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Wind-Up Lighting Stand T-Bars


DavidCoull

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Evening all!

 

I have just purchased 2 Varytec Wind up stands from Thomann (The link is below). They are rated to hold 85kg each and wind up to 4 metres. They are supplied with square T-bars as standard. I am looking for a solution to be able to use a length of Aluminium scaff as a T-bar, which I have, I just can't seem to find the appropriate adaptor or hardware which enables me to hang the scaff. I have looked at a couple of products from Doughty which I believe would work together, Please see the links below. I don't want to spend a fortune, but of course I don't want to scrimp when it comes to quality. Can anyone advise anything or has experience with creating solutions for T-Bars on lighting stands.

 

Stands:

https://www.thomann....nd_up_85_kg.htm

Option 1:

http://www.doughty-e...showprod_T50810 - T50813 38mm to M12 Bolt

https://www.stage-el...10-0916&nr=true - Half Coupler

 

 

Many Thanks.

David.

Edited by DavidCoull
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There are much cheaper half-couplers (try CPC) & other stand-adaptors (e.g. Powerdrive), but I'm not sure that I would be entirely happy relying on the aluminium thread of the stand adaptor for anything but a very light load - might be ok if there is room to put a nylok lock-nut on the end of the bolt. I do use half-couplers for short T-bars, but with a steel theatre-spigot going into a spigot adaptor, so the threads are steel-to-steel. My older T-bars have a 3/8" bolt right through them, again going into a steel theatre-spigot.
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Have you actually asked Doughty for suggestions? Stands I've used usually have thick wall tubing so that they can have a spiggot (pin) down the centre.

 

Keep the load symmetric about the centre and close to the centre. The big issue is stand stability at full load and full height -basically they are not stable at full height/load, add a heavy load off centre and it could be a risk I wouldn't take.

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On the Thomann site, they do show a Varytec TV spigot adapter for the stand in question - you could fit those to the top of the stands and then bolt 28mm steel TV spigots to your half-couplers if you needed a bit more strength and 'meat' around the joint.
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On the Thomann site, they do show a Varytec TV spigot adapter for the stand in question - you could fit those to the top of the stands and then bolt 28mm steel TV spigots to your half-couplers if you needed a bit more strength and 'meat' around the joint.

If you go down this route it would be better (& cheaper) to buy the all-in-one Doughty T57225 "Big Ben" TV clamp (from Thomann or the bay).

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Powerdrive have a 35mm stand top that looks ideal for this. I've used the 32mm version of the same on their push up telescoping stands and they worked well.

 

Be aware that these 35mm stands usually can't handle much imbalance on a Tbar, so rigging needs a bit of forethought - any side load on the tube will bend it, I've got one to prove it...

 

Addressing Sandall's concerns re aluminium threads, a steel bolt passes through the alu half coupler, then threads into the stand boss (not sure if this is steel or ali from memory), there may ne a lock nut on the inside of the boss too.

Edited by J Pearce
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Powerdrive have a 35mm stand top that looks ideal for this.

This looks like the perfect solution.

 

Addressing Sandall's concerns re aluminium threads, a steel bolt passes through the alu half coupler, then threads into the stand boss (not sure if this is steel or ali from memory),

The Doughty & Powerdrive stand-adaptors are aluminium with a 10mm threaded hole, so rough handling could easily strip the threads (as demonstrated on ali spigots on follow-spots going out to schools :angry:).

Edited by sandall
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I just bought a couple of those varytec stands. B stock and even cheaper. They only had one so I got a brand new boxed one at the b stock price for the pair. They're actually rather good! Thanks for the tip!

 

Absolutely. They are brilliant and top spec for the price. Can't beat them for quick and easy DJ, school setups etc. Only downfall is the size and weight but a trolley of some sort makes light work of that. If you did want a solution for circular / regular scaff as the T-Bar, I can now recommend the Powerdrive 35mm adapters.

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