Johnno Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 Our stage curtain is operated by a plain rope. I've no idea what brand the track is. Generally speaking, is it possible to fit "any old" hand winch or motor drive, or do you have to find the one for the brand of track?
Dj Dunc Posted December 21, 2006 Posted December 21, 2006 We use a metal wheel, bit like the centre of a mini tyre (the metal bit) , with the cable clamped to it, then the centre mounted on a shaft attatched to the wall, with a wooden handle on the other side. it works perfectly
robloxley Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 What's wrong with a rope, what would be better with a handwinch for that matter?Take a picture of the track & I'm sure we can identify it.
Johnno Posted December 22, 2006 Author Posted December 22, 2006 What's wrong with a rope, what would be better with a handwinch for that matter?Take a picture of the track & I'm sure we can identify it. What's wrong with the rope is that being the rope in a school hall most of the people likely to open the curtains are small-ish children and they find it difficult to use. I thought a motor would be nice until I discovered the price :huh: Ideally a "hamster wheel", a whip, and boys in detention.....
Tomo Posted December 23, 2006 Posted December 23, 2006 A simple pulling rope running through a tensioning pulley is by far the easiest way to run a set of curtains. Can you make the rope longer and fasten the tensioning pulley to the floor? - It'll need to be a sprung one to maintain tension, but those are readily available. That way everybody will have as much rope as they have arms to pull, and the rope will stay in one place while they are doing it.
Chas at Halls Posted December 24, 2006 Posted December 24, 2006 Might I suggest you take a look at the excellent Hall Stage website at www.hallstage.com for the widest selection of curtain winches & controllers available - all great value and highest quality. You'll also find 150 + download pages on "How to..." guides on rigging drapes, counterweights etc etc in the "Support" section.... I hope this isn't mistaken for advertising or promotion in any way - Happy Christmas to one and All ....! Chas at Halls (No relation...)
johnhuson Posted December 24, 2006 Posted December 24, 2006 I hope this isn't mistaken for advertising or promotion in any way - Happy Christmas to one and All ....! Chas at Halls (No relation...) How can you be no relation to the company when you work for them! Just Curious.
dbuckley Posted December 24, 2006 Posted December 24, 2006 My most local venue has the traditional rope pull, but theres holes in the deck which allowed the rope to be extended to a home made curtain operating device. Mechanically it's a nice piece of work, all dexion angle and a washing machine motor, if my memory serves, but the control system behind it is so crap I cant actually work out how to use the thing without the risk of the entire curtain track dissapearing down the hole...
Ynot Posted December 24, 2006 Posted December 24, 2006 I hope this isn't mistaken for advertising or promotion in any way - Happy Christmas to one and All ....! Chas at Halls (No relation...) How can you be no relation to the company when you work for them! Just Curious.Tongue in cheek.....??
Johnno Posted December 27, 2006 Author Posted December 27, 2006 A simple pulling rope running through a tensioning pulley is by far the easiest way to run a set of curtains. Can you make the rope longer and fasten the tensioning pulley to the floor? - It'll need to be a sprung one to maintain tension, but those are readily available. That way everybody will have as much rope as they have arms to pull, and the rope will stay in one place while they are doing it. The rope is fastened to a floor pulley though it doesn't offer much tension as there's no spring involved. I thought children would find a winch easier to use.
Ynot Posted December 27, 2006 Posted December 27, 2006 I thought children would find a winch easier to use.Problem with giving (esp small) kids a winch is that this presents a nice big wheel with cord/cable wound around it - JUST right for getting little fingers trapped in!!!
Johnno Posted January 2, 2007 Author Posted January 2, 2007 I thought children would find a winch easier to use.Problem with giving (esp small) kids a winch is that this presents a nice big wheel with cord/cable wound around it - JUST right for getting little fingers trapped in!!! Good point. I'll think about it some more. Thanks.
pete LD Posted January 3, 2007 Posted January 3, 2007 I thought children would find a winch easier to use. Winches are ok until they go wrong then you get in a mess of wire and no one can fix it!I've just took a winch system out of a school and replaced it with rope pulleys as there easier and don't go wrong!Pete
ojc123 Posted January 3, 2007 Posted January 3, 2007 Winches are ok until they go wrong then you get in a mess of wire and no one can fix it!I've just took a winch system out of a school and replaced it with rope pulleys as there easier and don't go wrong!Pete Seconded. We've had our winch removed and replaced with rope for that very reason. The trained students could cope with it, my problem was over enthusiastic teachers who knew better than my trained students.
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