THE GRIP ELIMINATOR, A Mondo Rigging Stand

Tired of fighting with grip stands to hold something steady? Here's an answer to attach Speed Rail to.

Materials and tools:

Empty 5 Gal Plastic Paint bucket

3 legs, 2 feet long, galvanized water pipe, 1-1/4" or 1-1/2"

one 3 to 5 foot long upright pipe, 1-1/2" or 2" galvanized water PIPE (not tube)

1 cubic foot concrete (approx), mixing box or wheel borrow

Bailing wire

Level; carpenter's, torpedo, or tri square

A level surface to work on

2, 2X4 s approx. 2 feet long or 1/4 apple box

Grip stand or braces to hold upright pipe while cement dries.

Measure and 3 cut holes in the side of the bucket at bottom for the 1-1/4' or 1-1/2"legs at 120 degrees apart. 1-1/4" pipe has a diameter of 1-5/8" and 1-1/2" pipe a diameter of 1-7/8". There are paddle bits this size. If the holes are too big caulk them to prevent the cement from leaking.

Rest the bucket on two 2X4 s flat or an 1/4 apple box.

Put the upright pipe in the center of the bucket and hold it vertical with a grip stand or some other support.

Push legs through holes and cross with upright pipe, they should touch the opposite side of bucket from the holes. Sand bag the pipes at 120 degree angles.

Wire the legs and riser together.

Mix and pour in concrete to 1 or 2 inches from top of the bucket. If you want a lighter bucket that weight can be added to, just cover the pipes in the bottom leaving room for weight above them.

Check level of upright pipe and let concrete set.

To make a super strong upright pipe, put a smaller pipe that just fits inside the upright pipe and put a little boat resin in to seal the bottom. When dry, fill the space between the two pipes with resin. Tilting the pipe at a 15 degree or so angle will help the air bubbles in the resin to rise to the top easier. Let the resin set before moving.

You can also sometimes find extra strong, schedule #80 or #160 pipe for the upright. It is usually expensive, if it is a special order item. Check the outside diameter to see if a fitting fits well.

1-1/2" or2" Speed Rail and Kee Klamp fittings will attach anything to this solid base. I suggest larger Speed Rail fittings for the riser and first arm, you can go smaller from there. Check the available Speed Rail and Key Klamp fittings.

© Copyright 1999-2004 Ron Dexter. All Rights Reserved.