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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => Lighting Forum => Topic started by: Matt Vivlamore on January 19, 2014, 07:09:36 PM

Title: Sand bags & tripods?
Post by: Matt Vivlamore on January 19, 2014, 07:09:36 PM
I am using some Odyssey LTP1/2 light stands with a T-bar and then loaded up with 4 "Blizzard Fab5".  I've been looking at adding some sand bags to stands to keep them planted for a little while.

But I am not sure on:
Which bag weight should I get?
How many per stand?
Where the best place to buy these?  (I'm looking for pre-filled).
Title: Re: Sand bags & tripods?
Post by: DanGlass on January 20, 2014, 08:36:39 AM
Typically sand bags are either 25#, or 50# each.  With what you describing i would think that the 25# would be fine.  Another consideration for picking the weight of the sandbag is looking at how it will be transported as in hand carrying verses putting them on a cart.  With using the 25# version I would put 2 on each stand.  The best premade ones I have used are from Matthews (mesgrip.com) but just remember that shipping charges can add up really fast.  I have even found a local vinyl banner maker that can produce them for a decent price.  They have made prefilled ones and refillable ones that I use when traveling.
Title: Re: Sand bags & tripods?
Post by: Brian Bolly on January 21, 2014, 01:03:29 PM
I am using some Odyssey LTP1/2 light stands with a T-bar and then loaded up with 4 "Blizzard Fab5".  I've been looking at adding some sand bags to stands to keep them planted for a little while.

But I am not sure on:
Which bag weight should I get?
How many per stand?
Where the best place to buy these?  (I'm looking for pre-filled).

Unless you've got a ton of weight at max height, or have to collapse the legs a bit to a smaller extension, a pair of 20-25# bags per stand will be fine.

Don't waste your time with pre-filled, unless you have no access to a Lowe's or Home Depot.  The shipping isn't worth it, and sand at your local home improvement store is around $3 for a 50# a bag.

It helps to have dry sand in the bags, but drying sand in this weather is tough, unless you have a garage where you can spread a tarp and dump the sand to dry.  The easiest thing to do is fill gallon ziploc bags with the sand, and tape them shut.  I have these 2 versions:

Sapsis 25 lb bag (http://www.sapsis-rigging.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SRI&Product_Code=04-01-20-0001&Category_Code=11)

ePhoto 20 lb bag (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EHCBDA/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

With the Sapsis bag you can fill the ziploc first, with the ePhoto bag you need to line the sandbag with the ziploc before filling in order to get a full 10# per side in there.  The Sapsis bag is a little nicer construction, easier to fill, and having the extra 5# in there is nice.  The handle is a little different than what is shown in the picture - more like the ePhoto bags (spans across the middle) and is made out of material like a seat belt, so it's flexible but durable.

The ePhoto bags are inexpensive but good quality, but the zipper closure concerns me that it may eventually fail.  Fortunately it will only ever get reopened if the internal ziploc bag fails.
Title: Re: Sand bags & tripods?
Post by: Matt Vivlamore on January 21, 2014, 09:37:29 PM
Dan, I've seen the bags in various weights.

Brian, thanks for the link with the Zipper bags.  I've only seen empty-need to sew shut style.

I probably put the stands 9-10' in the air; weight is around 22# on the T-Bar.
Title: Re: Sand bags & tripods?
Post by: Ray Aberle on January 22, 2014, 01:57:15 PM
I am using some Odyssey LTP1/2 light stands with a T-bar and then loaded up with 4 "Blizzard Fab5".  I've been looking at adding some sand bags to stands to keep them planted for a little while.

But I am not sure on:
Which bag weight should I get?
How many per stand?
Where the best place to buy these?  (I'm looking for pre-filled).

I have had great luck with (wait for it) The Sandbag Store. They're in LV.

http://www.sandbagstore.com/filled-heavy-duty-saddle-sandbag-25lb-black.html

Yes, a bit more then the empty ones-- $32.50 each -- but that's out the door pricing, and they cover shipping. The 12 I have from them have worked great for several years now. They ship in USPS flat rate boxes (USPS! suckers!! No wonder they're losing money...) and probably annoyed the people at my mailbox place when all of these boxes started showing up.

-Ray
Title: Re: Sand bags & tripods?
Post by: Brian Bolly on January 24, 2014, 09:23:22 AM
Dan, I've seen the bags in various weights.

Brian, thanks for the link with the Zipper bags.  I've only seen empty-need to sew shut style.

I probably put the stands 9-10' in the air; weight is around 22# on the T-Bar.

Of the bags I listed above, the ePhoto is a zipper closure, the Sapsis is heavy duty velcro.