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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
Hey folks,
I wanted to share about my latest attempt at an all-in-one rolling magic table. (Scroll down for image.) I really like things to be simple, tidy and organized, and I was very dissatisfied in the past with the amount of time I was spending before and after shows getting everything together. So…here’s what I wanted out of this new system:
So here’s how I made it. I needed to be budget conscious, and although it wasn’t super-cheap, it was a lot less expensive than a large Lefler table. (And I actually think it suits my needs a bit better.)
So here are some possible downsides:
Thanks, Daniel |
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brody Inner circle Omaha 1313 Posts |
It's a nice idea. You're right though, looks a little homemade. But, for the occasional show, for the right character, it probably works well.
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
Actually, from the front, it does look pretty slick. The lettering in the photo above looks a little wonky, but in person, you'd never know it was hand painted. And of course, no one will see the unpainted bottom of the dolly or the inside of the drawers.
That being said, it still looks a little homemade. :c P |
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Lester Regular user Scotland. U.K 193 Posts |
Daniel, it looks great. You should congratulate yourself, you have made a super job of it. Give me homemade magic, and that includes tables, anytime. There's nothing wrong with working to a budget in my book.
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Sir Richard Special user 650 Posts |
Love it dude!
Sir Richard.
"In the land of Murphy there is but ONE law!"
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KeithP Regular user 171 Posts |
I like it. One of the problems I have with most magic suitcase tables is the weight. This seems like it would be a lot lighter. The trick is finding a plastic storage container that suits the props it should hold.
Keith |
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KirkG Inner circle 1391 Posts |
Work with it for awhile and then you will know how to build your next one even better. I would make the suggestion that the ALL BLACK look is something I would move away from. Doesn't sound like you are an emo charactor, so something a little more light and friendly may work better. You could just have a different banner for the front, or a different wrap around pleather.
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JonathanM Veteran user Jonathan 352 Posts |
As far as the audience is concerned - it just looks great!
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Nice idea, the only thing you might want to consider is covering it with speaker material. This is the material that is used to cover the speakers in those loud music playing systems they put in cars. This only cost $2 a yard, in my area from a store. It comes in Black and Gray only.
Another kind of easy table I been considering making is to use one of those cheap $20 microwave oven carts. They have a shelf in the middle. All is needed is a sheet of aluminum on one of the open sides, and a handle on each side. They come on wheels, the only draw back is the weight as it is made out of that chip board wood. It should be simple to fashion a door on the back that can be removed. |
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Jim Grathoff New user 20 Posts |
I've been thinking of buying a suitcase table just how sturdy are the laflir tables.. I did see a suitcase table made out of flight case materiel but I can't find the maker. looks a little different then a laflir table.
any ideas as far as just a case. I need to carry a strat o sphere. and stage size hippy hop bunnys. something so props don't get banged up |
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uncleperry New user 97 Posts |
Daniel,
This is a great looking table and an imaginative idea. The great thing is that you can always change the look if you want. (You can do that while your critics are herniating themselves hauling their Leflers around.) Seriously, yours looks really lightweight and easy to handle. Do you find it to be sturdy enough? I'm thinking about trying it out myself if you don't mind. Good work! 'unc
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and that's usually good enough to make a decent living.
'unc. |
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TrickyEric New user 80 Posts |
I love it! The red hat is a nice touch. As for KirkG not liking the all black look, I have to respectfully disagree. It looks professional, and looks good with most backgrounds you may encounter. Not to mention clashing colors of what you may wear. Black is simple and works.
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
So...after about 6 months of use (about a dozen gigs), I have some follow-up thoughts about this home-made rolling table/storage case:
Mostly I love it. It has held up very well and the pleather signage on front has remained smooth and clean-looking. The drawers hold almost all of my props and makes resetting my show pretty easy. I ditch things (mostly) right where they live, so after the show I have only a broken egg and some throw-streamers to clean up, and I'm good to go. Oh yeah, and harem's worth of silk to refold. I put strips of Velcro on the inside bottoms of each drawer and on the bottom of various sized tupperware containers, which hold my props in place in the drawers. I can easily add or remove these containers (with their props) depending on the line-up of effects I plan to use. The lids are sometimes finicky and are a pain to secure. Test your tupperware! One modification: The drawer units are meant to be stackable and customizable, and I found they were pulling apart if I ever needed to lift the whole table from the top. Which leads me to another weakness...lifting it. While it rolls well on its casters or with my little Ikea handcart, there are times when I need to lift it up stairs or to get it into and out of the car. There's no place to get a handhold. I solved both problems by getting a 1" black nylon tie-down strap with a rachet similar to this one. I tied it around the sides of the table under the pleather (across the top, down the sides and beneath the bottom dolly). I leave it on permanently. It is not visible from the audience, and it gives me a way to lift it from the front or sides while keeping all the drawer units firmly pressed in place. The one thing I don't love is that it seems a bit big when it's in the house. My partner is about to move in, and suddenly the idea of having my big magic case taking up a big chunk of real-estate in the office or bedroom is a little less popular. : ) Also, the more I get to know my show and my performance style, the more I'm interested in paring down to the essentials. I may eventually look for a slightly smaller version that I customize a bit more. But for now...I have to say I'm really happy with it. When I roll in, people know that I'm the entertainment and that I come prepared! It looks good on stage and suits me very well. Thanks everyone for your encouragement. As always, I'd love to see pics of other people's tables and cases. Thanks, Daniel |
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dwitten13 New user 14 Posts |
Daniel,
I like the cart a lot, and think you did an awesome job. You mentioned in the first post about the weakness of NOT having the drawers painted on the INSIDE. Have you considered some type of lining? Like a black felt or even the speaker material that WM mentioned in his post? At least for the bottom of the drawers may help. I have a pre-fab case that I bought like many others that opens from the top and becomes my table top, but have also not liked the fact that things move around too much in transit. I have thought about "tweaking" the one I have and trying to make it better. Again, I really like what you did with this and think you should be very proud of it!
The Magic of D. W.
www.dwmagic.org |
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
Thanks DWitten,
I actually added strips of industrial strength velcro along the bottom of the inside of each drawer and more strips on the bottom of tupperware containers (containing the props for individual effects). When I arrive, I just have to take the lids off. If I have to replace any effects to customize a show, I just switch out the tupperware. The hold is almost too strong -- I think lining the drawers with speaker material and then adding velcro to the bottom of the tupperware, might be a little better. -Dan |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I think it's a great looking, functional table. However, I do not see the point of painting (or lining) the interior of the drawers black. Black makes the storage areas dark and hard to see into. The audience never sees it, so keep it white and bright!
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REV BILL Special user Glen Burnie Maryland 799 Posts |
I like it so much I may put my tools in my Lefler table in the garage.
Specializing in Family Entertainment,Gospel,Comedy and Educational programs for over 30 years.(Order of Merlin)
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
My only worry about the case/table made from the Sterlite piece is, and this may only be an issue here in the South where temps are in the 100s for a few months each year, after being painted black, outdoors, won't this thing just be a solar oven? Don't know if you'd use this outdoors, but this plastic would probably warp or melt in the sun, especially when black.
Steve |
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-26 10:35, Stevethomas wrote: I never thought of that! I've haven't used it outdoors yet, but if I do, I'll make sure to look for a shady spot. : ) -Daniel |
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REV BILL Special user Glen Burnie Maryland 799 Posts |
I thought most magicians were kinda shady already.
Specializing in Family Entertainment,Gospel,Comedy and Educational programs for over 30 years.(Order of Merlin)
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