Mr. Van de Graaff is Kicking My Ass

From Kate, Technical Production Intern

(I don’t actually know if I am allowed to say ass on the intern blog, so we will see if that is still in my story when it gets posted.) Anyway, recently there has been a bit of a slow point in the sets department (at least for the intern). Mecca just opened and we have several weeks until the craziness starts with a back to back load in and tech of Betrayal and Seafarer. So I have been working on props for the high school Playwriting Projects with Mollie (the props intern) and doing my own intern projects. I have been currently been working on building a Van de Graaff generator, which after researching online seemed like a somewhat simple task. That was where I first went wrong. There are so many parts that interact with each other that it is very important that everything is exactly right. Also, making the generator from found materials means I am not always working with the ideal materials. Then finding the right materials for the belts and rollers that have a far enough spread on the triboelectric series that you are getting the maximum effect, then getting the wire combs close enough to give a good charge but far away enough to not accidentally catch and rip your belt. So Mr. Van de Graaff is probably somewhere laughing at my foolish idea of simplicity. I have spent a significant amount of time working and fine tuning, only to have it shock me (which is a good thing in this case) and then immediately the belt ripped. This is what happens when you are working with balloons. It is amazing to find out how hard it is to find durable rubber that does not have carbon in it. So far I have only been able to find balloons and latex gloves. Both of these are not as durable as one would hope.

Another problem is that cutting a spherical balloon into a cylindrical object is just about impossible. But Dana suggested a form of latex that is already cylindrical, condoms. So I spent a good portion of my day yesterday searching the building with him for condoms (not exactly normal work behavior). Otherwise I was going to have to go to the grocery store across the street and buy them. Dana told me to buy some pickles too, because just buying condoms is awkward. I’m still don’t think pickles are the best choice in that situation. Today I am actually taking a break from my project because we are teching the Playwriting Projects (which is probably good because even though I like the project, I was frustrated to the point of wanting to throw things yesterday). It will be good to come back Monday after two days off and make a fresh start. Plus, I need to finish soon because the shop guys are all getting antsy and want to play with it.