schemes for itinerant gel storage
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Esoteric
Well-Known Member
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
We (the two churches I freelance for on a regular basis) do not keep a lot of sheets. We only keep about 4 colors in sheets. Everything else is ordered and cut up as it is needed.
When we were at the PAC and when I spent time TDing at a theater where we kept significant amounts of gel we used one of those old style files.
Of course at the PAC we would order gel by the roll and not the sheet.
Mike
We (the two churches I freelance for on a regular basis) do not keep a lot of sheets. We only keep about 4 colors in sheets. Everything else is ordered and cut up as it is needed.
When we were at the PAC and when I spent time TDing at a theater where we kept significant amounts of gel we used one of those old style files.
Of course at the PAC we would order gel by the roll and not the sheet.
Mike
aporter2012
Member
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
At my theatre we use old Accordion Folios for all the cut gell. They come in handy because it is one folio so we are not dealing with alot of storage, and the gell stays flat and organized by color. As for big sheets, we keep them in an art portfolio. Again, we have one thing that holds the gell so we dont have to juggle a bunch of tubes.
At my theatre we use old Accordion Folios for all the cut gell. They come in handy because it is one folio so we are not dealing with alot of storage, and the gell stays flat and organized by color. As for big sheets, we keep them in an art portfolio. Again, we have one thing that holds the gell so we dont have to juggle a bunch of tubes.
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
Just make a tray 1/4" plywood base with 1x2 sides on edge.
inside dimensions about an inch larger than the common sheet 21x25
you may want to make a lid for it. I would just rip one of the long sides down by 3/8" then rip a groove into the others for a 1/8" panel to slide in and out of.
glue and screw the unit together. if you have lots of color to deal with make the base about 1" wider that would give you some 1/2" ears that could fit into a simple slotted cabinet
Just make a tray 1/4" plywood base with 1x2 sides on edge.
inside dimensions about an inch larger than the common sheet 21x25
you may want to make a lid for it. I would just rip one of the long sides down by 3/8" then rip a groove into the others for a 1/8" panel to slide in and out of.
glue and screw the unit together. if you have lots of color to deal with make the base about 1" wider that would give you some 1/2" ears that could fit into a simple slotted cabinet
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Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
The pictured Apollo gel cabinet is sold outright as well as given as a freebie to dealers that stock gel. If you are interested in the design, I can get some info to you. They are made locally by an Amish company and hold up very well!
(Fresh homemade fruit pies can be stored in the cabinet to cool when every other shelf is removed too...)
The "industry standard" way of doing it is something like this...
The pictured Apollo gel cabinet is sold outright as well as given as a freebie to dealers that stock gel. If you are interested in the design, I can get some info to you. They are made locally by an Amish company and hold up very well!
(Fresh homemade fruit pies can be stored in the cabinet to cool when every other shelf is removed too...)
beachcombah15
Member
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
I would love some info!
The pictured Apollo gel cabinet is sold outright as well as given as a freebie to dealers that stock gel. If you are interested in the design, I can get some info to you. They are made locally by an Amish company and hold up very well!
(Fresh homemade fruit pies can be stored in the cabinet to cool when every other shelf is removed too...)
I would love some info!
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
Most places will not have the space or need for each drawer to be a single color. Up to five colors adjacent colors could go on the same shelf. Proper labeling and filing are essential!
Shelves of 1/4" Tempered HDF (Masonite) measuring 25" deep x 23" wide (21" wide if never planning to use Lee Filters, or 25" wide if planning on using Apollo's 24x24 sheets). Sides of cabinet are 3/4" Cabinet Grade plywood 25" deep x however high (but I wouldn't go more than 24" due to warping and weight). Sides have 5/16" wide by 3/8" deep grooves on 1" centers for the shelves to slide into. Tops and bottoms can be whatever is available, but a rigid back is essential for stability. A fun project for a carpenter to use his stacked dado-head cutter on his table saw. Alternatively, the grooves can be cut with a router fitted with a dado bit and a good straight edge. Hint: For best alignment, cut all the grooves first on a piece 50" wide x ~24" high, then crosscut in half.
Most places will not have the space or need for each drawer to be a single color. Up to five colors adjacent colors could go on the same shelf. Proper labeling and filing are essential!
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
Spoken with wisdom and insight. Thank you Derek!!!
(Now, about those pies...)
Spoken with wisdom and insight. Thank you Derek!!!
(Now, about those pies...)
KeeperoftheKeys
Member
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
A theatre I worked at just had a gel cutting room, the cut gels were kept in multiple regular filing cabinets with a folder for every number (I don't remember if it was also separated by size but I don't think so).
There were large cubes for the gel frames.
Various types of cutting machines with the lines of the various needed sizes already marked.
Uncut sheets were kept in small deep square compartments a bit higher up, and yes there just were lots of squares to hold all the different gels.
A theatre I worked at just had a gel cutting room, the cut gels were kept in multiple regular filing cabinets with a folder for every number (I don't remember if it was also separated by size but I don't think so).
There were large cubes for the gel frames.
Various types of cutting machines with the lines of the various needed sizes already marked.
Uncut sheets were kept in small deep square compartments a bit higher up, and yes there just were lots of squares to hold all the different gels.
Fireguy551
Member
Re: Convenient Gel sheet Storage?
