GOBO's and Doughnuts

on the 9th of April Jeffery Pollard posted a request for where he could GOBO patterns ect.,After mailing my response I thought maybe others would like to share or just ho-hum as is there want.However, I MUST POST A WARNING Please! Please! Dont try this at home or at play, if you are a small child, subject to stress or an actor, unless you are supervised by a Technician who has been trained to with stand pain, either by flogging or extended exposure to the craft.Besides being able to get 'gobo kits' or have them made to order, a lot of Technicians do there own - so if you want to try it?The 'cheapo' way is to see your local print shop and purloin some used offset image printing plates;-1.They are easy to cut2.Dont rust.3.Are flexible.4.Bleeding bitety bits ( reasons #5 to #100 can be supplied by others)But you must have a gobo holder that fits the lamps gates, either a brand name one or home built doesnt matter.Ensure it has a user friendly handle to help insert and removed.They will not last as long as the one from the suppliers, as they tend to burn at the image edge and fuzz-out, so - make a template if the gobo is required for extended duty.They are some what better than good old tin or even light gauge sheet steel, you don't need bash nail holes into it, with a big hammer, or using a drill and file to produce that special leaf effect.Furthermore, they dont rust into slides of the lamp - when they have been forgotten after a season.Doughnuts and the like can also be cut to fit easily, it's also good for barn doors, blocking out light spill or halation and far superior to gaffer tape for repairing carcass damage to lamps or holding colour gels. It doesnt tend to either vulcanise it's self to the instrument or commit suicide and jump into the auditorium or float ever so slowly during the intensive bit on stage (this is also cause by the heat of the moment transmitted by actors during the 'most important' dramatic cameo bit - believe me its true)Anyhow if there some like minded - who would like to respond or share their own house hold tit bits .... Please! (I think I may be in the place????....)If not - lets talk about 'thwackers' -n- 'fings...Joe 'Gaafa' McCabe