Spiked tripod feet on hard/smooth surfaces

[Drew Wiley]

I always wear an old pair of hob-nailed climbing boots on nicely varnished floors anyway - that way I won't slip and they won't blame the tripod spikes. But otherwise, I too use the reversible leg Ries J tripod, though it's not really heavy enough for my 8x10 system per se. The ole Zone VI tripod was just a modified
relatively cheap survey tripod. Mine would freeze up (literally) in cold rain, so I gave it away to a wannabee astronomer.

[Mark Woods]

I have the Ries, along with some other tripods, and it works great. Just more pieces to keep track of.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Sure, you can visit a hardware store and spend a little for a clever fix.

But why not go ahead and get a Ries w/ reversible spiked legs?!

Uh, money? Replacing the killer spikes would cost maybe $6.

.

[Heroique]

Jac, you missed the third sentence, so I'll re-append it here:

Sure, you can visit a hardware store and spend a little for a clever fix.

But why not go ahead and get a Ries w/ reversible spiked legs?

You know you want it. You can find a way. I know you can!

Let's just say that Ries owners know it's about more than money! ;^)

[Jerry Bodine]

Randy, this may give you some ideas. I have an old Linhof tripod model that has both spikes AND rubber tips built in. It's a little hard to see the details of the arrangement in the attached pic, but it's simply a matter of a threaded stem on the short spike with a thick rubber sleeve that can be spun down to cover the spike when needed. The sleeve has an internally threaded bushing bonded into it.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Jac, you missed the third sentence, so [...]

Me gosh sometimes, nay most of the time I am an idiot.

[kmack]

I cut three 1/2" plywood squares about 4" to a side. I drilled a 3/8 inch hole halfway through each. I tied them together with 1/4" paracord. Works great on concrete or wood.

[Randy]

Thanks for the great ideas all.

[Jim Jones]

I cut three 1/2" plywood squares about 4" to a side. I drilled a 3/8 inch hole halfway through each. I tied them together with 1/4" paracord. Works great on concrete or wood.

I hadn't thought of the paracord. Great idea for tripods with unrestricted spread. Thin rubber gasket glued on the bottoms of the squares might also be reassuring to owners of fine wood floors.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I hadn't thought of the paracord. [...]

With gaffers tape and paracord we could hold the world together.
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