Flag stands????

[Judd]

What do y'all use for flag stands? Music speaker stands?

I worry about spending a good chunk of change on flags and with the wind in TX blowing the stands over. If you use speaker stands how do you "pin" them down?

Thanks.

 

[Eddie Harren]

You have a PM.

 

[riverwolf1]

I use Coleman lantern stands! they have a large enough footprint that I don't have to pin them down. I have used them at places like Phoenix with wind so strong it was blowing targets off the frames and I have never had one tip over.
They are larger and heavier than music stands, but I don't have to carry weights , stakes or a hammer anymore. I cut the top lantern hook off and attach a 3/4" non threaded PVC cap that I have drilled a hole into the size of my pins and I mix epoxy and place a generous amount of it into the bottom of the cap in addition to putting some on the pin itself as I insert into the drilled hole. Cost of each stand about $24.00, I have picked a couple up at a Coleman outlet store in Ft. Collins Co for 18.95 while at a shoot . The other nice part about these stands is the twist lock feature. 1/4 twist to unlock and raise and them twist opposite directon to lock! No screws that fall out, or no plasic screw caps that crack

 

[rayporter]

one way to weight down tripod stands is to make a weight that is a lead ring to slip over the top and have it rest on the tripod.
if the lead is heavy enough it wont blow over. i used to have some steel pipe flanges about 8 inches in diameter that worked well, too.

on some ranges it is hard to get the tripod low enough for the flag to be legal.

not all ranges are level and you have a hard time getting the tripod vertical. ask Butch Lambert how to cure this leveling problem.

i use the drive in poles. if the ground is hard i drive a rod in to make a hole before i set the flag pole.

 

[nonliberal]

Some people use a garden stake in the ground with a small bungee, some just put a sand bag on the base. I personally never had one blow over even in some stronger winds that I would bother shooting in.

 

[butchlambert]

I have used B&H Camera Supply in NY for my light stands. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Lightstands/ci/5799/N/4062040357 If you will come and shoot in Texas you will find a way to stake your stands down or have no flags. I use tent stakes as they are cheap and work well. If you are a serious shooter you can purchase ball swivels from them to make your flags level to the earth regardless of the Terrain. It is important.