Stands tipping

WVUtubadude 🎙️ · 10th April 2010

I have tripod boom stands that I use frequently. Recently, I have been needing to use them at full extension with the boom at about 45˚above the horizontal. The mics have been causing them to fall over with the slightest touch. Would, say, a 5-10lb weight attached to the bottom of the stand prevent this?

boojum · 10th April 2010

Standard filming stunt is a 10lb bag of sand. The leg of an old pair of bluejeans can be used for this. Sew the ends closed. Sew the sand into two equal amounts in either end. That way is can be looped around a brace or whatever to make sure it does not fall away. thumbsup

Mats H · 10th April 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVUtubadude ➡️

I have tripod boom stands that I use frequently. Recently, I have been needing to use them at full extension with the boom at about 45˚above the horizontal. The mics have been causing them to fall over with the slightest touch. Would, say, a 5-10lb weight attached to the bottom of the stand prevent this?

Hi,

Sand bags are great but heavy. Some venues have sand bags so you don't have to bring your own. I usually tape my tall K&M 4 m stand to the ground with black gaffer's tape just in case someone would accidentally bump into it. A much lighter solution

bishopthomas · 10th April 2010

I have used the tape trick myself, but for your purposes I think this is really what you need:
Impact | Saddle Sand Bag - 35 lb | SB-35B | B&H Photo Video

radlid · 10th April 2010

There are a lot of them on ebay:

PHOTO STUDIO 20 lbs. SAND BAGS FOR LIGHT STANDS 2pc NEW, Cameras Photo. Great deals on eBay!

and

get the sand cheap at Toys"R"Us

Matti · 10th April 2010

I have the sand for sale, sorted for audio purposes only and thus
not to cheapest one but for you...

Matti

bishopthomas · 10th April 2010

That's a great price, Radlid, thanks for the find. Wish they had them in black, but at that price I guess I can't complain.

MATTI, what op amps are in your sand? I have heard negative things about sand, including it sounds "grainy" and "harsh." I'm going for a smoother, glass-like sound - can you include fire if I order in bulk?

Matti · 10th April 2010

In Finland we we like it bit grainy, like rocks of granite or the bedrock of granite, or granite.

Matti

P.S. Granite from the ages, so it is around here

tsvisser · 10th April 2010

I use those exercise weights that are meant to be velcro'd around the ankles.... just sand bags, but fully sealed and easy to store on the bottom of my cart when not in use. I put 1 resting on each leg of my stand (all velcro'd to the main stand, though) and 1 as a counterweight for my boom pole, which is actually a 7' pole attached to the K&M boom, the type used by boom operators but fixed when doing sit down interviews, etc...

Matti · 10th April 2010

The grib persons in the film/tv industry have the tools and methods for about
every situation of this kind.
If a rig is tipping over you could guess it´s not in balance?
A quick cure is to have a leg of the tripod at the same direction as the weight.
Use always counterweight ( boom ) opposite to the mic/rig if heavy and or stretched out.
Sandbags or water ones ( you need more ) at base.
I studios you´d use heavyweight stands if available

Matti

hbphotoav · 11th April 2010

I occasionally use round mic stand bases and bungee cords to weight the bottom of the tripod (Manfrotto 11' in most instances) when I need to boom out a heavier mic. Have plenty over 20 years of bad clutches and stripped threads and new K&M tripods...

9sbean · 11th April 2010

This stand got 3 extendable feet to prevent tip over.
SUPERLUX BIGFOOT WILLIE MS 158 - Belgium International Cyberstore

Howie J · 11th April 2010

I'd love some sandbags some days, but I have so damn many 22lb stage weights for my fly lines everybody in the freakin' building uses them for doorstops...so I'll throw a couple of those on a stand. Gotta love over-engineering.

Howie J

WVUtubadude 🎙️ · 11th April 2010

I went out to the local Kroger and got two gallons of water and tied a gallon to each stand. It worked really well last night, but I will probably fill them with sand to avoid any potential wet messes and give them a coat or two of black paint just to pretty them up.

I figure I will put the money the sand bags would have cost in to wider, taller stands.

Once again, gravity has won.

5flagsaudio · 11th April 2010

Mere sand from your local hardware store is not good enough for audio projects. Clearly you need to be using audiophile quality sand in your sand bags for truly exceptional recording. Look for sand that has been cryogenically cured and blessed by mystic goat herders from the Himalayas.

digitalolive · 11th April 2010

Also, (sorry if this is obvious but I've seen people not do it) make sure that one leg of your tripod is pointed the same direction as the boom.

Steven

WVUtubadude 🎙️ · 11th April 2010

Ahh. I never mentioned this, and it is kind of important. This is for situations where it is impossible to have one leg in the direction of the boom. I know it sounds weird, but it comes up time to time.

Thomas W. Bethe · 11th April 2010

The sand trick works well but I have seen some people use some rubber black bladder looking things that they fill with water at the gig and dump before they leave. Carrying around a couple of 20 pound sand bags are not something I take lightly (excuse the pun).

A gallon of water weighs 8.345404 pounds so 2.4 to 3 gallons should work fine.

These should work fine AquaBells Dumbbells - Aqua Bells Dumbbells - Allegro Medical Supplies

JohannesW · 11th April 2010

I use coins in that bag. heh those cost only few euros and are nice to handle and heavy enought. Funny thing was when I bought this camera tripod seller try to be celver and told me gold is good for weight, I just told him that gold I can't afford but I'll use money /coins.

Celloman · 30th May 2010

I use ankle weights and tape... someone will kick your stand, sometime.

Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsvisser ➡️

I use those exercise weights that are meant to be velcro'd around the ankles.... just sand bags, but fully sealed and easy to store on the bottom of my cart when not in use. I put 1 resting on each leg of my stand (all velcro'd to the main stand, though) and 1 as a counterweight for my boom pole, which is actually a 7' pole attached to the K&M boom, the type used by boom operators but fixed when doing sit down interviews, etc...

joelpatterson · 30th May 2010

This whole thread has been one long trip down Memory Lane, I've done the lifting weights, the socks full of pennies, the strapping-with-bungee cords, only I've always used rice bags (housed in those craft store canvas totes) instead of sand. Must have some Asian heritage back there, dominating the desert herder heritage?

WVUtubadude 🎙️ · 30th May 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelpatterson ➡️

This whole thread has been one long trip down Memory Lane, I've done the lifting weights, the socks full of pennies, the strapping-with-bungee cords, only I've always used rice bags (housed in those craft store canvas totes) instead of sand. Must have some Asian heritage back there, dominating the desert herder heritage?

Rice, eh? A rice spill does seem easier to clean up than a sand spill. Plus if it's outdoors, there are plenty of critters to clean up for you.

tourtelot · 30th May 2010

Motion picture supply houses sell bags that are filled with lead shot (called, strangely enough "shot bags.") They weigh as much as dirt bags so they are still a pain to transport, but they are lots smaller. More elegant in the concert hall. That's all I use; 35 pounds makes most every mic stand as rock solid as you will even need.

D.

mathieujm · 30th May 2010

What I use :
File:Dumbbell.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Suspend it with two belts under the tripod
Add as many weight as needed

JMM

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