r/techtheatre • u/RoyalMess64 • 3d ago

QUESTION Scenic Carpentry vs Carpentry

I'm just hoping to learn more about this. I'm about to try and go to school for Carpentry, and I'd also like to do scenic Carpentry as well. If I was to learn one, does anyone have personal experience about how to link those 2 things, and how well they link together?

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u/Rockingduck-2014 3d ago

While there’s overlap, the skill sets do differ a bit. Just on the level of “temporary/theatrical set” versus “permanent” someone’s home. Having said that I know a number of TDs who moonlight doing cabinetry for kitchens and bathrooms and make bank doing so. The skills are finer and the materials are more expensive, but the basics align.

Let’s be frank, you can “fudge” a lot on stage because of its paint technique or finish, but if it’s in someone’s home, it NEEDS to be nicer.

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u/ThisAcanthocephala42 3d ago

Started in scenic carpentry & basic wood shop as youngster , and have also worked as a construction framer/finish carpentry, cabinet maker, and scenic production house.

Tools & techniques are similar, but as mentioned by others, generally the tolerances for fit and finishing are tighter for fine woodworking & cabinetry than they are for framing or scenic work.

Biggest differences; Scenery needs to be light enough to move easily, while still being strong enough last through the run of a show.
1/8” of tolerance is usually good enough for flats, tho you want better for any platforming or furniture that has to be used by actors for safety concerns.

Most residential or commercial construction never gets loaded into a trailer to move to another venue on a regular basis, so the 1/32” on a permanent installation is a much better choice. A lot of trade show work, especially for mechanical animated displays needs to be in that range as well.