Create+rain+effect+instructions

** The Rain Pipe **

 * 1) Join the Schedule-40 PVC with PVC cement and couplers until you have a complete length of pipe equal to the overall length of the rain curtain desired. PVC is generally sold in 10-foot lengths.
 * 2) Mark a line along one edge of the PVC along the entire length of it so that the holes drilled are level and in line with each other. Then drill holes. For my effect, I drilled 1/8″ holes every 12″. Start with fewer holes because it is easier to drill more later.
 * 3) Add standard theatrical batten clamps (e.g. Rose Brand batten clamp ) every 5 feet (or more freqently) along the length of the pipe. ** Important: **// attach these batten clamps to the pipe so that the holes will be on the side of the pipe, not the bottom. //
 * 4) Tie strips of the fiberglass or vinyl window screening (use scrap from trough—see below) around the pipe at each of the drilled holes. The pressure and momentum of the water leaving the side of the pipe will tend to allow the water to travel sideways as it falls, and will necessitate a wider trough. These strips stop the sideways motion and cause the water to fall straight down.
 * 5) Attach identical turnbuckles at every batten clamp, and hang from an existing batten in the theatre. Use the turnbuckles to level the pipe, though this can be adjusted later when there is water in the system, since the water will be the best indicator of the levelness.

** The Rain Trough **



 * 1) Build a trough to contain the water after it falls. The further the fall, the wider the trough will need to be. My rain pipe was hung 30 feet above the deck and my trough was 18 inches wide.
 * 2) Line the trough with heavy plastic sheeting. I used 20-mil black PVC pond liner, available from pond equipment suppliers.
 * 3) Cover the top of the trough with fiberglass or vinyl window screening. (Do not use steel because it will rust.) Allow the center of the screen to drape into the trough some, instead of stretching it tight. This will help with the splash reduction.

** Water Supply and Drain **
To supply water to the rain pipe, I ran a hose from a sink on the stage level up to the PVC pipe directly. I put two valves down at the sink level, one to adjust rate of the flow and one to turn the flow off and on. The latter valve was used to operate the effect during the show, and the former was never touched after the desired rate was discovered.

ALL INFO CURTSY OF: David R. Whitney (Technical Directors and Facilities Manager) website found here --> http://davidrwhitney.com/rain-curtain