I have a mix of photek and bogen light stands. I'd really like to have 3 avenger roller stands but don't want to shell out $600. I was thinking of buying some add-on casters for my existing stands like these:
We have the Manfrotto baby rollers with casters--similar build quality to what you have. They work like a charm for tabletop, where the stands hardly move more than two or three feet, and aren't flying booms really high and wide. They seem a bit unreliable when moved around a lot with different configurations on a figure set. We use heavy duty Matthews rollers for those sets.
They work very well and support every weight I've ever thrown at them even on a boom arm. The wheels are offset slightly which helps prevent the stand rolling away once it's placed.. I don't know whether thats a design feature, but in using them, thats what seems to happen.
They roll pretty easy, but there's a little resistance due to the offset. I've never really considered the offset before, next time I'm in the studio I'll have another look, but I've not noticed anything which I'd consider an issue.
Unless you need to go high with the light , find some old Mole Richardson baby rollers. Small footprint, cheap if you buy them right and built to last 100 years.
The triangular layout for tripod legs is what it is.. Angle wise.
ANY carpenter worth their salt can fabricate a 3 legged cut out with small but sturdy casters on them. You either place it on.. or take it off.
I have 3 made here and over time have made small modifications to them for different reasons (sturdy, painted them, had a hold down on one) but either way. It was less than $60.00 for all three made for me. And in using other C-Stands with wheels, frankly they don't compare. I'd much rather have the wood based models I use here.
BrianO wrote:
Old IV stands from medical supply surplus, if I recall.
I didn't suggest it because it's not well suited for large lights, only light speedlights. I found the folding one I use at a thrift store for $5 but they can be found new on-line individually here: http://www.med-worldwide.com/pitch-sr-iv-pole-ns-sb32737u-p2509
They were about $40 but it appears the price has gone up.
A plywood circle with casters on the bottom and notched 2x4 blocks on top to wedge the folding stand legs onto would be a simple DIY solution allowing the stand to be remove as needed. Alternately you could use an eye bolt and turn-buckle in the middle with some wire to hold a C stand to the base. The circle vs triangle would allow the use of 5 casters rather than 3 on the platform for more stability. One of the things that makes the lightweight IV stand stable is the fact it has 5 legs not 4.
Circles are easy to cut with a nail and string tied to a pencil to trace. Or if making several construct a jig out of 1/4" plywood to hold the saw and swing it in an arc around a nail driven in the center
BTW - the IV pole as lightstand idea originated with the OP's uncle Monte back in the 70s. Back then I didn't realize or forgot over the years it was an IV stand and for years I searched lighting catalogs for a similar light stand on wheels. When I saw the IV pole in the thift store it was one of those "Duh!" Slap forehead, connect the dots, moments.
