Circus Arch

The David Axel Kurtz Memorial Triumphal Arch of Great Justice, also known colloquially as The Circus Arch, is a metal construct designed as an interactive stage prop for circus performances. For more information on its use, please contact the signers of Circus Folk Unite.

The Arch its Nature


It's an arch. It's made of win and steel.

If you can't think of ways to use it for trap and acro... CIRCUS HARDER!!!

It was built by David Axel Kurtz as a desperate attempt to avoid working on his Div III. Please refer to his Hampedia page for a list of his other such desperations.

It can support the hanging weight of at least a dozen Hampshire students. Some testing has also been done with 5 College students, alum, staff, and small children - but clearly, more research must be done.

Right now it's astride the Community Garden, near the Jacob Lefton Memorial Sundial. Hopefully it is curled with vines and wreathed in wildflowers.

Materia
To build the arch, David cut a lot of steel. The pieces used were: A>Hollow, round, 1" width, 1/8" wall thickness, 8' length (2x) B>Hollow, square, 1" width, 1/4" wall thickness, 6' length (4x) C>Hollow, square, 1" width, 1/4" wall thickness, 8' length (4x) D>Hollow, square, 1" width, 1/4" wall thickness, ~5' length (2x) E>Hollow, square, 1" width, 1/4" wall thickness, 2' length (4x) F>Hollow, round, 1" width, 1/4" wall thickness, 2' length (6x) F>Square, 1" width, 6" length (8x)

Acta
The steps followed were: 1) Use the Universal Bender to turn the two lengths of hollow-round (A)into semicircles 2) Use the mill to put identical semicircular notches in each end of (F) 3) Fit the lengths (F) to the semicircles (A); Use the MIG-welder to weld them together. 4) Weld either end of (A) to a length of hollow (B), making the outline of the arch 5) Weld (E) to (B) at two places, one halfway up, one near the bottom; both for support and handholds 6) Weld (D) to (B) near the very bottom, so the arch will keep its shape 7) Cut either side of (C) on the horizontal band saw, to a 45 degree angle. 8) Weld (C) to (B) to form four right triangles, for support. 9) Forge the lengths (F) into long points, with bases narrow enough to fit inside a length of 1" hollow 10) Jam the points (F) into the bottom of the lengths (B) and (C); weld them in place to stick into the ground as stakes 11) Grind down all my nasty, nasty structural welds 12) ????? 13) PROFIT!

Futura
TO PREPARE THE ARCH FOR USE:

1) Since it has been exposed to the elements for some time, you will first need to remove the rust. This can be done using the wirebrush attachment to a hand grinder. These can be found in Lemelson. As, indeed, can people who will be able to show you what to do. This shouldn't take more than twenty minutes.

2) Since it will then start to rust as soon as it gets wet, it will need to be protected from the elements. I recommend 2-3 coats of a simple shellac (of the sort designed for metal). Spray-cans full of this stuff can be bought at Michael's or your friendly neighborhood hardware store. 1 can will probably do it for the whole arch, but 2 cans will coat it nice and proper. Pick a sunny day, put on a face mask, spray the so-and-so top to bottom. Let it sit. Repeat.

3) The places where human hands will touch the arch should be wrapped in grip tape. Precisely which places these are, I couldn't begin to tell you. Buy some grip tape. Wrap the appropriate places. DO IT.

4) To use the arch, place it on the grass, then jump on it until it's stable in the ground.

5) To move the arch, lift it up like a litter bearing a Roman princess. Then carry it across campus. Hell. Yeeeahhhh.