Page 24 - 39. MRH13-05-May2013

Up the Creek Column - 3
the extra stiffness of the thicker stock prevented it from following
the walls as they settled and shifted over the years.
Remember all the times wise heads told you, "Keep the reach
from aisle to the backdrop under 30" or you'll be sorry?" Well, let's
just say I let the depth of the South Jackson benchwork in this cor-
ner get slightly out of control. Standing on a chair and leaning over
trying to staple the styrene to the backdrop while simultaneously
keeping it bowed to the correct curvature turned out to be an
ordeal. I should know better than this by now!
How did I get started using styrene for coving? Years ago I bought
a bunch of .060" styrene to use for backdrops. I cut it to size and
glued it to 2x4 studs to hold it in place. It looked good and I even
used a heat gun to set a 2" radius curve at the end of the stud
5: I continued test fit-
ting the styrene sheet by
shoving it into the back-
drop corner. After a cou-
ple of trimmings it fit well
and was ready to staple
in place.
6: My trusty staple gun.
7: And its staples.
8: I shoved the styrene
into the corner and had
at it with the staple gun.
This holds the styrene in
place until I can add the
spackle fillets that will
really hold it in position.
5
8 7
6
9
10
9: Hurrah! I managed to
wrassle the styrene cov-
ing into place and get it
stapled.
10: A close up of the
staples. I don't drive them
completely home. Once
the spackle fillets are
added I'll cut their heads
off. This is easier if the
head isn't up against the
styrene.
staple heads are not tight
against the styrene
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MRH-May 2013