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| Topic: Building a Square-Circle (or a Square Square) |
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Hi all - I would like to build a Square-Circle (or a Square Square. Do not want to give away secrets - so, if this does not make sense - PM me.) The one I re-built for Perley was the classic - one square, two circles - has anyone built two squares and one circle. I am having trouble finding two circles that fit properly and if I am building from scratch - one C is easy to find and two Bs are easy to build. Comments, suggestions or rolling on the floor laughing - thinking - what a kook! |
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Mr. Jay Leslie can build a nice solid tube with your desired diameter, here is one he did for me: http://www.dreamfactory.com/magic/square_circle.jpg |
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Bill That is a beautiful job! My tiny challenge is that I live in Canada and sometime shipping stuff here is a PITA. My second challenge is I want to build it myself if I can. Thanks mate |
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| Have you checked out Home Depot's plumbing section? Or any place that sells plumbing supplies? I've used plastic (PVC maybe, not sure) sewer pipe in the past for square circles and other things that need tubes. Easy to tool, seamless (unlike rolled metal) and won't corrode. Also found a piece that allowed me to take everything away from the base whilst loaded. |
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| MV - were you able to find two "plastic" tubes that fit each other or are you suggesting I go with my square - square idea with an inner plastic circle? |
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| I was able to find two plastic tubes that fit each other, maybe a quarter of an inch in between. Outer one was a plumbing tube, the inner one sort of "generic" tubing. I'd suggest one square, two circles. |
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| MV - I will go there tomorrow! Thanks |
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[quote] I am having trouble finding two circles that fit properly and if I am building from scratch[/quote] Go to your grocery store. The shelves are line with round tubes...tin cans. Find two that suit your needs. The inner one can be covered with felt and the out one will paint up nicely. And you'll get a meal at the same time!!! LOL. Good luck, John |
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| PLEASE do not use felt. Use only black velvet or black triple velvet. They absorb the ambient light much more completely and make the effect more magical. |
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AG - what about flat black spray paint?? Thanks |
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[quote] On 2012-04-29 17:16, Capt.Hook wrote: AG - what about flat black spray paint?? [/quote] Spray paint, even Krylon ultra-flat black is way too reflective. Actually black felt would be better. However, velvet works best because the fibers stand up and absorb the light. Triple velvet is available on line for less than $10 a yard. It can be glued effectively with Scotch 77 or similar spray adheasive. You may also want to cover the inside of the square for consistancy. Black flocking might also work, but it can be quite messy to work with. I have used a velvet like photo background material that works fairly well if there is only one cut-out in the square tube. If you do a double cut-out like Mark Wilson's AllaKazam hat the light issues get really tricky and require lots of experimentation to get it right. If you are making a square circle you want to be able to use it under all lighting conditions so go the extra mile and make the illusion as deceptive as possible. |
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| I used Triple Velvet on mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckBLZFiEuUM |
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Triple velvet for BA. It's the only reliable material. 'Nuff said. |
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| Nice stuff Dynamike! |
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What size device do you want? Building supply stores carry cardboard tubes, in various diameters, for pouring concrete columns. There are several nominal diameters, and even those of the same nominal diameter actually nest for shipping. I used three of them to make a circle-circle. If you're going the square-square route, why have the third a circle? |
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I used a stovepipe for the inner tube and then made my own outer tube from sheet aluminum. I've been using it for 8 years. The aluminum tube is easy to make. Just fold over a 1/2 inch fold in opposite directions from each end of the sheet, fit them into each other, and then flatten them together. Jim |
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Thanks all - I have completed my Circle Square 1 - I used Triple velvet inside the box and on the outside of the metal single malt whisky container 2 - I built the box from plywood 3 - I used a 6" sewer pipe cut down and closed to make a nice fit 4 - I am REALLY happy with it. And yes - I'll post pictures when I get around to it. :) Rik |
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| Nice to hear when a project gets finished. I have a couple that need to get done as well... |
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| Sewer pipe sounds heavy. How thick are the walls? |
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James - it is heavier than stove pipe but not too much so - and mine has dried mud on one side and where I cut it to make a smaller diameter it has duct tape on it and fits with my "Story" about buying a Magic Pipe from a homeless person who wanted $200.00 for it but settled for $1.50 so he could get a cup of coffee. It is white plastic and certainly not too heavy. Rik |
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Pictures - as promised: More here: https://picasaweb.google.com/RikHallPhotos/CircleSquare Rik |
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It looks like but I've got what I think is an important suggestion. The square has to be a bright contrasting color to help the illusion! The square in the picture looks like it's also black. Jim |
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Jim OK - why? More here: https://picasaweb.google.com/RikHallPhotos/CircleSquare Rik |
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The contrast between a lighter colored "frame" surrounding the opening and the interior provides a stronger illusion. You can actually accomplish the same effect if you paint a narrow border all the way around the opening, same color as the corner scrolls (which look very nice, BTW). The red edging comes close to accomplishing this, but the illusion can be tightened up a bit. It also helps to define the opening, which could be a bit ambiguous under some lighting conditions if you have black on black (think about the method). You don't want another feature to point directly to the method! ;) Overall, it looks like a nice early project. You should be proud. One other suggestion. It appears that the base has no velvet on it. If anyone can see the BA tube contrast against it (looking in from a higher angle), then it should be covered with velvet, as well. |
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Michael Thanks for the excellent explanation. I have a piece of velvet for the base - I had noticed that. I like the idea of the red around the opening. Cheers Rik |
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| If anyone is looking to build a larger squaare circle, the tube concrete forms that you can buy at Lowes or Home depot work great. They light, made of cardboard and easy to cover with the velvet. |