Grip Kit Secret Weapon.

[David G. Smith]

So, what piece of kit do you have in your grip kit that you think is a life saver, our that you use now more times then you thought you would when you got it? Now, of course, we have C-Stands, grip heads, gobo arms, gaffer's tape and black wrap, but do you have a little secret weapon in your grip kit that you can't do without? If so, please share. Thanks.

 

[maranfilms]

My bogen magic arm, use it often. leatherman tool, 14ft modified lighting boom.

 

[Jordan Scott Price]

I've made insane use of Mafer clamps...

But I really love having my multimeter and circuit detective and outlet tester...oh, and my headlamp, which has a blink setting for annoying people.

Loctite.

I could go on, and most of it won't pertain to specifically grip

 

[David G. Smith]

I've made insane use of Mafer clamps...

But I really love having my multimeter and circuit detective and outlet tester...oh, and my headlamp, which has a blink setting for annoying people.

Loctite.

I could go on, and most of it won't pertain to specifically grip

That is the thing also. I am trying to put together a general tool kit to always have with me. Any suggestions beyond the standard items?

 

[Jordan Scott Price]

You DEFINITELY want to ask Paul Hudson. This is his kind of thread! That dude has tons of gadgets and stuff I've never heard of in his truck.

But, yea, Loctite - I was gaffing a short the other day. Actor tore off during a dolly shot and his shoe fell apart. Guess who had the solution?

Harbor Freight's Circuit Detective and Outlet Tester are always on my belt. I often end up shooting in the midcities and downtown Dallas areas of DFW - a lot of old houses and buildings. Those tools make quick work of finding working outlets and distributing power, which saves me from the potential headaches when powering HMI's.

And, yes, Mafer clamps and C-clamps are incredibly useful. You can attach them to almost anything without the need of a wallspreader, speedrail, or trombone.

Bungie! Lots of bungie cords of various lengths help a ton in the oddest circumstances.

I use bright orange marker tape (not actually adhesive, it's like a nylon roll, from Home Depot) all the time, tying pieces to the sharp ends of C-stands, so people don't lose their eyes, and to mark important things, especially in the dark, like outlets or cords. I sometimes use it to temporarily mark my equipment to differentiate it from others'.

Tennis balls - A dozen or so are great for puncturing and placing on the feet of a C-stand or light stand if you're working on nice floors - we recently shot in a $300,000 brand-new home, and I sent a PA to buy about 30 for all out stands. They're also great for avoiding free dental work from armed-out gobo arms (instead of using the marker tape).

I'll think of more!

 

[Jordan Scott Price]

Aluminum foil - a good roll of it and some paper tape can block out a few windows in no time. Do it right and it's perfectly silent in the wind - unlike trashbags, I've found. Great if you don't have 4x4 floppies.

I also bring 3 different kinds of gloves for different work - one pair of fingerless gloves when I'm gripping and have a lot of knots to tie or tools to use; a pair of multipurpose gaffer's gloves if I know I'll be working with lights; and a pair of uber-thick gardening gloves for close contact with hot lights or HMI lenses, which fit nicely over my gaffer's gloves.

Rubbing Alcohol - if I touch a bulb with my bare hands by accident, I use it to remove the oils from the lamp so it doesn't explode after striking.

 

[ggrantly]

Velcro!

Also, I have a couple of aluminum shelves that have 5/8" receivers. They can carry a mixer, wireless receivers, or a laptop and have patches of velcro so whatever gets placed, stays. The shelves can go independent on a C-stand, attach to a tripod leg with a superclamp + magic arm, babyplate, or direct to a superclamp with a long stud.

Grant

 

[David G. Smith]

Velcro!

Also, I have a couple of aluminum shelves that have 5/8" receivers. They can carry a mixer, wireless receivers, or a laptop and have patches of velcro so whatever gets placed, stays. The shelves can go independent on a C-stand, attach to a tripod leg with a superclamp + magic arm, babyplate, or direct to a superclamp with a long stud.

Grant

What dimension are the shelves? That is one thing that is always missing.... a good flat surface to hold stuff!.

 

[David G. Smith]

Great suggestions. Thanks.

 

[Paul Hudson]

Single most used item, hands down, Cardalinni clamp. I bet I have 10. They a way stronger than a Mafer and come in many sizes and configurations. BTW Jordan I may soon become your neighbor.

 

[J Davis]

extra crew !

edit:
- small waterproof AA batt flashlight made by pelican

 

[Paul Hudson]

extra crew !

edit:
- small waterproof AA batt flashlight made by pelican

Totally agree...One more experienced crew hand.

 

[Jordan Scott Price]

Single most used item, hands down, Cardalinni clamp. I bet I have 10. They a way stronger than a Mafer and come in many sizes and configurations. BTW Jordan I may soon become your neighbor.

Oh, duh, I don't know why I didn't say cardellini, too.

You're coming back this way, Paul?

 

[Paul Hudson]

Yeah, I have a house in Canyon Creek (Richardson). I will spend summers there for sure. I now that sounds crazy...until you have spent a summer in hell...I mean Arizona.

 

[Paul Hudson]

I do keep a couple of trucks in Burbank now so that is cool (literally).

 

[Jarrett P. Morgan]

Single most used item, hands down, Cardalinni clamp. I bet I have 10. They a way stronger than a Mafer and come in many sizes and configurations. BTW Jordan I may soon become your neighbor.

Agree completely! To me the most useful item on the truck.

 

[J Davis]

I'm going to describe a gadget that doesn't exist in the hope that someone reading will build it. I want a strong lightweight foldable 1' x 2' tabletop that will firmly attach to any tripod head or light stand.

 

[Paul Hudson]

I'm going to describe a gadget that doesn't exist in the hope that someone reading will build it. I want a strong lightweight foldable 1' x 2' tabletop that will firmly attach to any tripod head or light stand.

Beaver board. Attach a baby plate to 1X2 piece of plywood (beaver board). Mount it in a grip head. Done.

 

[Michael Carter]

Some of my faves:

A small "backpack" size first aid kit - being the only guy on set with a band aid can make you a hero.
I stick a cheap LED flashlight in every camera bag.
Those 'reader' glasses are just dynamite for critical focus with an LCD - my vision RX is a real compromise for distance vs. close, those things changed my life, I keep a few pairs handy.
White mesh - often the perfect "just a little soft" - you can just wrap it around a Kino.
Black mesh - great for dimming chinas or kinos.
Black felt - yards & yards of it. it's lighter and cheaper than Duvatyne, so you won't hesitate to cut a circle mask in it or wrap a reflecting stand.

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

Single most used item, hands down, Cardalinni clamp. I bet I have 10. They a way stronger than a Mafer and come in many sizes and configurations. BTW Jordan I may soon become your neighbor.

Winner.

Get's me out of binds all the time. Mostly use it to grab onto a pipe or maybe a C-stand shaft to create another gobo point.



Other than that, bounce card is quite useful. I can bend it, cut it and stick it into places nothing else can go (and then Lieko Source4 snipe it).

Other things I really like... rollers. unless I'm out on the beach or in a field, the GnE department really do appreciate when lights (usually HMI's and big boys like over 1k) are on rollers. Makes life easier.

Ladder's are very nice to have too. Keeps from having to lower a light, adjust it and send it back up. Same with fixing gobo's like nets and etc. Makes life nice when you can adjust in place.