Ultimax 1.7m

[Ecstatic Events]

Hi,

Something is troubling me.

I have an Ultimax Stand, and It's becoming increasingly TOP HEAVY, almost to the point of toppling forward.

I have a large Marquee 18th at the beginning of July which is going to require a fair size lighting rig. I just dont have the confidence to put 4 x Scanners and 2 x Moonflowers + 1 Laser on the top bar for fear of it crashing down mid gig (all lamp effects - fairly heavy!

Does anyone else have this problem? If so, what's the best way to counter-balance the stand?

I'm tempted to buy a new stand :confused: :confused:

[hammy]

stick your amp on the bottom shelf, or buy some lightweight led lights, some gigs I have 3 spinmaster 3`s and 2 twister 4`s and they are all heavy but no way is it top heavy unless I put the overhead bar up too high

[Ecstatic Events]

stick your amp on the bottom shelf

What's one of those?

I dont have one???

Seriously, my playout system is quite light, consisting of a small swan flightcase and Denon HD2500.

I have the supporting poles on the FLOOR! and it still likes to lean forward.

Is there ANY possibility the centre peices have become slightly bowed? Therefore making the unit want to topple over???

This is a serious problem I have, god only knows what might happen if it actually topples over mid gig.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The simple solution is to get separate stands - you can still use your overhead.

[Ecstatic Events]

The simple solution is to get separate stands - you can still use your overhead.

Thanks for the info. Can you recommend any?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thanks for the info. Can you recommend any?

Ultimax make separate stands which are decent as do Powerdrive and Mobiltech. Again, it comes down to budget, but it is worth considering winch stands too.

Ultimax (http://www.ultimax1.com/tripods/lighting-tripods.html)

Ultimax Winch (http://www.ultimax1.com/tripods/winch-tripods/category/40/tripods/winch-tripods.html)

Powerdrive (http://www.mypowerdrive.com/asp/catalogue/catalogue.asp?linkid=7)

Powerdrive Winch (http://www.mypowerdrive.com/asp/catalogue/catalogue.asp?linkid=62)

[Supreme Soundz]

you could pick up some 25mm bo,x same as its made with and cut 2 lenghts and bolt one along to each base of the sides to give you a wider stance, i always felt my ultimax wasn't deep enough, also you could put some feet under it too because if the ground isn't level it tends to rock on the flat bottom bar,
i did this as one of my mods to my stand before i had my own made which is a lot deeper and more stable

[Ecstatic Events]

Ultimax make separate stands which are decent as do Powerdrive and Mobiltech. Again, it comes down to budget, but it is worth considering winch stands too.

Ultimax (http://www.ultimax1.com/tripods/lighting-tripods.html)

Ultimax Winch (http://www.ultimax1.com/tripods/winch-tripods/category/40/tripods/winch-tripods.html)

Powerdrive (http://www.mypowerdrive.com/asp/catalogue/catalogue.asp?linkid=7)

Powerdrive Winch (http://www.mypowerdrive.com/asp/catalogue/catalogue.asp?linkid=62)

Excellent - Thanks for the information. I'll look into that. Seriously considering the "trussing" route also. Especially if I go down the winch route.


you could pick up some 25mm bo,x same as its made with and cut 2 lenghts and bolt one along to each base of the sides to give you a wider stance, i always felt my ultimax wasn't deep enough, also you could put some feet under it too because if the ground isn't level it tends to rock on the flat bottom bar,
i did this as one of my mods to my stand before i had my own made which is a lot deeper and more stable

Are you basically saying that you have extended the length of the "feet" that stick out from the base?

[Supreme Soundz]

yeah thats what i did on my ultimax you have the little bit of 25x25 sticking out front and back i just cut two bars about 2' longer 1' front and back and i tack welded them under the original ultimax bar you could bolt these on if you dont have a welder,

also i found a reason why mine was unstable to be down to if the floor wasnt true and the stand having a long flat bar each end,
i got 4 m10 wind up feet drilled a hole through each base and had a nut top and bottom on the foot :)

[Excalibur]

All advice posted so far is bang on.
Separate stands obviously remove the problem, but may bring others, space being the usual one, though as indicated, stability increases a vast amount.

Shoving three full weight amps on the lower shelf stabilises things beyond belief, but isn't an option for you, it appears.

Thus, perhaps the best option is as suggested, get some box section and bolt or weld it to the base of the stand, preferably with rubber feet so that the points of contact are at the ends only.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

There is another option and one that I use with my truss totems, and that is stage weights.

Check here (http://www.flints.co.uk/acatalog/Stage_Weights.html)- out of stock currently, but would do the job if placed on your stand, though I reckon you'd need at least 2.

[simonp]

I have the 1.7 and 1.2 ultimax stands and haven't had a problem with either, certainly as far as I feel it would topple is concerned and I have a very light playout and have had 2 x Martin EFX 600s (Fairly heavy) on there as well as other lighting. I don't know if this would affect anything, but is your overhead a single bar? I use a trusslight bar (http://www.ultimax1.com/dj-stands/17m-dj-stands/details/70/14/dj-stands/1.7m-dj-stands/dj-stand-1.7m---trusslite--crossbar-&-400-series-accessory-pack.html).

Another option is the goal post kit (http://www.ultimax1.com/trusslite/goal-post-kits.html) which I also use for bigger venues

If you want to keep with your stand and the other gear is out of budget what Daz suggested re: the stage weights is a great idea.

[Ecstatic Events]

There is another option and one that I use with my truss totems, and that is stage weights.

Check here (http://www.flints.co.uk/acatalog/Stage_Weights.html)- out of stock currently, but would do the job if placed on your stand, though I reckon you'd need at least 2.

This does seem like a quick fix - Thanks


yeah thats what i did on my ultimax you have the little bit of 25x25 sticking out front and back i just cut two bars about 2' longer 1' front and back and i tack welded them under the original ultimax bar you could bolt these on if you dont have a welder,

also i found a reason why mine was unstable to be down to if the floor wasnt true and the stand having a long flat bar each end,
i got 4 m10 wind up feet drilled a hole through each base and had a nut top and bottom on the foot :)

I struggle putting pictures up on the wall - This is a DIY nightmare for me :D




Shoving three full weight amps on the lower shelf stabilises things beyond belief, but isn't an option for you, it appears.


I couldnt agree more - When I had a passive system - I didnt have any issues at all.


I have the 1.7 and 1.2 ultimax stands and haven't had a problem with either, certainly as far as I feel it would topple is concerned and I have a very light playout and have had 2 x Martin EFX 600s (Fairly heavy) on there as well as other lighting. I don't know if this would affect anything, but is your overhead a single bar? I use a trusslight bar (http://www.ultimax1.com/dj-stands/17m-dj-stands/details/70/14/dj-stands/1.7m-dj-stands/dj-stand-1.7m---trusslite--crossbar-&-400-series-accessory-pack.html).

Another option is the goal post kit (http://www.ultimax1.com/trusslite/goal-post-kits.html) which I also use for bigger venues

If you want to keep with your stand and the other gear is out of budget what Daz suggested re: the stage weights is a great idea.

I do have a single overhead - Would investing in the trusslight bar solve the problem?

Once again, thanks for your responses - very helpful indeed.