Another Question Regarding Goalpost Trusses! [Archive]

kd_entertainments

25-05-2007, 10:03 AM

DJ James Lake

25-05-2007, 10:12 AM

Yes it is an aweful lot faster, the clamp stays on the light and you just pop it over the truss and tighten the wingnut with your fingers. Takes about 10 secs per light.

Shaun

25-05-2007, 10:20 AM

*Moving to technical help section of the forum*

Solitaire Events Ltd

25-05-2007, 10:36 AM

Yes it is an aweful lot faster, the clamp stays on the light and you just pop it over the truss and tighten the wingnut with your fingers. Takes about 10 secs per light.

This is if the clamp stays on the light and fits into the flightcase (which a lot of mine don't - 'cos manufacturers aren't clever enough to build cases with enough room for an attached clamp), otherwise there's no real difference.

rob1963

25-05-2007, 11:14 AM

Currently im using 2 "tbar" stands for my lighting.

The problem is that i have to screw the lights on every night and screw them back off again!

Ive seen setups with the goalpost lighting rig, but with clamps that clamp on to the truss and the light, Is this any faster for setting up?

Also if you have one, do you have to use allen keys to set it up?

Help appreciated

Keith

Hi Keith,

When you say you have to screw the lights on & off, I assume you mean that you put a bolt through the light & t-bar, and then secure it with a nut.

If that's the case, all you need are some clamps as previously stated. The clamps are permanently fixed to the brackets on your lights, then you just hang the lights on the t-bar & tighten the bolts - easy!

It's really nice to discover someone ELSE who uses tripod stands & t-bars for their lighting. I was beginning to think I was the only one!

I think virtually everyone here uses trussing or goalposts, but I prefer tripod stands with t-bars for 2 reasons: Firstly, they are more flexible than goalposts (especially if you have a marquee or venue with not much headroom) and secondly they are much quicker & easier to set up for those of us who don't have a roadie!

:)

Shaun

25-05-2007, 11:28 AM

It's really nice to discover someone ELSE who uses tripod stands & t-bars for their lighting. I was beginning to think I was the only one!

You're not alone. I've not used my trussing in a long time. I prefer T-Bars and tripods. Not for any particular reason, just a preferance thing.

sleah

25-05-2007, 11:32 AM

If that's the case, all you need are some clamps as previously stated. The clamps are permanently fixed to the brackets on your lights, then you just hang the lights on the t-bar & tighten the bolts - easy!

This is a little worrying. Unless you've found some clever clamps I've never heard of, whats to stop the light just sliding off the end of the T-bar if the stand is knocked??
T-bars were never designed to be clamped to, only bolted to.

Shaun

25-05-2007, 11:43 AM

This is a little worrying. Unless you've found some clever clamps I've never heard of, whats to stop the light just sliding off the end of the T-bar if the stand is knocked??
T-bars were never designed to be clamped to, only bolted to.

Large bolts and nuts through the t-bars at each end.

sleah

25-05-2007, 11:48 AM

Large bolts and nuts through the t-bars at each end.

Good thought! I suppose you could also use safetys attached quite tight, so if it did try and jump ship, the safety would hold without sliding off.
Still not 100% sure if clamps-on-t-bars would satisfy H&S, but sounds OK if you could test it by giving the stand a good shove to see what happens.

rob1963

25-05-2007, 11:49 AM

You're not alone. I've not used my trussing in a long time. I prefer T-Bars and tripods. Not for any particular reason, just a preferance thing.

Wow Shaun...it's fantastic to meet another tripod & t-bar man!

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

This is a little worrying. Unless you've found some clever clamps I've never heard of, whats to stop the light just sliding off the end of the T-bar if the stand is knocked??
T-bars were never designed to be clamped to, only bolted to.

Sleah - The lights can't slide off the end of the t-bar because after hanging the lights on the bar there is a bolt through the top of the bracket which you tighten. This fixes the light firmly to the t-bar so it can't slide or move about.

:)

sleah

25-05-2007, 11:56 AM

Sleah - The lights can't slide off the end of the t-bar because after hanging the lights on the bar there is a bolt through the top of the bracket which you tighten. This fixes the light firmly to the t-bar so it can't slide or move about.

:)

Not 100% sure what you mean? Does said bolt go through the t-bar or just tight against it?

