Light stands

[Chris]

Am thinking of getting some light stands. The ones where you can put up to 3/4 lights on them. Have not used any before (currently use a goalpost gantry), what is good to look for when buying one please? What are good makes and models please?

[CRAZY K]

Am thinking of getting some light stands. The ones where you can put up to 3/4 lights on them. Have not used any before (currently use a goalpost gantry), what is good to look for when buying one please? What are good makes and models please?

I have some old heavy PAR style lights supported by an Adam Hall Stand, donkeys years old but has always been extremely strong and durable and lasted amazingly well--probably more expensive than many--you get what etc.

I also have a Skytec Light Stand for my standard Disco Lights Impossibled/ old fashioned Source Blade and Stormbird that weigh a lot and have been pleasantly surprised by the performance of the stand despite it being a bit of a budget make which I expected to have a limited life span---but its been going pretty well.

Avoid thin metal being used on the legs and plastic bars which will snap off if stressed out of normal angles---happened to my Maplins one:daft:

I would avoid Maplins as their stuff is very lightweight, I do use one old Maplins Light Stand I repaired but only to put up my backdrop American Flag which weighs very little:rolleyes:

Im sure theres loads more to follow:D

As Lighting has become a lot lighter in weight over the last few years --led type--I guess the weight load is a lot less and you might get away with cheaper versions.

[Chris]

Thanks for the ideas. At the moment, I do have a maplins gantry for the lights, but it's been too heavy. It's on the link below:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/goal-post-lighting-stand-17792
Would sell it for £40, or swap for some stand-alone light stands.

[CRAZY K]

Thanks for the ideas. At the moment, I do have a maplins gantry for the lights, but it's been too heavy. It's on the link below:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/goal-post-lighting-stand-17792
Would sell it for £40, or swap for some stand-alone light stands.

Surprised no more suggestions--that Maplins stand is for a fairly large number of lights--for four lights obviously overkill.

Theres loads of good stands out there--hang about for some more recommendations---

[MikeW]

I have just started using this http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/dj-equipment/disco-stands/qtx-heavy-duty-winch-t-bar-lighting-stand.htm I have been impressed so far.

[HeartandSoul]

Am thinking of getting some light stands. The ones where you can put up to 3/4 lights on them. Have not used any before (currently use a goalpost gantry), what is good to look for when buying one please? What are good makes and models please?

Hi, I suggest you stay away from the ADJ heavy duty one. St132 I think. It's well made but not that practical for very regular mobile use due to the length of the base which prevents it from fitting neatly into the van, and the weight of it which is backbreaking to shift about and set up. I bought a generic winch one after sending that one back, from DJkit and its done the job, about £80.

[Sarah]

Hi Chris,

If you have that goal post setup, I'm pretty sure you can separate that to give you not one but two T-Bars.

Sarah x

[CRAZY K]

Hi Chris,

If you have that goal post setup, I'm pretty sure you can separate that to give you not one but two T-Bars.

Sarah x

Trouble is the Maplin construction tends to be a bit lightweight in my experience--unless you have a low weight requirement I would buy better quality.

[Chris]

Hi Chris,

If you have that goal post setup, I'm pretty sure you can separate that to give you not one but two T-Bars.

Sarah x
Thanks Sarah, I may try that as well, the posts are fairly heavy though and would prefer something a little lighter.

[DazzyD]

I use T-bars and stands for my lights and, like Alan Crazy K, my best one is an Adam Hall one that actually came as part of my Par56 package some years ago. I bought an extra one as I was really impressed with how solid it was compared to others I've used.

I've also got a couple of the lighter Tiger stands and, although not the strongest stand in the world, they are strong enough for my requirements. They also have a pretty decent "quick release" system for the T-Bar which I hadn't seen before. Basically, the bar slots in to the stand when you pull the bolt out on the stand and it springs back in to place to secure the bar. Very nifty and certainly quicker than undoing bolts/screws/wingnuts. Although, despite the product description, it's certainly not "heavy duty" nor hight adjustable to meet any requirement. It's really quite light duty and doesn't go very high but it's more than capable of supporting an Impossibled and QuadScan below the bar and a couple of par lights above it. And it's less than £20 a stand so really good value for money.

Even though the higher price, I'd go for the Adam Hall ones every time. They've got a much bigger height reach (they're in 3 sections as opposed to the Tiger's 2 sections) and they're much stronger and sturdier. However, the exact model that I've got looks to be discontinued (I had them them for a long time and still going strong!!).

http://www.djmmusic.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=LIS7-BK

[Chris]

I use T-bars and stands for my lights and, like Alan Crazy K, my best one is an Adam Hall one that actually came as part of my Par56 package some years ago. I bought an extra one as I was really impressed with how solid it was compared to others I've used.

I've also got a couple of the lighter Tiger stands and, although not the strongest stand in the world, they are strong enough for my requirements. They also have a pretty decent "quick release" system for the T-Bar which I hadn't seen before. Basically, the bar slots in to the stand when you pull the bolt out on the stand and it springs back in to place to secure the bar. Very nifty and certainly quicker than undoing bolts/screws/wingnuts. Although, despite the product description, it's certainly not "heavy duty" nor hight adjustable to meet any requirement. It's really quite light duty and doesn't go very high but it's more than capable of supporting an Impossibled and QuadScan below the bar and a couple of par lights above it. And it's less than £20 a stand so really good value for money.

Even though the higher price, I'd go for the Adam Hall ones every time. They've got a much bigger height reach (they're in 3 sections as opposed to the Tiger's 2 sections) and they're much stronger and sturdier. However, the exact model that I've got looks to be discontinued (I had them them for a long time and still going strong!!).

http://www.djmmusic.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=LIS7-BK
Thanks for all the info, I would have bought that item on the link if it had gone to a decent height. One thing, are you saying you got stuff below the bar and above? How do you get stuff above the bar?

[DazzyD]

Thanks for all the info, I would have bought that item on the link if it had gone to a decent height. One thing, are you saying you got stuff below the bar and above? How do you get stuff above the bar?

Dead simple. Like I said, I put my Par56 cans above the bar, so the bolt goes through the bracket on the cans, through the bar and through the bracket on the Impossibled/Quadscan. The two washers on the bolt and then the butterfly nut. For extra safety, two safety chains on each big fixture and it's done. Because the Par cans are supported by the bar rather than the bolt, there is no extra strain on the bolt due to gravity. As long as the bolts are long enough (the ones that come with the bar are the perfect size for this) then there shouldn't be a problem. Oh, and I always put my lights on the bar whilst on the ground then lift it on the stand. The fixtures are light enough, and the stand low enough, to do this. The quick release bolt makes it really quick and easy this way.

As for the height of the bar, it goes up high enough for me. It'll reach over 6ft high which could be a problem suspending fixtures from it if you're on the floor (watch your's and your guest's heads!) but, if you're on a raised stage where guests can't bump in to the lights, as I often am, then the only one who could bang their head is you! But you know to be more careful, right? ;)

[Chris]

Getting good ideas here - please keep 'em coming. Am thinking of the one on the link below, can anyone see anything glaringly bad about it?
http://www.adamhall.com/en/Adam_Hall_Stands_SLTS_09_-_Lighting_Stand_medium.html