Floor Mounts

[MNicolai]

I just made 8 floor mounts, and all they are is 12"x12" 3/4" plywood, with two 3/4" rises on each side to elevate the bottom of it. Then there's a hole in the center for the bolt to connect through the yoke of a light. Works beautifully. I'm just curious of how common of a practice this is, and if anyone has other simple, yet very useful homemade concoctions for lighting gear?

[Van]

Used to have a gigantic bin of those at the production house I worked at. Paint ' em black, carpet them, they're workhorses and last forever.

[MNicolai]

I didn't carpet them, but I did paint them black. I was surprised, because I'd previously only used them on S4 PAR's, Strand 1kw fresnels, and Strand SL's. If was a bit concerned that a S4 might tip one over, considering that a S4 is a bit heavier and has a different balance to it than an SL, but after testing it out today, the S4's hang on without a problem at all, and the center of gravity is perfect. It's a shame I only had the spare lumber lieing around to make only 8 of them.

While doing that though, I'm also making a dolly for my filing cabinet of gels to roll around on.

[derekleffew]

Your floor mounts are great, MNicolai. I've built many exactly as you've described. Another option is to use mic stand bases, but the noise boys tend to go all 2k over that!

My newest/favorite "garage-built" tool is this one. (Currently unavailable from roadietools.com)

I bought a 15/16" socket, the cheapest I could find (it looks as though the original was made from a spark plug socket) at Harbor Freight and cut two grooves in it with an angle grinder. Normally wing nuts on half-couplers need only be finger tight, but occasionally, such as when hanging conventional fixtures (8-Lites) roostered out with yoke parallel to floor, a little more leverage is needed, and adj. wrenches muck up the ears and the threads.

[SteveB]

Yup, got a bunch of these.

We left them bare wood - easier to see on a black dance floor (and they are primarily used as dance shins), not that the dancers aren't going to kick them anyway.

I did retro all of them last year with new bolts, nuts, flat and locking washers. The locking washers let the unit stay tight, then we simply pivot the whole base, then L spike the floor on opposite corners.

I also once purchased a bunch of the round floor plates Altman sells, hated them, built more out of wood.

Which reminds me I have to post some pic's and drawings of our new steel dance towers.

Steve Bailey
Brooklyn College

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by SteveB

...Which reminds me I have to post some pic's and drawings of our new steel dance towers.

Yes, please! (Love sidelight towers.) The PA sidelight towers were among the best, of many, contributions by Production Arts Lighting to the stage lighting industry.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by MNicolai

I just made 8 floor mounts, and all they are is 12"x12" 3/4" plywood, with two 3/4" rises on each side to elevate the bottom of it. Then there's a hole in the center for the bolt to connect through the yoke of a light. Works beautifully. I'm just curious of how common of a practice this is, and if anyone has other simple, yet very useful homemade concoctions for lighting gear?

Build them as you did, but use Tee-nuts with teeth.
(McMaster part #90975A033)

This keeps you from having to use two wrenches to tighten the unit down.

--Sean

[Jezza]

AGREED -- use the McMaster part -- totally worthwhile. I can't tell you how many times I've been pissed off at having to use two wrenches and then ending up with the fixture in my lap on the floor looking like an idiot. Also, that part uses the same standard bolt on a Tee or C-Clamp so its all the same in the end. Go Sean!

The theater I'm working in currently has all their bases made that way -- we've got a terrific shop and they deserve all the credit. Thanks Bard Summerscape Shop Crew!!!!

[MNicolai]

Thanks for the heads up on that. I just put that part on order.

[Wolf]

That just how mine are made. Dont really get the carpet thing mentioned by someone here. We have over 25 they work great and will last for ever.