I'd like to start thread about how we gaff cables to the floor and what methods we use.
Mine is the world of college theatre. Cables often stay in place for a few weeks. Thus, it is necessary to make sure the cable is secure for the run of the show. My method is when gaffing down cables, to lay a strip of gaff perpendicular to the cables every 3-5 feet, more or less depending on the traffic area. Then, I go back over and tape down the cables using the gaff parallell to the cables. I have found, that, while this does take a bit more time, and a little more gaff, I have rarely needed to re-do one of my cable runs during a show, and it holds very well.
Alot of people try to get away with one long strip off gaff paralell to the cable laid. There are numerous problems with this. First, people will often attach the end of a roll to one end of the cable on the floor, pull it all the way to the other end, and they press down the gaff. However, the gaff tape always ends up missing about 50% or so of the cable. Anything more than a single run of DMX wiull usually require two parallell pieces of gaff, anotehr thing few people realize. Additionally, I have seen where this method is easily disturbed, and the gaff ends up impossibly wrapped around the cable, and not attached to the floor.
Now, for less long-term situations, even those that are just one night events, I think I would skip the parallell gaffing, and just do perpendicular strips every few feet.
So, while this may seem nit picky, in the end I say spend a little more time and gaff your cables right the first time around. A good job will save time both during the run and strike, andhelp keep cables safe backstage.
Also, I know this can all be negated by plastic cable channels, but lets assume, for the purpose of this thread, we don't have those available.
EDIT: Should also mention I wrote this with 2" gaff tape in mind.
Mine is the world of college theatre. Cables often stay in place for a few weeks. Thus, it is necessary to make sure the cable is secure for the run of the show. My method is when gaffing down cables, to lay a strip of gaff perpendicular to the cables every 3-5 feet, more or less depending on the traffic area. Then, I go back over and tape down the cables using the gaff parallell to the cables. I have found, that, while this does take a bit more time, and a little more gaff, I have rarely needed to re-do one of my cable runs during a show, and it holds very well.
Alot of people try to get away with one long strip off gaff paralell to the cable laid. There are numerous problems with this. First, people will often attach the end of a roll to one end of the cable on the floor, pull it all the way to the other end, and they press down the gaff. However, the gaff tape always ends up missing about 50% or so of the cable. Anything more than a single run of DMX wiull usually require two parallell pieces of gaff, anotehr thing few people realize. Additionally, I have seen where this method is easily disturbed, and the gaff ends up impossibly wrapped around the cable, and not attached to the floor.
Now, for less long-term situations, even those that are just one night events, I think I would skip the parallell gaffing, and just do perpendicular strips every few feet.
So, while this may seem nit picky, in the end I say spend a little more time and gaff your cables right the first time around. A good job will save time both during the run and strike, andhelp keep cables safe backstage.
Also, I know this can all be negated by plastic cable channels, but lets assume, for the purpose of this thread, we don't have those available.
EDIT: Should also mention I wrote this with 2" gaff tape in mind.
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