Why pipes and not unistruts?

Chris Pflieger

Well-Known Member
I got to thinking, "Why are lights always hung from round pipes and not unistrut?"

It seems like that would be ideal - easy and inexpensive to mount and move and the lights can be closer to ceiling.
 
Ok, Old Guys, Who was the manufacturer that made a Plug strip that had an integrated uni-strut type rail on the bottom? I cannot remember.
 
No problem with unistrut style mounting, as long as you have some Track Tamers or similar style adapter. Otherwise mounting to track is a pain. For instance, if the yoke is parallel to the strut, it likes to get stuck in the opening. This is prevented with large square washers which often get misplaced.

But yes strut can definitely save inches where it counts, like on dance towers or box positions.
 
When you are on top of an A frame, trying to hang a fixture, I would much rather slip a c-clamp over a pipe and tighten down the screw than try to balance the fixture as I try to thread a screw through a hole and into a "hopefully" spring held nut that may or may not be solidly clicked into it's channel. There are low-ceiling locations where uni-strut makes sense, but not my choice at any distance up.
 
I rarely use unistrut because the stage electricians I've met and talked to about it almost universally detest it. I do think its what JD points out - that its easy to transfer the load immediately with a c-clamp than it is with unistrut. I think more costly as well and not black - but obviously those could be addressed.

Ziller profile anyone? Round aluminum extrusion with a unistrut like channel- top and bottom IIRC? Clamp or bolt lights to it, use it as a curtain track,and a very nice lift line attachment. Seemed like I saw it at a USITT in the 1980s.
 
When you are on top of an A frame, trying to hang a fixture, I would much rather slip a c-clamp over a pipe and tighten down the screw than try to balance the fixture as I try to thread a screw through a hole and into a "hopefully" spring held nut that may or may not be solidly clicked into it's channel. There are low-ceiling locations where uni-strut makes sense, but not my choice at any distance up.
@JD Agreeing with you and adding. If you pass the appropriate length 1/2 - 13 Hex bolt through the fixture's yoke at ground level and start your strut nut on the bolt's exposed threads, it's often appreciably easier to deal with at the top of the ladder than having to try to engage the threads while holding the lamp over your head with one hand and trying to start the threads with the other. Not as quick and easy as a C-clamp but often easier in comparison. Also, the length of the 1/2-13 bolt is somewhat critical, if it's too long it can bottom out in the channel prior to the yoke being tightly clamped but then this can happen with a C-clamp as well.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.
 
Side related question - how do you safety-cable a fixture hanging on flush unistrut? Do you need another unistrut nut? Special cable prerhaps?
@AudJ If you have two, or more, fixtures fairly close to each other, you can always safety them to each other for redundancy. It's less than ideal but a start. If / when going with separate eye-bolts for safeties, be sure you're employing rated eye-bolts, possibly forged, shouldered, rated eye-bolts.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.
 
the channel mount that is refered to was originaly made by Electro Controls
when Strand Lighting purchased Electro Controls in the 80's the product was manufatured in the Strand factory in Ontario Canada
the channel mount is still manufactured today by Arkadium in Guelph Ontario.
it is an extruded aluminum . the channel slot has no rating, so you can not use it to hang fixtures
the channel slot is there as part of the hanger
 

Attachments

  • Channel Mount Load Ratings Double Pipe Hanger R pg-2.pdf
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I've done a bizarro double strut/wire way and hanger all in one. It's small, simple for general contractors to install, and good when the lights almost never move around. Elementary school!
 
see attached for more hanger options

Thats exactly as they were/are installed at my university's theatre, circa 1974. The job sheets are still taped to the junction boxes.
 
I got to thinking, "Why are lights always hung from round pipes and not unistrut?"

It seems like that would be ideal - easy and inexpensive to mount and move and the lights can be closer to ceiling.


historically (well, in my history), in new york city, theaters did not come with pipes, only a hanging system. so, we prepared our pipes in the shop. sometimes we would mark them up (using a paint marker like welders used), then send them over to the theater. other times we would pre install c-clamps so that spacing was already in place. then we’d mont the lamp to the c-clamp at the theater. we did the same with booms.

my guess is that pipe was available, cheap, easy to handle, no special tools, etc. and because new york shows then toured, pipe became ubiquitous.

my further guess is that it took time to standardize pipe. in other words, prior to inch and a half black gas pipe (as we called it), it took time to sort through, and eliminate, all the other options. anyone here around in those days?

i began working in new york in the early 70s.
 

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