Slackwire (plans or blueprints)

[gaelyn]

Im looking to build a portable slackwire for busking / onstage purposes.

For the past year I have been using a wire bolted to two points on the wall which doesnt allow much freedom when it comes to transporting it elsewhere.

I have a few different blueprints drawn up and a steel manufacturing company on the line for the comission when I feel confident in how I want to it built.

I just wanted to get your imput before I gave them the OK as it will be a fairly costly endeavor.

Does anyone know of any plans or have any suggestions as to how I should build on?

Thanks

Gaelyn Hutchinson

[The Amazing Beaumanz]

There was a guy named Sam from Vermont who recently visited our festival and had a really cool rig for his slack wire.

[gav]

I know a guy who based his design for a free standing slack wire rig on a free standing hammock stand. Take a look around for one and then you just need to make it stronger and wider(for the swing) and taller. Another common method is to have 2 A frames, 1 which you attach to something(lamp post) and the other you get volunteers to hold by rope. Some people even have both ends held by volunteers, but I'd only recomend it if you are light and you're not doing to much up there.
I'll see if I can find an image as example of these methods.

[gav]

look what I found

I think you could base it on either of these designs. Looks like this guy has.
Definately consult someone with metal experience.

[Steven Ragatz]

Instead of basing your design on a free standing hammock stand, why not save yourself the grief and just use a free standing hammock stand?

hammock images

Steven Ragatz

[The Pretty Good]

If you are panning on doing any traveling with your show think about an alternative to steel. Its cheap but heavy. didnt miss genie have an aframe made from carbon fibers? titanium and aluminium and strong and lighter than steel.

[gav]

Yeah, she simply had 2 poles at each end and then a whole bunch of ropes going off in different directions to give it support. First she had ali, and then I think it was fibre glass or carbon fibre.
Not any good if you plan on doing much movement up there.
I just made the first segment of my new fibreglass pole today. I've coated PVC pipe in 2 layers of glass(it might need more). It's an experiment which I hope will work out well. If so I will finally be able to fly to gigs without incurring excess luggage charges !!

[gav]

Originally posted by Steven Ragatz
Instead of basing your design on a free standing hammock stand, why not save yourself the grief and just use a free standing hammock stand?

hammock images

Steven Ragatz

The guy I know tried, and they just weren't strong enough. Having your weight on 1 point of the wire apparently increases the strain on the outer supports, and then there's all the movement to consider. I think his design was similar to the hammock things, but had a wider angle for uprights and reinforcing braces on bottom joins, also stronger metal.

[gaelyn]

Thanks for all your imput! It definitely gives me some food for thought.

The only thing I dont like about the hammock stand is that while less hassle to initially make, you're always stuck with one length of wire.

While performing on stage I enjoy the freedom to use a longer wire (35 ft) for a nice arc and slower swing. Not only does it look nicer but it allows for some more difficult tricks (e.g. handstand walking).

And while busking I would be tossing 7 which doesn't require such a huge setup and would be less cumbersome and disruptive to flow. (25ft wire)

Gaelyn Hutchinson
-Slacker Extraordinaire-

[The Pretty Good]

I really want someone to invest in a titanium pole, uni, table, A frame supports, inverted escape pyramid... It is a whole lot lighter and stronger than anything.

[gav]

Als the only one rich enough to do that !!
I'll stick with fibre glass, maybe carbon fibre if I need to.