Up the Creek Column - 6
For the straight parts of the ceiling cleat we used 2x2 Douglas
fir – lighter and much easier than laying up splines. However,
where the 2x2 met the splines we ensured the 2x2 was exactly
the same thickness as the splines. This let us glue splice plates
to the rear of the joints
while the front sur-
faces (where the back-
drop sheets would be
attached) remained
flush [13].
A styrene
backdrop?
I used .060” styrene for
backdrops on the previ-
ous version of the BC&SJ
and thought I could do
that again. Two layers of
.060” styrene laminated
with staggered joints
would be required. I fig-
ured I could easily bend
this stuff into the 24”
radius curve.
However, I wasn’t keen
on filling the basement
with MEK fumes. Then
I called the plastics dis-
tributor where I’d paid
about $10 per 4x8 sheet
of .060” styrene in 1999.
8. Copious amounts of yel-
low glue are a good idea when
laminating splines.
8
MRH-Jul 2014