If you call up a Lee Distributer they sell a shelf that looks like Footer's picture. Probably a couple grand though. My arts center stores gel in blueprint shipping boxes. I will try and get a picture up here but they are basically 1' x 1' x 3' boxes with dividers to make 16 squares. We have about 30 of these boxes (1 square for each gel # we keep in stock). If you are storing lots of sheets, I have not seen a way that stays organized without taking up lots of space.
If you call up a Lee Distributer they sell a shelf that looks like Footer's picture. Probably a couple grand though. My arts center stores gel in blueprint shipping boxes. I will try and get a picture up here but they are basically 1' x 1' x 3' boxes with dividers to make 16 squares. We have about 30 of these boxes (1 square for each gel # we keep in stock). If you are storing lots of sheets, I have not seen a way that stays organized without taking up lots of space.
JChenault
Well-Known Member
I do a lot of work in small venues that are not terribly organized in terms of color. Over the years I have established a reasonable inventory of cut color, partial rolls of color, and full rolls of color. When I get a gig I select my color, see how much I have in inventory, and purchase what I need to complete the order. When I get to the theatre I either cut the color myself, or find a minion to do it for me.
Now I have no problem with storing the cut color. I have a plastic file box with file folders, a folder for each number, etc. The issue is how to deal with full and partial sheets.
Currently I have a maintain about six rolls of colors where each roll is a single manufacturer, and each roll is sorted by a range of numbers ( Say Rosco 01 to 49) . I maintain an inventory for each roll and have it in the plastic sleeve that holds the roll ( remember the old apollo plastic sleeves - that's what I mean). The issues are:
Anyone have any ideas how to make this easier? I think I am looking for ideas for storage tubes, multiple storage tubes, or some other approach I have not considered.
How do others deal with this issue?
Now I have no problem with storing the cut color. I have a plastic file box with file folders, a folder for each number, etc. The issue is how to deal with full and partial sheets.
Currently I have a maintain about six rolls of colors where each roll is a single manufacturer, and each roll is sorted by a range of numbers ( Say Rosco 01 to 49) . I maintain an inventory for each roll and have it in the plastic sleeve that holds the roll ( remember the old apollo plastic sleeves - that's what I mean). The issues are:
- The rolls tend to get unwieldy and roll around the trunk of my car.
- The edges of color tends to get a bit crinkled over time as I unroll and re-roll the colors etc.
- I have problems with untrained minions cutting color. They don't maintain the numeric order in the roll, update inventory sheets, etc.
Anyone have any ideas how to make this easier? I think I am looking for ideas for storage tubes, multiple storage tubes, or some other approach I have not considered.
How do others deal with this issue?
Lotos
Active Member
Well, for full sheets, we store in a 'pizza box' style cardboard drawer... They seem to be sized ideally for Gel Sheets, though I have no idea where they came from, or when they arrived. They are slightly larger than a pizza box, in terms of width and length, and the front pulls out like a drawer... Unsure of how else to describe... But you could likely sit 5 or 6 of these in your trunk with no issues. That would remove the 'damaged corners' from constant roll and unroll...
If this idea appeals to you, I'm sure I could pester my TD for information on the source of these.
As for minions... There really is no solution... I mean, you can type out a list of instructions going from 'Remove Gel carefully, mark twice, cut once, store in numerical order, etc' But if they fail to manage this by themselves... Chances are they won't follow the instructions anyway :neutral:
Haven't seen the Apollo plastic sleeves that you mention, but might a plastic drafting tube (I had one that was adjustable length) do the trick? I had an old tube that I used for designs that was maybe 4-5" in diameter (so it could fit loads of gel), and I could adjust the length in 2" increments (so the gel shouldn't shift up and down the length too much). If it comes with a carrying strap, you've also solved the "rolling in the trunk" problem.
As for the minions, +1 for Alex -- you're pooched.
As for the minions, +1 for Alex -- you're pooched.
Partial sheets are the devil's playground! (or something like that.) When cutting I almost always cut the rest of the sheet into usable cuts: 10x10, 7.5x7.5, or whatever I've cut so far, to use as spares.
The worst is looking at a what you think is a full sheet and needing 4- 10x10 cuts, only to find a 6.25x6.25 corner missing. Arrrgh!
Lotos, your "pizza boxes" may be from Rosco: #08601 Storage Drawers (set of 6). I've also seen similar boxes for archiving architectural drawings in drafting supply catalogs. Since I mentioned Rosco, to be fair, Apollo makes a nice, though not very portable, Gel Cabinet. If one prefers "rolling one's own," 3 or 4" PVC pipe with end caps makes a nice tube.
Stuck On Now – Englert Civic Theatre, Iowa City | iSquint.net
The worst is looking at a what you think is a full sheet and needing 4- 10x10 cuts, only to find a 6.25x6.25 corner missing. Arrrgh!
Lotos, your "pizza boxes" may be from Rosco: #08601 Storage Drawers (set of 6). I've also seen similar boxes for archiving architectural drawings in drafting supply catalogs. Since I mentioned Rosco, to be fair, Apollo makes a nice, though not very portable, Gel Cabinet. If one prefers "rolling one's own," 3 or 4" PVC pipe with end caps makes a nice tube.
Stuck On Now – Englert Civic Theatre, Iowa City | iSquint.net
