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George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3045 Posts 
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I know there are lots of variables and such, but I'm curious as to what you guys would use for the "box" sides of something like a doll house or a Zig Zag nowadays. 1/4" or 3/8" Baltic birch? Regular ply? Something else? The thing would break down (to a point) and pack into a road case, but I'm looking for a material that's reasonably lightweight and resists warping if finished properly. Connecting the corners is not an issue here: I'm just looking for ideas on the material itself.
Thanks! 
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts
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I prefer 1/2" ply S2S. If you can at least find it with one sanded side, you can fill the other and sand it smooth enough for the interior. The inside of a Zig Zag really doesn't matter much for looks, but you want it to not scratch the assistant or snag costumes. A Doll House interior can either be painted or covered with fabric.
You might get away with 3/8", but 1/4" would worry me, except as skin for framed panels.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
illusionman2 Special user 1000 Posts
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3/8" Birch if I can find it.
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freefallillusion1 Elite user Cincinnati, OH 446 Posts
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Sheet aluminum! It's lightweight, thin, strong, easy to work with, lately it's all I've been using.
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Dave Dorsett Veteran user Macomb, Illinois 345 Posts
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Sheet aluminum with formica or vinyl coatings, if you want maximum interior space and exterior durability. 3/8 Baltic birch ply is a good material for the weekend workshop warrior.
Dave Dorsett
Douglas~Wayne Illusioneering |
AmazingTristan New user Rhode Island 3 Posts
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Where do you find sheet aluminum? I have a hard time even finding suitable wood at the hardware stores.
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Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2604 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 5, 2016, Dave Dorsett wrote: Weekend Warriors like John Gaughan? As much as I understand the advantages of Aluminum and use it in some cases, the comment seemed to be elitist in some regards. There is a reason to use many different substrates. Know and use them all.
Ray Pierce
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Tally_NSA Loyal user Essex, UK 222 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 12, 2016, AmazingTristan wrote: Look online. The internet is truly a wonderful thing. It's like the best Yellow Pages in history. And the best thing about ordering online is they will deliver to you! |
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freefallillusion1 Elite user Cincinnati, OH 446 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 12, 2016, Ray Pierce wrote: Ray, did you mean my comment? I was merely replying to the question posed. I've built illusions using quite a few materials; however, once I started using aluminum, I've been quite sold on it. Just my opinion of course, but that would be my honest answer. |
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freefallillusion1 Elite user Cincinnati, OH 446 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 12, 2016, AmazingTristan wrote: Tristan, look for a metal supply warehouse near you. |
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Dave Dorsett Veteran user Macomb, Illinois 345 Posts
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Ray's comment seems to be an unnecessarily harsh reading of what I said. Why that was read as "elitist", I don't know. But wood as a substrate is the most easily worked. A greater number of people have access to the tools and technology to work with it. Don't recall denigrating anyone in the process of replying to the OP.
Dave Dorsett
Douglas~Wayne Illusioneering |
ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 12, 2016, AmazingTristan wrote: Paul Osburne gave the answer to that in one of his books. Find someone who builds the interior and inter wheel wells of stock cars. Ask at your local track or speed shop. He might be listed as a race car fabricator or maybe not. He'll have the very specialized tools and tecknique. to work with this material
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts
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Quote: On Apr 19, 2016, ringmaster wrote:
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2604 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 18, 2016, Dave Dorsett wrote: My apologies. I incorrectly thought there was a knock on the "Weekend Warriors" quote. I do prefer Aluminum on many things and wood on others. I've been working with wood for decades longer than I've been machining metal but each has a valuable place.
Ray Pierce
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts
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Quote: Do you machine billet, as apposed to sheet metal for illusions?On Apr 20, 2016, Ray Pierce wrote:
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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Posted: Apr 1, 2016 12:36 am 