keys, but for most work, its recomended that you use a c-wrench or a lightspeed or something, since those are average of 8inch handles, you can get a fair amount of torque, whereas a 2 or 3 inch wrench, you wont have much torque at all.

Yup, that's what I have. And I always have an adjustable if I need it, but honestly, besides rust issues, I've never had any sort of problem with my megao-combo, from torque or whatnot.

[lightbyfire]

I used to use the yoke bolt on our aging and rusting fixtures, but with the new equipment i try to use the adjustment bolt whenever possible. (although just grabbing the yoke and twisting is awefully tempting most times.)