Wow, Why not simply go to using strut nuts and bolts? So much safer.I learned my lesson with the wood block hack ... even without splitting, they slip. One nonprofit venue I support has unistrut hanging from threaded rod, with blockfilled clamps and ancient instruments. Step 1 was safety cable, which have saved people and instruments a few times. Still $ raising for real schedule pipe.
Wonder - how many Fresnel drops a safety cable can sustain before it needs replacement?
@venuetech Back in the era when fitters, plumbers, finish carpenters and electricians were paid in cash, during your first year they taught you how to read. In second year they taught you how to add up over a thousand without removing your boots.So I understand guys in these locals have trouble lifting their wallets.
I think it might simply be lack of knowledge about the hardware. Folks from a straight theatre background have, most likely, not been exposed to 'real world' hardware. Also, it might be installed upside down.
I think you're probably right that there's a lack of crossover in knowledge of industrial hardware. I grew up around the stuff, so I sort if take it for granted.
I also think a lot of people have a very binary way of thinking about rigging lights, as if the clamp is part of the fixture and it's sacrilegious to do anything different. I've seen people balance a clamp on a wood beam of a set when a lag bolt would have done nicely. "buuut how der i gert thirs c-clermp ter werk?!"
Perhaps that's a clearer way of saying it. The clamp is not, as best as I know, actually rated with a safe working load. No one publishes or claims it's good for anything EXCEPT for holding a Source 4 - which it derives from the listing.
Assuming you are talking about general cast iron clamps here and not the light-source megaclamp, which AFAIK is rated for general use.Perhaps that's a clearer way of saying it. The clamp is not, as best as I know, actually rated with a safe working load. No one publishes or claims it's good for anything EXCEPT for holding a Source 4 - which it derives from the listing.
PS: I did say it gets complicated.
Wonder - how many Fresnel drops a safety cable can sustain before it needs replacement?
Assuming you are talking about general cast iron clamps here and not the light-source megaclamp, which AFAIK is rated for general use.
Not any cast iron clamp but ETCs which was tested with their instruments for the listing. And most often - I think always - I specify the rated clamps - available from at least The Light Source, Apollo, and Doughty. Always Light Source or Apollo submitted.
The addition of the belleville washer, along with the deletion of the Jesus bolt and the micro grooves, make the Mega Clamp a definite improvement.
And it costs less!
Officially, one and done.
Safety cable has a "Zero" load rating as it is never to be used to actually hold anything in place.
Any safety cable with a kink is unsat.
Any safety cable that has ever had to catch anything is unsat.
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