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Thread: built your own tripod?

  1. #1

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    built your own tripod?

    Question for the group,I have a tripod that has seen better days. Has anyone attempted to build their own tripod and how did it turn out?
    Thanks Bill

  2. #2
    Deardorff Sales and service
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    Re: built your own tripod?

    I've built several. Wood and Telescoping tubing. I really like wood. Fewer vibrations. I needed one that was at least 12 foot tall and I incorporated a ladder on one side. Now I can go to menards and get a tripod deer blind for 150.00. Looks the same. The biggest issue I see is getting clear Maple in 6 foot lengths. I sold mine and want another one. I went to a lumber store and the wood was crap. Knotty as all get out.
    Do you have access to someone who can cast alum?
    Ken Hough Deardorff Refinisher since 1982
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  3. #3
    LF/ULF Carbon Printer Jim Fitzgerald's Avatar
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    Re: built your own tripod?

    Yep, built two ULF tripods.

  4. #4

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    Re: built your own tripod?

    Negative on cast aluminum. However I have found a great source for long lengths of hardwoods. Check out the custom stairs manufacturers I pick up 10 - 14 foot lengths That have a knot in the middle making it unusable for them. Best part is they THANK me for taking it because other wise it goes into the dumpster!!$$$$most of what I get is oak but every once in a while their are other hardwoods. another great source are the local custom cabinet shops. (My other mid life crisis is making furniture!)

  5. #5

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    Besançon, France
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    Re: built your own tripod?

    Hello from France !

    Has anyone attempted to build their own tripod and how did it turn out?

    Not me, but a LF-friend of mine, Marcel Couturier, has fabricated several wooden tripods. He is a professional carpenter. He uses ash tree wood exactly like for Berlabach tripods.

    An idea of those tripods here, presented at our recent friendly LF meeting in the Jura on May 1-st, 2011 Note the nice wooden levelling head on some models.
    Marcel Couturier tells Henri Gaud about his tripods

    Not tripods, but Marcel's wooden rack & organiser inside his back pack

  6. #6

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    Re: built your own tripod?

    How thick can a water jet cut? Might be an option beside casting aluminum.

  7. #7

    Re: built your own tripod?

    Hi Bill,
    One option utilizes wood or aluminum crutches and a web search will
    give you some information on specific designs--these are used also
    by amateur astronomers.

    Warren Clark

  8. #8
    chassis's Avatar
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    Re: built your own tripod?

    I have built one tripod and one tilting head. It works great. Not pretty, but highly functional. The legs were made of 1x2 pine, and the head was made from 1/2" plywood and pieces of 1x pine, with bits of bend aluminum for pivots, and the requisite nuts, bolts and screws to hold it together.

    I am working on the second generation in my mind. The overall structure will be mostly the same but I want to refine the details, including the metal hardware and using walnut, most likely.

  9. #9

    Cool Re: built your own tripod?

    Can't say I would unless time was not a problem. I have a telescoping ash tripod with an aluminum column plus the huge Manfrotto head I would part with cheap.

    Reis is still my favorite.

  10. #10
    Tracy Storer's Avatar
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    Re: built your own tripod?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Michael View Post
    How thick can a water jet cut? Might be an option beside casting aluminum.
    WJ can cut thick material, 1" aluminum plate is no problem. Thicker is also possible, bear in mind that WJ is NOT tooling, so it is only so precise.
    Tracy Storer
    Mammoth Camera Company tm
    www.mammothcamera.com

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