Large Scale Central

Toddalin's Gallow's Humor

The MIK - Annual Build Challenge
#1

When the local mine is pulling out gold nuggets that weigh more than Volkswagons, you tend to get a lot of claim jumpers. In the past we’ve dealt with them on a one-by-one basis.

Usually leaving the skeletons to swing in the wind is enough incentive for people to leave things alone. But things are getting out of hand and it was decided that a new deterrent was needed. The Tortoise Town Board of Aesthetics approved the construction of a new, proper, stone gallows with the thought that maybe this will reduce the number of attemped claim jumpings without the need for further, unauthorized, lynchings.

#2

I do believe that will get the point across Todd. Now its just a matter of building it and finding that lucky person that is willing or I guess unwilling to try it out!!

#3

Ha OK this gets an A+ for creative ideas.

#4

Reviewing pictures of gallows, it would appear that a raised platform with a trap door would be the most common way this was done. The pole could be an inverted L or a framed assembly. Some of these platforms could be quite high (e.g., 13 steps up). I think that the gallows pole will be one of the unused POLA station platform roof supports with some cutting to take the top ^ out so it looks similar to that below.

I decided that we will also do a raised platform. To use the stones, the lower portion of each stantion will be encased as one would do an arbor or patio cover.

I’m thinking of using 3/8" acrylic which scales out to ~8" and is about perfect for the stantions. This way I can do each side with the stantions and diagnols all out of of solid sheet alleviating much gluing and making this much stronger. A 24" by 12" piece of 3/8" acrylic is $20 and I can get everything out of a single sheet.

If I get ambitious, I can even have the laser etch woodgrain and boards for the deck prior to painting .

#5

Todd it occurs to me that you will have alot of stone left. Why not also make a single cell jail to stand next to it. Something like this maybe?

It doesn’t need to be big maybe just 7’ x7’ in scale.

#6

Maybe could happen. But there will be 8 of the stantions for what I have in mind. I’ll have to see what’s left. Also, if I use a stone deck, that’s a lot of stone.

#7

A stone based gallows. So this isn’t the temporary affair that we are used to seeing.

#8

David, this is a " we have a lot of work here and so might as well build something permament" type of deal… Kinda like Chicago should be

#9

David Maynard said:

So this isn’t the temporary affair that we are used to seeing.

SSSHHHH!!! My wife may read this!!! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-money-mouth.gif)

(Where do you have that camera hidden anyway?)

#10

Computers now just make this so easy to do:

Side view:

Cross braces:

Decking:

#11

Pete, yea.

Todd, if I tell you, then it won’t stay hidden. That kind of defeats the purpose.

#12

Then you know that the gallows is the ideal project because all of the males on the Tortoise & Lizard Bash are “well hung.”

#13

Thirteen steps to…

DesignSpark just makes this so easy to do. And yes, I checked with the building codes and the riser/runner lengths are appropriate. We wouldn’t want any of the prisoners to trip and hurt themselves along the way to being hung. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#14

I ordered a 3/8" thick sheet (1’ x 2’) of clear acrylic from Industrial Plastic Supply today. It was $20 and no tax as I have a resale # and account with them. It will be ready for pick-up tomorrow.

When you go into that place (in Anaheim next to Angels’ Stadium), they also have shelves and bins of all types of plastics as scraps, odds and ends. This stuff goes for $3/# regardless of the type/size/shape. If you want to make strong structures on the cheap, this is how/where to get the materials.

#15

Looks like my blocks arrived this afternoon. I would say stones, but I’ve always had the stones. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#16

I picked up the acrylic today at Industrial Plastics. The 2’ x 1’ x 3/8" was $20 and no tax. The other two pieces are 1/8" and were scrap. The two pieces weight 1lb/2 oz and would have been ~$3.50, but they gave them to me for no charge. (That’s a good thing because I sent Dave $10 for the blocks.)

Gotta love that place. They always give free scrap stuff if you place an order, so as long as you don’t get greedy with it (<$10).

#17

Well well well…you do realize that by government regulation you have mis-counted, specifically:

OSHA 1910.21(b)(8)

“Stairs, stairway.” A series of steps leading from one level or floor to another, or leading to platforms, pits, boiler rooms, crossovers, or around machinery, tanks, and other equipment that are used more or less continuously or routinely by employees, or only occasionally by specific individuals. A series of steps and landings having three or more risers constitutes stairs or stairway.

Since the ground and the hanging platform itself do not constitute steps, you have only 12 steps. I mention this because you wouldn’t want the condemned, blindfolded and counting to 13, tripping at the top and falling to his death.

#18

I thought that they only had the hood placed over their heads, when they were on the trap door, just before the noose was placed around their necks.

#19

John Passaro said:

Well well well…you do realize that by government regulation you have mis-counted, specifically:

OSHA 1910.21(b)(8)

“Stairs, stairway.” A series of steps leading from one level or floor to another, or leading to platforms, pits, boiler rooms, crossovers, or around machinery, tanks, and other equipment that are used more or less continuously or routinely by employees, or only occasionally by specific individuals. A series of steps and landings having three or more risers constitutes stairs or stairway.

Since the ground and the hanging platform itself do not constitute steps, you have only 12 steps. I mention this because you wouldn’t want the condemned, blindfolded and counting to 13, tripping at the top and falling to his death.

I’m not counting the ground, only how many times you step “up.” And, the 13th step is traditionally the platform.

Our lawyers have already been all over this one (and charged us accordingly (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-money-mouth.gif)) to tour around the Internet examing gallows and have determined that the top step is actually the level of platform, if not the platform itself.

#20

David Maynard said:

I thought that they only had the hood placed over their heads, when they were on the trap door, just before the noose was placed around their necks.

We’ll have the lawyers look into this one. But the guy in the hood in the picture was being lynched, and those rebels have no rules.