If it's the latter, what if the bolt were to slacken during the course of a gig, especially if the stand can pick up vibration throught the floor or adjacent bass bin?
They can and do slacken:eek: Just ask a seasoned theatre technician:D

rob1963

25-05-2007, 12:05 PM

Not 100% sure what you mean? Does said bolt go through the t-bar or just tight against it?

If it's the latter, what if the bolt were to slacken during the course of a gig, especially if the stand can pick up vibration throught the floor or adjacent bass bin?
They can and do slacken:eek: Just ask a seasoned theatre technician:D

The bolt just goes tight against the t-bar to stop the light moving about.

I tighten it as much as I can with my fingers then use a pair of pliers to turn it a little more. There is no way it's going anywhere, and it won't pick up any vibrations through bass bins - as I don't use them!

I've never had one slacken in almost 25 years.

It's almost impossible to knock my tripods anyway...as they are right behind my speaker tripods, so they're pretty well protected.

:)

sleah

25-05-2007, 12:19 PM

The bolt just goes tight against the t-bar to stop the light moving about.

I tighten it as much as I can with my fingers then use a pair of pliers to turn it a little more. There is no way it's going anywhere, and it won't pick up any vibrations through bass bins - as I don't use them!

I've never had one slacken in almost 25 years.

It's almost impossible to knock my tripods anyway...as they are right behind my speaker tripods, so they're pretty well protected.

:)

:cool: :thumbs_up:

Ricesnaps

25-05-2007, 02:51 PM

Vectis

25-05-2007, 02:56 PM

Nice! Very "hitman-and-her" !! :p

Them prolight clamps are great if you don't mind your fixtures falling off and hitting the floor from time to time :mad: Just make sure you use the tie-wires as well (kinda defeating the object)

rob1963

25-05-2007, 05:18 PM

Scrap the sands and get yourself one of these jobbies!!!! LOL!

SOOOOO can't wait for tomorrow now to get this baby up and running!

Ricesnaps,

I await with interest your full report on Sunday!

:)

Ricesnaps

25-05-2007, 05:59 PM

Ricesnaps,

I await with interest your full report on Sunday!

:)

And pictures - assuming it'll fit in the venue!

By the way, that odd looking bit in the middle is a right angle adaptor and isn't really needed - so I saved 2 foot on the width!

CRAZY K

25-05-2007, 06:24 PM

Scrap the sands and get yourself one of these jobbies!!!! LOL!

SOOOOO can't wait for tomorrow now to get this baby up and running!

By the way, on the topic of hook clamps, is there anything else that will allow me to hang my effects when not completely on the level (as my new arch is a curve!). Was thinking something like those quck clamps Prolight were doing a while ago (they any good?) or is there something else?

Wemberley eat your heart out :D

Matt how long?

To set it up like that?

My guess 25 minutes---:eek:

Its not going into Marquees presumably ?

Good luck tomorrow night--hope the Roadie turns up:)

CRAZY K

CRAZY K

25-05-2007, 07:09 PM

This is if the clamp stays on the light and fits into the flightcase (which a lot of mine don't - 'cos manufacturers aren't clever enough to build cases with enough room for an attached clamp), otherwise there's no real difference.

Darren is absolutlely right about the clamps--mind you theres always my approach for my 4 old heavy coloured floodlights--find yourself a nice strong wooden wine case--usually left around the back of Hotel Kitchen car parks as scrap--:)

I would recommend Chateau Cissac Medoc 1994--not the wine silly--the wooden box---:D :D :D :D :D :D

Takes 4 floods plus the clamps attached---bang them straight on to the goalpost---:D

CRAZY K

Solitaire Events Ltd

25-05-2007, 09:17 PM

By the way, on the topic of hook clamps, is there anything else that will allow me to hang my effects when not completely on the level (as my new arch is a curve!).

I was wondering the same thing before you bought it, but didn't want to put you off. Surely everything you hang apart from 2 or 3 lights at the top are not going to be level, unless you bolt fixtures on and then they'd need to be fairly light, like pars or something.

I await the outcome! :)

Ricesnaps

25-05-2007, 09:36 PM

I was wondering the same thing before you bought it, but didn't want to put you off. Surely everything you hang apart from 2 or 3 lights at the top are not going to be level, unless you bolt fixtures on and then they'd need to be fairly light, like pars or something.

