Up the Creek Column - 14
Jim held a scrap of wood on the far side and I drove in ¾” #8
screws in lieu of clamps. Yeah, extra holes, but that’s what
spackle is for, isn’t it? A day later when the glue set and I pulled
out the extra screws, it was solid! Yay team!
I used straight pieces of 2x2 lumber for extra clamping behind
the vertical edges of each plywood sheet. They also elimi-
nated any bowing. I hoped the backdrop would remain flat and
true once the glue set and the bracing was removed, and that
proved to be the case.
23. I temporarily screwed the backdrop to 2x2 stiff-
ening cleats at the joints between plywood edges.
This securely clamped the two layers, kept the edges
flush, and prevented the plywood from bowing. When
the clamps come out after the glue sets, the plywood
remains flat. Make sure those 2x2s are straight!
23
24. Once the glue sets, I mark the places track will
penetrate the South Jackson backdrop and use a key-
hole saw to cut the openings. I angle the saw to be
parallel to the track while cutting.
25. The first bit of laminated backdrop, installed in
South Jackson.
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24
2 x 2 cleats
MRH-Jul 2014
