bjkered Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 A colleague ( admitingly in the "sound" world ) said that G lamps for light fixtures were to be banned. No facts or quoting an EEC rule etc. Lighting rigs were to use pipe clamps etc instead of G clamps and C Clamps Any body heard any thing like this or do we just carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 No facts or quoting an EEC rule etc.Well, I think you've answered your own question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 I'd be rather disturbed by the idea of using one of these http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/I/cat/05/p1126105_l.jpg to hang lights! But I don't see any reason why not to use a standard hook clamp in most situations. That said - when overhanging things (rigging above the bar), standard hook clamps aren't really the best way - my favourite is a cheeseburger, but there are a great number of alternative clamps that are very good. http://www.cdaust.com.au/images/POW/FXRangeClampsPOW.jpgCheeseburger on the left, standard hook clamp on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Did hear something the other day in a similar vane! Along the lines of EU want to ban open clamps Also...... When fitting half couplers (cheeseburgers) to lanterns please use the one's where the bolt locks in the clamp!Otherwise its incredibly hard to lock the lantern off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 For a wide variety of hook clamps have a look atDoughty HookclampsDoughty have recently been advertising their range of trigger clamps as an alternative, particularly for over rigging. See Doughty Trigger Clamps. The only (not very) recent change in rules that I'm aware of is the requirement for hook clamps to have a SWL marked for LOLER purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie.west Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 normal hook clamps are only rated for a load straight down, so not over-rigged... best practice is to use a cheeseburger for anything that is not hanging straight down... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 I'd be rather disturbed by the idea of using one of these http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/I/cat/05/p1126105_l.jpg to hang lights!That is a "G cramp" as anyone with an "O" level in woodwork will tell you. I would rather use a hook clamp in normal circumstances as it is safe (ish) even if you haven't yet tightened it up. Ω clamps are favoured for odd hanging positions, or situations where one needs a better lock-off, such as long lanterns with scrollers on them. The new trigger clamps look OK, but I've never used one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Did hear something the other day in a similar vane! Along the lines of EU want to ban open clamps <sarcasm>About time, too. I'm getting fed up with hook clamps falling off bars, and the lanterns breaking their safety bonds and plumetting towards the floor. Dropping like flies they are. Have at least two every performance do that. :) </sarcasm> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light Console Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Interesting this, in the sad way I find things interesting, ahem. :) Before Mr Bentham invented the Hook Clamp, the lanterns were suspended by brackets that look more like studding to bar fittings from Doughty. These cheeseburgers are a bit of a step backwards historically, and for me technically too. I find that the action of lifting a heavy lantern (Harmony kind of size) onto a bar quite hard, but once the weight is taken by the hook clamp, all is good. Compare this to holding a lantern up, closing clamp, keeping it closed, then tightening up the bolt requires a third hand! That said, I don't think I would dare rig a Harmony off a ladder now, but I was 8 years ago!I think that these cheeseburgers are the way forward, for reasons other posters have said, my profiles have them. I guess though I have grown accustomed to the rig coming to me, not me carrying the lantern to the rig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnhuson Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 As an alternative to cheeseburger or half coupler clamps which can be a little fiddly when rigging on your own. We've found Doughty trigger clamps to be an excellent alternative, behave much like a hook clamp but can also be used to over rig or side rig fixtures in perfect safety. Most of our generic stock (except the really light weight kit like PARS) use this type:- http://cgi.www.doughty-engineering.co.uk/theatre/products/photo/T58861.jpg And our moving light stock use this type:- http://cgi.www.doughty-engineering.co.uk/theatre/products/photo/T58300.jpg Only issues we've had with the first type is when working on small truss (Trilite for example) the braces of the truss can get in the way of the handle to tighten the clamp. But generally on bars and sesnible sized truss (12" Box and upwards) it's not an issue and we made a very significant investment in changing over to the first type, before the quick triggers below were released. All things aside I would heartily recommend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjkered Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 Just thought I would add a comment or two to my thread My original reference to "G Clamp" was a bit of a "getting a "grey" moment. I did mean Hook Clamp/C Clamp but thanks for reminding me what a G Clamp/cramp is. I have started to use Trigger clamps on my moving heads and found them great and easy to use. Heads can be awkward and heavy to work with both on the ground and in the air and being able to hook on the head and then sort out is great Agree with other comments on triggers and bolting up on smaller truss where they can snag. However I was wondering surly Trigger clamps are just more expensive Hook Clamps as most of the same design fundamentals are at play in a trigger clamp as G Clamp ( I know hook clamp, but a bit of light relief to help this thread compared to some of the other threads, with toys out of the cot). Defeating my own argument in that I am using trigger clamps and paying more, but hey they look cooler than conventional clamps (sad) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Trigger clamps are better for booms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick S Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 On a similar topic - 'c clamps', or these: http://www.midweststereo.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/glominicclamp.jpg Is there any particular reason why I never see these clamps at all in the EU, but yet are the clamp of choice in the states? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Duffy Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 On a similar topic - 'c clamps', or these: http://www.midweststereo.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/glominicclamp.jpg Is there any particular reason why I never see these clamps at all in the EU, but yet are the clamp of choice in the states? These clamps are supplied with the el-cheapo PAR56's and are almost useless. The handle interferes with the yoke so you can't focus the PAR anywhere other than straight ahead +/- about 25 degrees! Hook clamps are so much better in every way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ike Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 They also don't hook on as well as hook clamps (suprisingly) so can be a pain when rigging anything heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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