I await the outcome! :)

Had a little play in the garden tonight so that if I have room to use it tomorrow I'll be fine!

The smaller hook clamps seem fine - I was expecting the lights to not hang straight to the floor (which is part of the reason I bought it) and the smaller hook clamps seem to maintain the angle fine. I'll photograph them tomorrow if that doesn't make sense!

Crazy, I'll have to film myself setting up as I really don't think you'll believe me otherwise. But on my own, in the garden, up and ready for lights in 15 mins! I was amazed at how easy it was. Even easier tomorrow as I have left a couple of section connected!

I'm guessing what I really need is as pictured below:

Solitaire Events Ltd

25-05-2007, 11:28 PM

The smaller hook clamps seem fine - I was expecting the lights to not hang straight to the floor (which is part of the reason I bought it)

Errr...., why?:confused:

DJ James Lake

25-05-2007, 11:33 PM

Hi Keith,

I think virtually everyone here uses trussing or goalposts, but I prefer tripod stands with t-bars for 2 reasons: Firstly, they are more flexible than goalposts (especially if you have a marquee or venue with not much headroom) and secondly they are much quicker & easier to set up for those of us who don't have a roadie!

:)

I can set my truss up in a lot less time than T-Bars. My wiring is there all the time I just hang the lights and plug them in. One of the major advantages of trussing. Because its on wind up stands ceiling height is never a problem because I can set them at what height I like

With t-bars you have to wire them up each time and make the wires neat as. Yes they are more flexible but if i'm short of space I can move the stands closer together or act like a band and say sorry mate cant set up there need more space, then throw a strop :D

Solitaire Events Ltd

26-05-2007, 12:27 AM

With t-bars you have to wire them up each time and make the wires neat as.

Not true if you have pre-wired t-bars with fixtures attached and that I have seen on forums quite a lot.

Ricesnaps

26-05-2007, 06:09 AM

Errr...., why?:confused:

What for the pictures andall will make sense!

CRAZY K

26-05-2007, 09:33 AM

Errr...., why?:confused:

Darren--- Rice is always looking for a new angle:D :D :D

Yeah ok--Ill go back to my decorating:o

CRAZY K

Solitaire Events Ltd

26-05-2007, 11:42 AM

What for the pictures andall will make sense!

OK, will do. :)

Corabar Steve

27-05-2007, 10:15 AM

By the way, that odd looking bit in the middle is a right angle adaptor and isn't really needed - so I saved 2 foot on the width!You could leave it on & hang a mirror ball from it :d

Ricesnaps

27-05-2007, 10:20 AM

You could leave it on & hang a mirror ball from it :d

Funny you should mention that...

Steve 'B'

27-05-2007, 09:46 PM

Come on, want some pics of the thing in action!!

Ricesnaps

28-05-2007, 07:23 AM

Come on, want some pics of the thing in action!!

Unfortunately I had to leave David Bailey at home - tummy ache - so the few pics I DID manage to take weren't all that good. But what the heck....

TONYTIGER

29-05-2007, 09:50 AM

Hi,lots of different ideas about hanging lights on t bars ,merits of trussing,clamps, etc .I have been operating roadshows for clients for some 40 years and the only downside is set up and breakdown time. firstly if you are using standard 2" trussing (like trilite) you can use two options that is hook clamps but you need to have your flight cases made so you can keep the clamps on the light, or use the industry standard couplers(look like scaffold clamps) ,even if you use tripods and t bars try to use 2" lite weight ali bars as your t bar this will make your system universal. As for normal mobile discos there has been no mention of the ultimax system were you have a 1.7m disco stand wich takes two winch pods at each end ,the bar is a hollow box section 3m in length with a hinge section in middle all the wiring in inside and you have iec outlets and bulgins for input this is so easy for a lighting fast set up,I have drilled mine so it has the new prolight clamps(no problems) or use 2" hook clamps. Being a box section it is very strong and at the moment hang 2x robe 160xt 2x prolight 250msd barrels 2xrobe 150at washes 1xmartin efx7000 1x 200mw lazer just snap them on and wind up 15 min max and no ugly wires ,and no climing up step ladders.Dont forget your saftey wires a must if you have PLI. Also check out the CPC catolouge for some all metal g clamps that have a quick release mech Tony Tiger