Double sided canvas flats

[taylord]

Morning all,

 

Just after some advice if I may?

 

Due to space limitations on our stage at school , I was thinking of making some double sided canvas flats to aid with scene changes. Is this a thing? I understand that you will have a hook eye on either side and pin hinges which may be visible but I can try and mask them within the painting.

 

I'm more worried about the corner blocks and keystones protruding through the canvas?

 

Any advice appreciated.

 

Cheers, Dan.

[paulears]

If the corner bracing is simply on the reverse, you might have to remove them and fit alternatives to the inside the timber - I've done it and was amazed how a bit of paint hid the eyes.

[taylord]

Thanks Paul. Would you say a simple 'L' shaped bracket fixed to the inside of the flat would suffice?

 

 

If the corner bracing is simply on the reverse, you might have to remove them and fit alternatives to the inside the timber - I've done it and was amazed how a bit of paint hid the eyes.

 

 

 

[andy_s]

In my drama school days we had a selection of double sided flats to aid quick changes. I think the hinge plates were rebated into the timber, so flush with the surface, before the canvas was fixed over the map. I would only do it with canvas covered, I think ply-faced would start to become heavy and less easy to handle quickly.

[paulears]

When I did it, I used 18mm plywood, cut into a 5 inch or thereabouts square, cut diagonally into two - and I glued them in with biscuits (having bought the jointer a week before). They were given pretty heavy handling and none came adrift. It did mean that the callico I used had to be stapled to the meeting edges, but I coated them with pva and that too survived OK, although dragging made the bottom tatty quickly.

[taylord]

HI Andy,

 

They will be double canvas covered, so thinking 1"x1" metal corner braces. Good idea about rebating the hinge plates into the timber. Thank you.

In my drama school days we had a selection of double sided flats to aid quick changes. I think the hinge plates were rebated into the timber, so flush with the surface, before the canvas was fixed over the map. I would only do it with canvas covered, I think ply-faced would start to become heavy and less easy to handle quickly.