I'm sure Chris won't mind me mentioning this, I don't think B&Q are major rivals !. Went into good old B&Q last week looking for some new perspex for my light boxes. They didn't have any, any ideas anyone ?
Whilst in there saw a lighting display saying 'Congratulations'. It's a wire frame with the word congratulations on it in covered in duralight with a long lead and a speed controller. It's similar to the sort of thing that is put on the outside of houses at Christmas. They were only about £25. I bought one thinking that it would add something different to the wedding receptions.
First used it this weekend, fitting it accross the middle of the lighting gantry. Received a number of favourable comments and was quite pleased with myself for trying it out. I didn't turn it on until the bride and grooms frist dance, quite effective.
They also do a 'Happy Birthday' one so I think I may go back and try that out. For only £25 it's lot more effective than a 50w mini-moon.

Sounds like a good idea - what sort of length/size was the "Congratulations" light? and how did you hang it (EG: did it have hanging loops compatible with G clamps for example?)

As for Perspex...I know only too well the problems of finding perspex.

My last solution ("Last" in more ways than one) was to contact a local firm who fits suspended ceilings into offices. They not only access to ordering some prismatic perspex (Prismatic makes one bulb look like 4 or 5), but they had also been refitting an old ceiling with new shaped lighting and had a few "Sealed units" which they gave me.

The sealed units were Prismatic on one side, a thick sheet of ordinary "see-thru" perspex the other side, with a wierd translucent "skin" between the two layers. This "sandwich" was frames by long plastic crimps along each side. They fitted my 4 x 2ft x 2ft screens perfectly and I used the "See-thru" perspex sheet on the bottom light screens (in front of the prismatic perspex, and now they're indestructable. No more "Hokey Cokey foot!".

when i used screens, i used to use a plastics coompany in southend, who would cut it to the size you required as well, and very very cheap as well

QUOTE

i used to use a plastics coompany in southend

Feel free to post their contact details, if you still have them. This seems to be a regular topic, and I think spin was looking for some persex as well.

Try Jewsons or Graham Reeves.

Yes I'm still looking, this prismatic indestructible stuff sounds good too Gary so anybody with contacts in suspended ceilings or places like that post away your details thanks!

QUOTE (The Spindoctor @ Jun 16 2003, 12:34 PM)

Yes I'm still looking, this prismatic indestructible stuff sounds good too Gary so anybody with contacts in suspended ceilings or places like that post away your details thanks!

Well they market it as indestructible......but that was before they met Spin!.

On a similar thread, I found an old 35mm slide projector at a boot sale and for £2 plus a couple of hours making it safe: rewiring, heat sheathing, dedicated earth bonding, finger proof meshing, PAT testing, it is now good as new. I've made a number of colour sides with the PC, like congatulations, Happy Birthday etc and printed on acetate. It great for filling up a bare walls!! It can also be used at wedding receptions if the best man has any "suitable" images of the groom!!!

QUOTE (Gary @ Jun 16 2003, 09:18 AM)

Sounds like a good idea - what sort of length/size was the "Congratulations" light? and how did you hang it (EG: did it have hanging loops compatible with G clamps for example?) As for Perspex...I know only too well the problems of finding perspex. My last solution ("Last" in more ways than one) was to contact a local firm who fits suspended ceilings into offices. They not only access to ordering some prismatic perspex (Prismatic makes one bulb look like 4 or 5), but they had also been refitting an old ceiling with new shaped lighting and had a few "Sealed units" which they gave me. The sealed units were Prismatic on one side, a thick sheet of ordinary "see-thru" perspex the other side, with a wierd translucent "skin" between the two layers. This "sandwich" was frames by long plastic crimps along each side. They fitted my 4 x 2ft x 2ft screens perfectly and I used the "See-thru" perspex sheet on the bottom light screens (in front of the prismatic perspex, and now they're indestructable. No more "Hokey Cokey foot!".

[Sounds like a good idea - what sort of length/size was the "Congratulations" light? and how did you hang it (EG: did it have hanging loops compatible with G clamps for example?)]

It's about 3 foot long with the top having a couple of loops.

It's not very heavy so I found it easy to sit on the G-clamp keys of a couple of the lights and then I used a couple of bits of twisty stuff that they hold stuff to packaging, ie like the green stuff used in the garden for securing plants to bamboo canes, to secure the light to the connections in the ladder trussing, you know the wavy thin metal bits between the main truss.

I hope this makes sense !

Hi

If you have the money and were thinking of getting some new light, go for EVL mad spins, they will produce a gobo with congratulations, so you get the message you want and an outstanding light too. I know it's not quite as cheap, but still an option.

Darren

Think the plastic I used was clled Glotex (sp)

Got the spins and stuck the gobos in, seem to get every other one but when they're spinning. Even gobo select on the controller doesn't seem to help much. on the whole though I'm impressed nice vivid colours.

The Chameleon 3E seems a pretty good option, especially as you can leave it to the required gobo (Ithink!)

Hi

I've never had a problem with selecting a gobo, I had merry xmas enblazened over a hotel function room wall all evening and never had trouble with it. The Epod controler is a little bit clunky though and takes some getting usd to.

Darren`