Low budget sandbag sand bag picts

[Alexa]

sandbag (http://img8.exs.cx/gal.php?g=img00831qd.jpg)

This nylon bag was $9.99 at Target. If you want to do this, you should buy it now, as their inventory on this type of thing changes frequently. I got it in the womens handbag area---comes in pink, too. :) and beige

Works great, as you can see, the strap and hook can be used with a boom arm, also.

sand from 50 lb, bag purchased at Home Depot for ?2.00? yah, you might say used, dirt or something free, but if you are making a few bags or bags in the future, it is worth it to have clean sand.

[taubkin]

Cool, Pooh,

But if you don't mind me asking, how much can a true sanbag cost?

[Alexa]

a commercial sandbag is between $12-40 a bag, and many don't have the features the homey one does..hook, adjustable weight option, washable.

I have some that were $25-$30 each.

if you have to mail order a prepacked bag, then the weight gets pricey, too.

This homemade variety is nice because you can quickly decrease, add more weight by switching out the bags of sand..which you cannot do with the commericial "pro" ones. Bogen makes a bag that you can pour out the sand, but then, great you have a nice pile of sand left on your shoot, what if you want the sand back?

The length of this bag, bTW is about 10 1/4 inches. I don't know what the max capacity weight it could be, though my guess is it is good for 8-12 pounds. bag only for lights, softboxes.

[Barry_Green]

Sandbags cost bucks. A regular 25-lb bag is about $35, and that's empty, you still have to fill it.

That said, I am delighted with Boa Bags, from Matthews. They're horrifically expensive (about $56 for the 15-lb version) but they're so small and useful, they get my top recommendation. I think I've got 7 of them now, and I just want more. They're the perfect sandbag (using shot lets them be heavy while being small, and the unique shape lets them work in ways and places that other sandbags wouldn't work).

[Walter_Graff]

You can buy a real empty Matthew's sandbag for between $12 and $20 bucks that you fill with sand yourself. What you get is a bag that will not break or rip and will last twenty years. More than worth the price of a homemade concoction that is not as durable.

[Alexa]

You can buy a real empty Matthew's sandbag for between $12 and $20 bucks that you fill with sand yourself. What you get is a bag that will not break or rip and will last twenty years. More than worth the price of a homemade concoction that is not as durable.

BH sells what you are talking about in cordura nylon and I'm sure it is a much more durable option than the homemade concoction. I just wanted something that would work for NOW, adjust to smaller spots, and spend half the money.


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=143172&is=REG

[Jim Brennan]

I make mine out of the legs of the jeans I am too friggin fat to fit in anymore. I put a wide seam in the middle (so they fold over, add a strap and put ziploc bags full of sand in each end. Then I sew em up. Maybe next time I'll use a zipper or velcro. I got the idea from Dan Selakovich's "Killer Camera Rigs You Can Build"

[J.R. Hudson]

I have several small Haitian children holding my gear down.

[Jim Brennan]

What's that run ya?

[HorseFilms]

I have several small Haitian children holding my gear down.

... and eventually, they grow into large Haitian children, thus eliminating the need for C-stands.:grin:

[matthewd5]

i bought one of the real matthews one's, the rectangle with the nylon strap, and i brought it to my mothers house and asked her to take me a few, the first prototype was just about identical to the matthews and i think the fabric costs $20 and it is enough to make 3 or 4.

matthew

[10s]

Is she adopting?

[Alexa]

great mom!

--but back to my sandbags..:grin:

the wonderful thing about the detachable strap is that you can make them fit through the legs of a lightstand and other tight places. ( you cannot put a matthews there) the boa bags Barry mentioned earlier are pricey probably beause they will fit in small places and give you lots of weight..


I'm telling you guys, target is the place..

cya in the women's handbag department. :happy:

[sporter]

I also made my own sandbags - I am all about "you get what you pay for" but for $50/bag, that seemed a little unreasonable. I used some heavyduty tool bags that came in a pack of 4 or so for under 10$, add sand (i'd use plastic liners inside the bag) and done. I must say I've used these guys on dozens of sets, they work great, although I did have one break right off the bat - im assuming it was a lemon bag ;) dont get me wrong, the real deal wont let you down, but my bags held down lights for Guy Maddin's latest, so I figure they can get the job done!

[yellowdog]

I saw some at cord camera for 24 bucks.already filled with sand.I thought that was a decent price.

[Erik Olson]

I prefer shot-filled bags. A 30# bag is much smaller than its sand equivalent.

e

[KingVidiot]

I got some cheap ankle weights from WalMart which are filled with shot. They are long enough to drape over things well, have Velcro straps, and seem pretty damn durable. I too prefer the more weight for smaller size deal, but homemade can also do the trick.

The advantage to the Target bag/Ziploc style is you can take them on a run-and-gun airline trip and fill them at your destination.

You see how much the airlines are charging for overweight luggage these days? Whew!

[danslak]

As mentioned in an earlier post, someone uses my "Pant Leg" sandbag. It's pretty easy so no need to buy the book: Get an old pair of jeans and cut off the legs. Turn them inside out. At the freshly cut end, sew across near the cut with 3 or 4 hems. Turn the leg right-side-out. At the open end of the leg, sew another 3 or 4 hems across--EXCEPT for the last inch or so. If you want to add a handle, sew some webbing in a loop across the hems you just added. Get some "playground" sand. Stick a big funnel in the hole that you left in the last inch of the hem. Fill the pant leg about 3/4 full. Then sew up that last inch. Easy as pie. Even if you have to buy some pants at the good will, one sandbag will only cost you about $3. There are also plans for a more pro bag, but the pant leg works great.

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

[j]

I got some cheap ankle weights from WalMart which are filled with shot.

I like this idea, but can you get stainless steel shot? That's what is inside "real" shotbags.

-j

[danslak]

I like this idea, but can you get stainless steel shot? That's what is inside "real" shotbags.

-j

Most metal supply shops carry bags of shot. While it's quite heavy for little volume, it's pretty pricey. Also, some times you do want something bigger like to hold down a c-stand. If you made a standard size "sandbag" with shot, it would break your back (well, it would break my back anyway).

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

[MNCallen]

I found a source for lead shot instead of using sand, 25# of shot under $40.00

http://www.outdoorsmansupply.com/store/browseexec.asp?idCategory=236


mncallen
Lampstand Studios