LayerMask
Leveling Leg Mod
Leveling Leg Mod after Reuben Krabbe - his first version - he's now got two versions! (In his version 2, the normal setting geometry is compromised and the resistance to the strut attachment slipping is not 'absolute' - still considering that one - have got some ideas.)
I find my MSE 'Light (Wt) Heavy (Duty) triple riser' aluminium stand (387490) (3.54 m) pretty well perfect for a full baby pin stand (i.e. strong enough to handle a Grip Head with all that that implies). And it's light weight. Except, especially outside, it would be nice to have a leveling leg option.
Traditional leveling leg solutions extend & lower one leg, meaning that single leg becomes the downhill leg and ends up taking more weight than its piers. Also the footprint diameter is modestly reduced.
Reuben Krabbe's Mod, OTOH, raises the adjusted leg which typically results in it bearing slightly less than a normal 1/3rd share. Also, it doesn't add weight. When deployed, the footprint diameter increases slightly!
My experience suggests that a single extra hole, c 10 to 12 cm higher than the original offers great leveling range and flexibility on this and other full sized horizontal strut stands (footprint 43 in diameter). Varying the leg spread also varies the leveling action substantially. Outside, I'd usually lose the wheels or lock them radially out to maximize the footprint. This approach does not work well on stairs - but there's a better way of mounting a lightstand half way up a flight of stairs.
My choice of new pin was a marine grade 6 X 50 mm drop nose pin. (The UK's 'Seasure' is the best brand.) Lighter stands would use a 5 mm version. The drop nose is itself spring loaded and my mod adds a short length of rubber tubing to act as a gentle compression spring, removing any chance that this mod would 'self release'. It's more secure, IMO, than the original simple ny-loc nuts. Matthews added two shaped spacing pieces which could be easy to lose. Accordingly these are now tethered to prevent loss while engaging the leveling option. If your stand has washers, I suggest losing those and substituting a 10 cm strip of thin stiff plastic with a suitable hole at both ends.
Ensure that the stand is truly vertical - critical if using a boom.
I now have two full sized stands with this mod/pin - I remain, 6 months & counting, very pleased so far . . .
I've also tried just using a car leveling ramp under a normal stand's lowest leg - that can work well too, but I prefer Reuben's idea.
Leveling Leg Mod
Leveling Leg Mod after Reuben Krabbe - his first version - he's now got two versions! (In his version 2, the normal setting geometry is compromised and the resistance to the strut attachment slipping is not 'absolute' - still considering that one - have got some ideas.)
I find my MSE 'Light (Wt) Heavy (Duty) triple riser' aluminium stand (387490) (3.54 m) pretty well perfect for a full baby pin stand (i.e. strong enough to handle a Grip Head with all that that implies). And it's light weight. Except, especially outside, it would be nice to have a leveling leg option.
Traditional leveling leg solutions extend & lower one leg, meaning that single leg becomes the downhill leg and ends up taking more weight than its piers. Also the footprint diameter is modestly reduced.
Reuben Krabbe's Mod, OTOH, raises the adjusted leg which typically results in it bearing slightly less than a normal 1/3rd share. Also, it doesn't add weight. When deployed, the footprint diameter increases slightly!
My experience suggests that a single extra hole, c 10 to 12 cm higher than the original offers great leveling range and flexibility on this and other full sized horizontal strut stands (footprint 43 in diameter). Varying the leg spread also varies the leveling action substantially. Outside, I'd usually lose the wheels or lock them radially out to maximize the footprint. This approach does not work well on stairs - but there's a better way of mounting a lightstand half way up a flight of stairs.
My choice of new pin was a marine grade 6 X 50 mm drop nose pin. (The UK's 'Seasure' is the best brand.) Lighter stands would use a 5 mm version. The drop nose is itself spring loaded and my mod adds a short length of rubber tubing to act as a gentle compression spring, removing any chance that this mod would 'self release'. It's more secure, IMO, than the original simple ny-loc nuts. Matthews added two shaped spacing pieces which could be easy to lose. Accordingly these are now tethered to prevent loss while engaging the leveling option. If your stand has washers, I suggest losing those and substituting a 10 cm strip of thin stiff plastic with a suitable hole at both ends.
Ensure that the stand is truly vertical - critical if using a boom.
I now have two full sized stands with this mod/pin - I remain, 6 months & counting, very pleased so far . . .
I've also tried just using a car leveling ramp under a normal stand's lowest leg - that can work well too, but I prefer Reuben's idea.