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Author Topic: Black truss  (Read 13139 times)

Timoteus Ruotsalainen

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Black truss
« on: April 17, 2004, 04:31:50 AM »

I'm more of an audio guy so this may be dumb question BUT is there such a thing as a black truss. I was thinking why would people want to use aluminum colored par cans.  IMHO they don't look good. I came to the conclusion that the silver pars look better with silver truss than black ones on silver. Now if a black par on a black truss could be used that would look better, at least IMHO.

Why don't shows use black truss?

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Timoteus Ruotsalainen
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Brian Ship

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2004, 04:44:08 AM »

They do, you just can't see it Very Happy

You should be able to purchase black or silver truss, otherwise painting and powder coating the truss is very common.  You just need to be careful with C-Clamps on it or you have black/silver poka-dot truss. Shocked

Kidding asside, powder coated truss will hold up better, think I'm running Silver, Black, Red, Blue and Green truss at the moment.  There is some structural intregrety issues with powdercoating possible so verify with the manufacturer it's possible and coordinate the specifications for doing this with the powder coater if that's your choice.  Not in the know about such details but it could have something to do with temperature and other factors.  Think this was a Stagecraft type posting on that other website a while back.

"Truss Condoms" - PVC 3/4 cuts of tubing are frequently used with C-Clamps, or half cheseboroughs and other truss clamps are better used with any painted truss.  Hope it helps, others certainly will know more about it -  I don't do many shows anymore or order the stuff so my need to know is not much beyond this.
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Timoteus Ruotsalainen

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2004, 04:58:12 AM »

hhhmm maybe I'd have to contact Miffe but I have looked and haven't seen any almost any shows here in Finland that use black truss.  Of course the arena shows are in another league.

a black truss, straight from the manufacturer, truss condoms and black pars Wink sounds great. Add black flown speakers and subs under the stage. Black mic stands, cables, and cases.Heck get a black midas. If I ever get that stuff maybe i should call it "The Black Hole" Wink

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Timoteus "No, a purple midas won't do" Ruotsalainen
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len woelfel

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2004, 08:44:55 AM »

The Stones had black truss on their last tour.  I've seen a lot of it.  Maybe you've not seen it because the people you work with have the silver colored stuff and not enough people requested black to make it worth the investment.  

Rob Kettridge

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2004, 05:29:12 PM »

Black truss is very common over here, well in the tours that i have anything to do with. Trouble is that it's very easy to scratch as people have said. I often think that a scratched and pitted black truss looks worse than a silver one. Only thing i've ever seen that doesn't scratch in this way is the fly bars at a theatre i work at. No-one know's what they're painted / coated with but it doesn't wear off at all no mater what you do to it.

Confused

Rob Kettridge
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Rob Kettridge

Craig Leerman

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2004, 12:11:36 AM »

There not only is BLACK colored truss, but many other colors as well!

Alumimun truss is more comon because of two main issues, Maintenance and Look.  As others have already said, if you scratch standard aluminum truss, it still looks good. In fact, from 10-20 feet away, even really banged up/scraped/nasty aluminum truss looks great to the human eye!  

Black or other colored truss, no matter how the finish is apllied will not look as good after it is scraped and dinged.  On the road, it is very hard to keep small dings and nicks off the truss. Trusses get slid into the truss or stacked ontop of each other or on road cases. Nicks and dings and scratches are a given on a road show.

The other main reason you see aluminum truss more is the Look of it. While you may prefer the look of black truss, many designers and clients prefer the "industrial" look of aluminum truss and aluminum cans.

On concerts, you will probably see either aluminum or black truss and cans, with aluminum being more popular. In theatre type gigs, you are more apt to see black truss and cans (and lekos, fresnels, etc).

At trade shows, you will see a lot of truss in many different colors. Trade show exibiters like to color coordinate their booth displays to their company logo colors, and the truss is no different. Recently at a trade show in Vegas, I remember seeing truss in RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, and POLISHED ALUMINUM in different booths. display truss is usually smaller sized and lighter weight than concert type truss, so its easier to handle carefully so as not to scratch or damage the color.  Many display truss structures actually pack up into trunks or shipping crates or on pallets for delivery, so the pieces dont get damaged.  Also, display trusses may be used only a few times per year, so the colored truss will stay looking good longer than concert type truss whick may get loaded/unloaded in trucks on a daily basis.

Craig
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I'm so old, when I was doing FOH for Tommy Dorsey, to balance out the horn section I would slide their chairs downstage and upstage to mix!


dawen

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2004, 07:20:26 AM »

Timoteus Ruotsalainen wrote on Sat, 17 April 2004 10:58

Black mic stands, cables, and cases.

And what color of cables do you use now, pink?  Shocked  Razz
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Timoteus Ruotsalainen

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2004, 08:48:05 AM »

I was thinking more like orange... To match with my power cables. ;)

Seriously I have seen shows use all kinds of colors. Local boys must have bought some kind of a rainbow set cause they have red, blue, green, orange... Sure it might be easier to color code some cable but I don't like the fact that your stage looks like a rainbow, heck that's what lampies are for. And THEY don't need my help for that ;)

Craig you must have missed the tongue in cheek after the stuff about orange cables.

I DON'T use the non rated cables.

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Timoteus Ruotsalainen
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Craig Leerman

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Re: Black truss
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2004, 10:48:33 PM »

Quote:

I was thinking more like orange... To match with my power cables.


I hope you are not using standard ORANGE EXTENTION CORDS for theatre use.  Standard extention cord (like the orange ones sold at hardware stores and home centers) are allowed for home use, and in construction use, but are not rated for use in theatres. The jacket insulation on those cables is not thick enough to stand up to theatre use.  Not to mention that the orange color stands out like a sore thumb instead of blending into the background like a black colored cabled will on stage.

Play it safe and get rid of all your orange extention cords for lighting and buy or build 12 gauge cords made from SJO or SJOW cable.

Craig

Craig
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I'm so old, when I was doing FOH for Tommy Dorsey, to balance out the horn section I would slide their chairs downstage and upstage to mix!


Craig Leerman

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Correction!
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2004, 10:13:10 AM »

Ship  (Brian) pointed out to me that I added an extra "J" to the cable designation.  Its not "SJ" series cables that are allowed, its the "S" series (like Soow).  

I guess its time to put down the Playboy mag and refresh my memory with a copy of the NEC!   Rolling Eyes  

Craig
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I'm so old, when I was doing FOH for Tommy Dorsey, to balance out the horn section I would slide their chairs downstage and upstage to mix!


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