Topic: fire retardant spray on metal beam?

[georgeh]

fire retardant spray on metal beam, rafter beam? I am trying to figure out what is the best, safest, way to connect to a beam at a venue that has recently been sprayed with a fire retardant spray. the owner is willing to do something, but dragging his feet, so i figured i'd try to do something. The only real solution to a good recording is to clamp to the metal beam center of room. I was thinking some kind of variable clamp (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=186520-1073-VAS-23&lpage=none) but then how would i attach to it? I'd leave the clamp, bar and we could just clamp to the bar hanging when we recorded. Leave a long mic cable run to the side for decks.

[datbrad]

fire retardant spray on metal beam, rafter beam? I am trying to figure out what is the best, safest, way to connect to a beam at a venue that has recently been sprayed with a fire retardant spray. the owner is willing to do something, but dragging his feet, so i figured i'd try to do something. The only real solution to a good recording is to clamp to the metal beam center of room. I was thinking some kind of variable clamp (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=186520-1073-VAS-23&lpage=none) but then how would i attach to it? I'd leave the clamp, bar and we could just clamp to the bar hanging when we recorded. Leave a long mic cable run to the side for decks.

George, Chris K and I were talking about that beam at The Southern the other day. He showed me a clamp used for carpentry that can open as much as a foot or more. I think you are on to the right idea. Go to Lowes, get a clamp that can be placed up permanently, and have a 3/4" copper tube or something attached pointing down, that can accomodate several sets of mics.

I clamped at a couple of different points when it was Gravity, and found that the roof joist exactly even with the front edge of the old bookshelf/roof support sections on each side of the main floor is the sweet spot. If you do a clamp setup to leave there, try and go for the spot I mentioned. We will all be in your debt.

[georgeh]

Brad
you have the right venue, and location for clamp I agree. I am still having a hard time figuring out how to get the cooper (or whatever) bar connected to clamp, if I use an angel clamp. I plan on leaving what ever I do, as well as mic cables, at least one pair, dropped by old book shelves (not sure if you've been in or not)

[vanark]

Look at what SmokinJoe did at one of his local venues.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=103678.msg1383304#msg1383304

[datbrad]

Brad
you have the right venue, and location for clamp I agree. I am still having a hard time figuring out how to get the cooper (or whatever) bar connected to clamp, if I use an angel clamp. I plan on leaving what ever I do, as well as mic cables, at least one pair, dropped by old book shelves (not sure if you've been in or not)

I think you are on the right track. I was thinking that 2 clamps may be the right way. One can be a woodworking or construction clamp that goes on the beam, and then a second clamp to connect a vertical bar to it.

I think leaving a set of cables is optional, as tapers like Craig with his 4022s, and Tito/Innis with the Schoeps actives would not be able to use them. Best thing it to make a secure clamp spot that we can get several pairs of mics mounted to, and we can run our own cables with the ladder.

[todd e]

also seeing as your last set of cables vanished, just another vote to save some $$ and only bring in a clamp that can be left up.

brad made a good point, not many bodies being flown these days in cville

[ilduclo]

caution---most of the fire retardant on steel contains asbestos. Screw around with that stuff and you'll be wearing your lungs outside your chest.

[georgeh]

hopefully there is a pic for this. basically clamp is this angle clamp (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=186520-1073-VAS-23&lpage=none) then i'll bolt the metal bar to the wooden handle. this seems to be the easiest way to clamp to the fire retardant metal beam, which is around 6 to 8" by 6" high, guessing. we can always clamp another bar to it as well, it should hang down 16", or eight feet from floor?
here's where the pic is, if you want to see http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/gshbiod/clamp1.jpg

[drewski1986]

I use this clamp  http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=143059-1073-TG4.012&lpage=none  at the Canal Club.  I just drilled and tapped some 3/8 16 thread/inch holes and can attach to it with all thread.  Works great for me.

[Brian Skalinder]

Whatever you do, make sure you rig safety wire for each failure point.  For example, if you use a clamp to attach to the ceiling, and another clamp to latch onto the main clamp, you'd want 2 safety wires:  one for the secondary clamp to which your mics are attached, and one for the main clamp attached to the ceiling.  The question then becomes...to what do you attach your safety wires? Probably an eyehook or u-bolt of some kind drilled into the beam.

If you have the clearance to run a vertical pole, what about screwing into place a 5/8"-27 male-threaded surface mount?  Then simply attach a 5/8"-27 female-threaded extension bar to which you clamp your mics.  (In this instance, you'd still need an eyehook or u-bolt for safety wire...but only one of them, for the clamp you use for your mics.)

[Belexes]

Look at what SmokinJoe did at one of his local venues.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=103678.msg1383304#msg1383304

I copied this. Works like a charm when clamping to a large beam.

[georgeh]

thanks for the input. A c-clamp wont work because of the fire retardant spray.
The clamp I referenced has a 160lb weight limit, so I would think it would hold the mics fine without a safety cable, but I do understand the need for securing the bar. The owner is now talking about running a separate bar/pole across the room to clamp onto, that could be awhile. 

[timP]

none of the spray used in the last 20+ years has asbestos in it. at least here in the USA 


the stuff compresses with any pressure, and once the "skin" is broken it will flake or shift easily. maybe not as much if you really tighten the clamp. don't know. haven't tried. But have demolished beams with it and it comes off easily with a scraper and sprayed it on new beams and it's basically shredded paper

so, I'd say see if u can get the owner to let you remove just a SMALL section for the clamp.

[datbrad]

thanks for the input. A c-clamp wont work because of the fire retardant spray.
The clamp I referenced has a 160lb weight limit, so I would think it would hold the mics fine without a safety cable, but I do understand the need for securing the bar. The owner is now talking about running a separate bar/pole across the room to clamp onto, that could be awhile.

George, Why not offer to install it yourself? It's Andy, right, Innis' buddy?

I know he is a little hard to pin down, but he seems like an agreeable dude. I bet he would give you daytime access when you could get in there, size things up, and run out and get whatever you need to make a mic mounting bar.

[georgeh]

thanks for the input. A c-clamp wont work because of the fire retardant spray.
The clamp I referenced has a 160lb weight limit, so I would think it would hold the mics fine without a safety cable, but I do understand the need for securing the bar. The owner is now talking about running a separate bar/pole across the room to clamp onto, that could be awhile.

George, Why not offer to install it yourself? It's Andy, right, Innis' buddy?

I know he is a little hard to pin down, but he seems like an agreeable dude. I bet he would give you daytime access when you could get in there, size things up, and run out and get whatever you need to make a mic mounting bar.

It is Andy, and he is a bit overwhelmed now with the opening, reopening, of the venue. I offered to come in during load in and he pushed me off, for now. I've recorded twice this week, and he knows I'll be a regular, as regular as I can be. Been emailing him and talking to him when i get to venue, eventually we'll come to an agreement. And yes, I will be more then happy to rig up whatever he wants done, I do have time while home.