1. Set Construction Essential Question:
What will I need to apply when building a set for a play?

2. Vocabulary Flat Wood screws Muslin Sheeting material Backing (masking)
Box set
Floor plan

3. Vocabulary
Practical
Returns
Sight line

4. Flat Construction Made of 1 x 4 white pine. Components are called
Corner blocks, and keystones
Rails and stiles and toggle bars
Use wood screws to attach corner blocks and keystones
Covered with unbleached muslin

5. Flat: Illustration
Rails
Stiles
Toggle Bar
Keystone
Corner block

6. Flat: Measurements Stile measurements are all in terms of 5”
For example, a 12’ high flat needs stiles of 11’5”.
Rail measurements are always the width of the flat.
For example, a 4’ wide flat needs rails of 4’.

7. Flat: Measurements Toggle measurements are all in terms of 5”.
For example, a toggle bar for a 6’ wide flat should be 5’5”.
The length of material to cover a flat should always add 4”.
For example, a 12’ high flat needs to be 12’4”.

8. Flat: Measurements The dimensions for a cornerblock are 9” x 9”.
The dimensions for a keystone are 6” x 3” x 2.5”.

9. Flats: Covering and sizing
How to cover a flat
Unbleached muslin 4” in length
Staple it to sides of frame
Place wax paper around toggle bars
Cover muslin, including what covers the wood frame with glue/water mixture
2:1 ratio
Sizing
Let dry, remove staples and cut excess

10. Flats: Miscellaneous
Corner blocks and keystones should be placed 3/4” from edge of flat.
Flats are joined with loose pin hinges.

11. Flats: Miscellaneous
Dutchman is used to cover the joints between flats.
To patch a hole or rip in a flat, material is glued from the back of the flat.
Only flats without openings may be floated.

12. Flats: Miscellaneous
Everyone involved with a production works on the set.
It is necessary to use a backing flat on all door and window openings.

13. Flats: Miscellaneous A brace should be used to keep a flat upright.
A stage weight should be placed inside a brace to give weight to the flat.
The portion of the set which extends toward the right and left wings is called the return.

14. Sheeting Material Three kinds of sheeting material:
Celotex
Masonite
Particle Board
Plywood
In relation to plywood, the letters AD means one side is planed, the other is not.

15. Sheeting Material
In wood measurement, nominal means size before planed.
Actual means size after planing.
Corner blocks and keystones are made from ¼” plywood.
The standard size of all sheeting material is 4 x 8.
Other plywood thicknesses are 1”, ¾”and ½”.

16. Cutting
Corner block 9”
Keystone 9” 3” 6”
2.5”

17. Attaching: Corner Blocks

18. Attaching: Keystones