Using magnets to hold an object in place on a large timber beam.

  • Level: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter tomo2014
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Beam Magnets
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
Sign up Log in
5 replies · 2K views
tomo2014
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
I am a lighting designer for tv shows and I have a problem with a location that has very low ceilings and 22" timber beams running the width of a 30ft room. The location is a listed/heritage building and therefore we cannot cause any physical damage to the property including the ceiling. I have used magnets to hold equipment in place before but was curious to the strength of magnets required to hold a 500g (led light) in place, using the 22" wood beam as a anchor point.

So my question is, can magnets penetrate 22" of thick wood and if so how big would they have to be to hold 500g in place?

Thanks
Andy
 
Physics news on Phys.org

Discussion

Ridiculously huge

How about a C-clamp with padded jaws?
 
Hi MrSpeedyBob

That would be the normal coarse of action but the director does not want to see clamps or scaffold pipes (pressed between the beams).

It was a long shot.

Thanks
Andy
 
Scaffold bars laid on top of the beams (with padding) tied down with padded slings.
 
Oh, do you mean that there is no gap between the ceiling and the beams?
 
Thats correct, their is no gap from the beam to the ceiling,and the show use multiple robotic cameras looking 360 degrees, so using traditional stands is out.

Thanks
Andy