DIY C-Stands?

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Angelshare1

Well-known member
Anyone have any ideas for C-Stands or C-Stand like? I don't need anything as rugged and sturdy as a C-Stand, more like something to set a light on 6 feet in the air that is also somewhat portable. My Home Depot work lights come with 3 foot stands. If they went higher, then I'd be set.

I basically would like a tall pole with a solid base. I was thinking I could find some cheap lamps at Ikea to use as poles. Any ideas? (Oh and I live in a non-NY-CA state so there are no second hand C-Stands to be had.)
 
Heavy duty light stands are not that expensive ($25 each at 7.5 feet tall) and will still look professional. I'll try to post a link. Plus you can use them for other things like a green screen, flags, etc. (The 8.4 foot ones are only $5 more.) Plus you'll get stand bags.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-HEAVY-DUTY-76-LIGHT-STANDS-SET-OF-2-BAG-NEW_W0QQitemZ190305992713QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c4f1f0009&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1309|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
 
Lightweight aluminum stands from Avenger (Bogen) and Arri are very common, but might not have the weight / build quality needed to safely hold 40" arms and the scrims / flags you'll be using if you re-purpose them as century-stands.

Sandbags will alleviate top-heavy tipping issue, but the thin-walled aluminum stands are really designed to carry smaller light fixtures directly over the risers and not out on a cantilever. I know people will tell you "they do this all the time", but it really shouldn't be.

Get a real steel c-stand. You can have a full new 40" package for $160 and can find good used Matthews, American and Norms 20 and 40" packages for about $100.

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the impact ones are crap, i use them and they don't extend far and flex way too much when fully extended.
 
Duke M. said:
Heavy duty light stands are not that expensive ($25 each at 7.5 feet tall) and will still look professional. I'll try to post a link. Plus you can use them for other things like a green screen, flags, etc. (The 8.4 foot ones are only $5 more.) Plus you'll get stand bags.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-HEAVY-DUTY-76-LIGHT-STANDS-SET-OF-2-BAG-NEW_W0QQitemZ190305992713QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c4f1f0009&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1309|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
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I like what else this guy is selling in his store. :-Love(DBG):

Thanks guys, the only C-stands in town are at a photoshop for around 300 a piece brand new. Not too much used stuff. I think the ones without cantelivers are what I need.
 
I have bought several very nice C-stands from Amvona, mostly on eBay, and some direct from their website. But they don't appear to be selling on eBay anymore, and they don't seem to be selling C-stands anymore, either. I got several steel chrome-finish short and tall C-stands from them, as well as a couple of black aluminum ones with long booms. They are all Chinese knock-offs, I wonder if anyone else is selling them retail anymore? They really were great quality at an extraordinary price. If only they were still selling them. :-(
 
Richard Crowley said:
I have bought several very nice C-stands from Amvona, mostly on eBay, and some direct from their website. But they don't appear to be selling on eBay anymore, and they don't seem to be selling C-stands anymore, either. I got several steel chrome-finish short and tall C-stands from them, as well as a couple of black aluminum ones with long booms. They are all Chinese knock-offs, I wonder if anyone else is selling them retail anymore? They really were great quality at an extraordinary price. If only they were still selling them. :-(
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I bought the Amvona C- stands 3 months ago on eBay. They are great stands at a great price. I paid around $90 each and are as rugged as the real deals. I use one of them to hold my shotgun mic on an extended boom pole. Works great.
 
thos impact ones are only good to up to like maybe 4 feet. but they really can't hold to much weight i have one of them and it's only used as a back up. i'd go for the amvona c stands. they've been good to me. and i just found a set on ebay not to long ago either. i check quite often for them.
 
Cheap solution? stick in a can. Find an old paint can, Put a stick in it: broom stick, humk of lumber, whatever. Fill it with concrete. Indestructable, practically free. It doesn't adjust but you can clamp your lights to it at any level using hardware store automotive clamps or C-clamps.
 
I just built a c stand myself. It weighs about 15lbs and isn't as collapsible as a Matthews or other name brand, but the legs support my weight and I'm 205lbs. It even supported a friend of mine who helped build it and he weighs 400lbs. Just do a google search for $30 c stand and you'll find the tutorial I used. It actually cost me about $45 to build, but that's Canadian prices.
 
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