Topic: Clamp-aholics. The ultimate clamping and rigging team thread

[tim in jersey]

Thanks for the heads up. Glad you got it figured out.

Got the eye-bolt in the mail and the thread fits just fine but the ID and OD of the eye is friggin' huge. Roughly the size of a silver dollar or Sacajawea dollar.

It'll do for now, but I'm thinking of tapping the clamp itself to 1/4-20 and using an eye-bolt of the same size which is a piece of cake to find in any Lowes/Home Depot. Upside of the 1/4-20 eye-bolt is that the OD is roughly the size of a U.S. nickel...

[2manyrocks]

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=150670.0 shows a manfrotto 649 plus 099b extension for clamping to the arm of a theater seat. 

What I'd like to do is find a way to clamp a camera monopod to the seat part of a pew (pews don't typically have arms).  Any suggestions for a clamp?

Is there a way to secure the base of the monopod to the floor besides gaffers tape?

[F.O.Bean]

I use a manfrotto superclamp and a lowel full pole! Works great! Just clamp onto the flat part of the seat where your butt goes And I always have a couple Rowi/Braun ballheads so I can get my mics perfectly centered on the pole since not all seats are at a 90* angle!

[2manyrocks]

Thanks.

So http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32183-REG/Lowel_KP_Full_Pole_3_5.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546356-REG/Manfrotto_035RL_035RL_Super_Clamp_with.html

or ?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824360-REG/impact_cc_106r_super_clamp_with_ratchet.html

And these clamps open wide enough to clamp onto seats with larger, rounded edges?  Many times, there's some sort of trim piece on the seat that makes it thicker at the end.

[Brian Skalinder]

So http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32183-REG/Lowel_KP_Full_Pole_3_5.html

Yep, or something similar.  There are other manufacturers, like Matthews and Manfrotto that may have different lengths and prices that suit your needs better.

Either one of the clamps you link should do the trick.  Whether or not they'll fit the pew seat-front will depend on the pew's construction and size.  The Superclamp and similar clamps can go pretty wide and I only very rarely run into a situation in which the jaws are too small.

A couple other pieces that may prove useful:

• Posi-Lok Clutch.  This allows you to change the angle between your stud and the extension you attach to it.  Without it, you're locked into a 180º angle, i.e. the stud and extension are in-line with one another.  That doesn't always work.  For a simple example, the stud from the clamp may stick out horizontally, yet you want your extension to rise vertically.  The Posi-Lok clutch allows you to make the right angle to achieve a vertical extension.  I like it better than a simple right-angle extension arm because I can effectively select any angle, rather than a fixed right angle.
  
• 5/8" Round-Edged Stud.  My Superclamp came with a hex stud (similar to this one).  The round-edged stud will allow you to rotate the stud freely on its long-axis within the clamp socket, whereas the hex stud locks you into 60º steps when rotating.  If your extension allows free rotation of the telescoping sections, and you can reach them, this piece isn't necessary.   But I sometimes find myself in situations where I can't easily reach the telescoping sections once everything's mounted, and I still need some way to rotate the stud / my extension.
  
  • An alternative approach if you stick with the hex stud:  use a jam nut (I really like the Latch Lake ones, since they're large and easy to manipulate) to allow for rotational adjustment between the hex stud and the extension you attach to it.  I use jam nuts for other purposes, but prefer the round-edged stud in this instance because I find it easier to manage.
    

[2manyrocks]

I see. 

Has anyone used one of these magic arms?  This would seem to solve the problem of adjusting the angle of the pole due to the angle of the seat.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOGEN-Manfrotto-2929-Magic-Arm-Pro-Stand-244-With-Superclamp-/261368644348?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cdac902fc

[Brian Skalinder]

Has anyone used one of these magic arms?

I haven't used one, but have seen them in use for camera gear.  One potential issue with the Magic Arm -- I often have to clamp mics and extensions in limited space, and the Magic Arm looks like in some configurations it may produce a much bigger spatial footprint.  Can't say for sure, though, as I haven't used one.

[F.O.Bean]

I see. 

Has anyone used one of these magic arms?  This would seem to solve the problem of adjusting the angle of the pole due to the angle of the seat.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOGEN-Manfrotto-2929-Magic-Arm-Pro-Stand-244-With-Superclamp-/261368644348?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cdac902fc

You can find knockoffs for half that price on eBay. I'd get on of those. Or you could just use a $10 ball head like I suggested!

[2manyrocks]

The Lowel Pole would seem to have the advantage of being able to get above other people's heads if I'm not sitting on the front row.  It's curious to me why the the more complicated part, the superclamp, is $29 and the less complicated pole is something like $49.   

[tim in jersey]

Photek no longer produces the ratchet handle Superclamp knock-off.

Found a Superclamp knock-off with a ratcheting handle by Impact. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=824360&Q=&is=REG&A=details

If you don't know the benefits of a ratcheting handle, you've not clamped enough... 

But I'll explain, if prompted. 

[tim in jersey]

Any ideas for clamping to large, round or square objects? I'm thinking Mathellini+Extendillini-sized objects? Pics would help.

[JD]

Any ideas for clamping to large, round or square objects? I'm thinking Mathellini+Extendillini-sized objects? Pics would help.

I had always wanted to machine a small block of aluminium, tapped for a mono-pole stud, that would mount via a one inch ratchet strap. It would be more than strong enough for what we do and it would be very versatile, just pull the strap around something ridged and crank her down.   Food for thought....

[StarkRavingCalm]

For those times where I can clamp to a railing, I was thinking of getting this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/33185-REG/Matthews_429499_Telescopic_Baby_Stand_Extension.html

and this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824360-REG/impact_cc_106r_super_clamp_with_ratchet.html

And sitting atop it will be:

http://avlex.com/products/hm-30-stand-mount/


Anything else needed to complete this setup?

Can you change the 'orientation' of the stud on the SuperClamp?

Any other recommendations?

Perhaps some actions shots?

[ScoobieKW]

Manfrotto 3/8" Rapid Adapter, it can be used for a quick mount with a 90 degree option.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=546490&gclid=Cj0KEQiAp4yjBRCE_enjmpug944BEiQATCpLvQzyoOlUzNHAIhwjG4CW2d6squjtKAFO7un67rwzFUAaAh2P8P8HAQ&Q=&is=REG&A=details

[2manyrocks]

Is it possible to drill and tap the front part of the superclamp?  I saw a photo of a battery pack attached to the side of a superclamp, but I'd like to mount a battery pack on the front and mount a Tascam 60d to the side.  If I can drill and tap the front, I think I can fabricate something to hold the battery.