Parts of a light stand

[JaredSMark]

Is there a difference between a spud and a pin?

Is that the same thing as a stud?

Is the spigot that black piece that fits over the pin/spud to attach a light?

Is the knuckle the part of the grip arm that fits over the pin/spud?

Is the stem of a stand the entire long part of it that has all of the risers on them?

Is there a different name for a shaped T-handle on a grip arm as compared to a regular T-handle?

What is a yoke?


I've always ignored what everything is called and just 'used' it :tongue:

 

[RyanT]

Baby spud, baby pin, baby stud, same thing.

Never heard of a spigot but I'm guessing you're right. Sounds right.

Knuckle is the part of the grip head that grabs the flag. You tighten down the knuckle to grab a flag.

The stem is the part of the stand with risers. People often say stem up or down to tell you to raise the light up or down. They also will tell you to either drop the post, or for a more colorful version, drop the dick. That's for when you want to drop the post as low as it can go.

Everything is just a t handle.

Yoke is the same as a bail. It's the part of the light that holds up the fixture, allows you to tilt it up and down, and has a baby reciever to put it on a stand.

Hope that helps.

 

[Michael Carter]

As I understand it, a stud is the post on the stand the fixture attaches to, as in the 5/8" baby pin at the top of a c-stand column.

A SPUD (not stud) is the piece that is bolted to the yoke of a light fixture (usually with a 3/8-16 bolt and lock washer - it's pretty much a permanent part of the light) which has a 5/8 receiver for a STUD and a t-handle. it's how you attach lights to stands and it's already installed on most lights that you buy. So a STUD is male, a SPUD is female.

If you buy a theatrical light with a c-clamp hook, you unbolt that and bolt on a spud to use it on set.

 

[Moseph]

A SPUD (not stud) is the piece that is bolted to the yoke of a light fixture (usually with a 3/8-16 bolt and lock washer - it's pretty much a permanent part of the light) which has a 5/8 receiver for a STUD and a t-handle. it's how you attach lights to stands and it's already installed on most lights that you buy. So a STUD is male, a SPUD is female.
If you buy a theatrical light with a c-clamp hook, you unbolt that and bolt on a spud to use it on set.

Never heard that one. I always thought a spud generally referred to a junior pin. And I definitely haven't heard of a TVMP (MTV alternatively) adapter being referred to as a spud.

 

[Michael Carter]

I've always heard junior pins referred to as "butt plugs" (at least the ones made to fit into a turtle base). Wait, those are baby-to-junior adapters, technically. But everyone likes saying "grab me a butt plug for this floor light". Though I tend to use a butt plug/turtle base/grip head/superclamp/sandbag combo to turn a kessler crane into a really tall tripod. We need a name for that, like "crane anal-er". Say it, "craneanaler" - nice ring to that!

Some of this stuff may be regional, but TVMPs have always been "spuds" in my experience... Dallas market.

 

[dmitrizigany]

I think that a spigot is another (British?) term for the stud. But is there a different word for Spuds then? Cause I'm looking for those! Anyone know where I can find them in Europe and what they are called here?

 

[Michael Carter]

TVMPs are also called "yoke to stand adapters" - the avenger model has a nice t-handle, some of the matthews ones have a thumbscrew that takes pliers to loosen, AVOID except for permanent installs...



Those are pretty big, heavy duty chunks of steel though. For smaller fixtures & rigs, Smith Victor, Manfrotto and others make lighter ones, with either a 3/8 or 1/4 threaded stud & nut. Manfrotto calls theirs a "rapid adapter", but try google image search with a few terms and you'll find more.

Rapid adapter:


The rapid adapters can be placed on a stand at 90 degrees, which can be handy. These aren't for heavy fixtures, but it may be weird to have a TVMP on a 2" 100w fresnel or something like that.

 

[JaredSMark]

It seems there's a lot of terminology for the same thing. A stirrup is the same thing as a bale or yoke. A baby pin is also called a stud. A spigot is also called a spud. Is that right?

EDIT: Actually the Film Tools website is calling a baby pin a spud. Hmph.

 

[RyanT]

Round these parts a stirrup hangs from a grid and is basically a riser to go down and pipe clamp onto. All the terminology stuff is a bit silly, as we are noticing here, all regions have their quirks.

 

[theuniverseinanutshell]

Hi, all. Just a related question on stands and the TVMP (hope you don't mind the slight OT, JaredSMark). From a recommendation and info found here, I had a source four on order (http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/so4elli50de4.html). The Kupo combo stand I was after was harder to source (a long wait from the suppliers), so I thought of considering the Kupo class stand (http://jm.kupo.com.tw/images/PRODUCTS/STANDS/lightweught-kitstands/169M_CS.png), which is more readily available. With the source four weighing in at 6.9kg, with some careful and diligent use would the class stand suffice or is it better avoided? Has anyone had any experience with the Kupo class stand paired with heavy or awkward fixtures? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Michael Carter]

The Kupo combo's on my buy-soon list - google for reviews, but I think people have found them a pretty badass value.

I want a few of their baby rollers - which I'll take over a c-stand ANY DAY!!!

 

[theuniverseinanutshell]

I was after the Kupo aluminium combo stand as it is a third of the weight of its steel counterpart, but it is only available via special order and there is a long wait. So I was thinking the Kupo class stand, which is kind of a shorter but higher load version of their universal stand, might do as an alternative. But it seems reviews are hard to come by.

 

[Moseph]

That black Kupo stand doesn't look like something I would put more than a pepper on. Get a beefy baby for a source four ellipsoidal.

 

[dmitrizigany]

Rapid adapter:
View attachment 85003

The rapid adapters can be placed on a stand at 90 degrees, which can be handy. These aren't for heavy fixtures, but it may be weird to have a TVMP on a 2" 100w fresnel or something like that.

That's what I'm looking for. No idea what they're called here in Europe though. All I could find was one from the US for €12 with a €15 shipping
anyone know where you can find these in Europe? Germany preferably...

 

[Michael Carter]

I was after the Kupo aluminium combo stand as it is a third of the weight of its steel counterpart, but it is only available via special order and there is a long wait.

I've got some aluminum beefy babies... I wish they were steel. I don't trust them fully extended unless it's a tiny fixture - they have some dings in the tubes which to me looks like serious weak points waiting to buckle.

If you want light weight, consider everyday tripod-style stands. For a junior or combo, I'd get something strong. It's not like you're going to hike up a mountain with a combo stand, right? Sometimes weight is good.

 

[RyanT]

American sells steel beefy babys, I'd use aluminum for everything except for the source 4's.

 

[theuniverseinanutshell]

I've settled on the beefy baby. Less footprint and a third lighter than the combo stand. And I think it's the same type used on a couple of demos and set photos I've seen featuring the source four. Thanks for the idea, guys!