Tips for removable caps for tripod spikes?

keithostertag · Feb 26, 2017

I recently bought an old Zone VI heavy duty tripod to use with my 5x7. Although my main intent is to use it outdoors, I sometimes want to use it indoors and I'm wanting to find a convenient solution to covering those spikes (temporarily on demand) so they don't damage any of my floors.

Anyone have experience making or buying removable caps for these things?

Thanks if you have some workable ideas...

Keith

grahamp · Feb 26, 2017

Mold covers/feet out of Sugru?

DWThomas · Feb 26, 2017

Not sure of the size there, but perhaps some short lengths of automotive heater hose or similar rubber tubing that could be slipped on or off?

AgX · Feb 26, 2017

I would cut pieces off aluminium tube, of a diameter that they just fit over the spikes.
Make a longitudinal cut at one end, so that by using tube clamps you can fasten them to the spikes.
(Alternatively you may make propriatory clamps.)
The other end must be long enough to protude over the end of the spike.
Mount a rubber stopper, like that of a door stopper in that end.

MattKing · Feb 26, 2017

Old tennis balls.

AgX · Feb 26, 2017

The spikes would not penetrate the balls?
And would not those balls make the tripod glide?

MattKing · Feb 26, 2017

AgX said:
The spikes would not penetrate the balls?
And would not those balls make the tripod glide?

You put holes in the tennis balls.
And yes, on slippery surfaces.
If you want something fancier, with a little bit on ingenuity the rubber like part of this can be used, and they can be found at the Dollar store:

They are also good for things like metal bridges with lots of holes.

Alan Gales · Feb 26, 2017

MattKing said:
Old tennis balls.

It would look like an old persons walker!

Alan Gales · Feb 26, 2017

How about something along these lines for furniture legs?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Shepherd-1-in-Black-Rubber-Leg-Tips-4-per-Pack-89128/100138443

You might have to tape them on but they would be easy to remove for using outside.

AgX · Feb 26, 2017

Those feet for furniture are typically from PE. Then useless on tripods as they make them slippery.

shutterfinger · Feb 26, 2017

I've got one of those beast but mine has flat steel spikes that bolt onto the legs, not round ones.
For it the leg is flat at the base and an self adhesive rubber pad can be cut to match the leg.
Hanger bolts http://www.homedepot.com/s/hanger%20bolt?NCNI-5 and wing nuts can replace the lag screw holding them on making for easy removal and installation.
A black rubber hole plug hollowed out might be the ticket for you.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-1-8-in-x-15-16-in-Black-Rubber-Stopper-808268/204273761

keithostertag · Feb 26, 2017

Thanks everyone for your ideas!

The rounded part is about 1.25" in diameter, and the tapered end is about 2" long.

I might try Matt's idea with the tennis balls first because they'd be easy and fast to replace.

Keith

AgX · Feb 27, 2017

But as already said, the spikes will likely penetrate the rubber.

jeffreyg · Feb 27, 2017

If they are the right diameter you could use cane/crutch rubber tips and put a coin perhaps a quarter in before placing them on the spikes so they will not penetrate the rubber ends.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

esearing · Feb 27, 2017

possibly Plasti-dip at hardware store?

Alan Gales · Feb 27, 2017

Dirt floors?

keithostertag · Feb 27, 2017

OK, here's my current solution:

I bought some 1.25" dia PVC pipe and some caps to fit. Cut the pipe to 3" lengths.

I happen to have some old Electrical Insulation putty, a kinda soft never drying stuff that I used to use outdoors around antenna junctions and such. I put a glob of that stuff into the cap.

Put the cap on the pipe, fit the pipe over the end of the spike until it stops. Voila!

I needed to figure out how to both keep the cap on and be able to remove it easily. I could drill a hole in the pipe and run a string/wire between it and the spike... but the electrical putty both holds the cap on and steady, and allows it to be pulled off easily. The pipe is stopped by that metal loop near the top of the spike- the spike doesn't actually come in contact with the PVC cap.

The PVC caps are slippery on wood floors, but fine on linoleum. I'll probably glue some rubber on them when I find the proper glue.

BTW- I did find some of those old cane tips, but they were way too small. And I could have used large copper pipe caps... and may still try that.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Keith

Keith Pitman · Feb 28, 2017

Zone VI sold a device, sometimes called a spider, that was two strips of wood hinged togather at a 60 degree angle. Equidistant from each other are three recesses: one for each tripod leg. Unfold the two legs of the spider, drop the tips of the tripod legs into the recesses, and your floors are protected.

grahamp · Feb 28, 2017

The ridged rubber mats intended to help one grip jars when opening them do a fair non-slip job. Putting a piece of that on the PVC caps might help with slippage. or non-slip shelf liner.

Even if you use a spider there is a risk of sliding the whole setup sideways when working.

guangong · Mar 1, 2017

Keith's solution was once the normal way of dealing with this, although the device was usually thin metal bars that unfolded into a triangle and connected to cups at the corners. A piece of felt glued to cup bottom protected floor. I haven't seen one of these for decades, probably because there are many lighter modern tripods that can support a 57 camera. I use a similar wooden tripod for my Arriflex, which weighs a lot more than a 5x7 camera. Old, my tripod has a built in friction head ( the old way to get smooth pans).

Rick A · Mar 1, 2017

keithostertag said:
OK, here's my current solution:

I bought some 1.25" dia PVC pipe and some caps to fit. Cut the pipe to 3" lengths.

I happen to have some old Electrical Insulation putty, a kinda soft never drying stuff that I used to use outdoors around antenna junctions and such. I put a glob of that stuff into the cap.

Put the cap on the pipe, fit the pipe over the end of the spike until it stops. Voila!

I needed to figure out how to both keep the cap on and be able to remove it easily. I could drill a hole in the pipe and run a string/wire between it and the spike... but the electrical putty both holds the cap on and steady, and allows it to be pulled off easily. The pipe is stopped by that metal loop near the top of the spike- the spike doesn't actually come in contact with the PVC cap.

The PVC caps are slippery on wood floors, but fine on linoleum. I'll probably glue some rubber on them when I find the proper glue.

BTW- I did find some of those old cane tips, but they were way too small. And I could have used large copper pipe caps... and may still try that.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Keith
View attachment 174047

Good idea. Now wipe them off with acetone and paint them black, maybe even put some self adhesive felt floor glides on the bottoms.

AgX · Mar 1, 2017

Felt floor glides on a tripod ???

chrisaisenbrey · Mar 1, 2017

There seems to be a solution from Berlebach:

https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=39&sprache=english

not cheap, though.

ransel · Mar 1, 2017

Cut a hole in tennis balls just large enough to slip over the spiked feet then turn the balls inside out so that the fuzzy part is on the inside...? That should take care of the slippage. Wonder how hard it would be to turn them inside out...? I have the same tripod and have just resigned to use it out doors.

John Koehrer · Mar 1, 2017

The loop just above the PVC is made for rope or chain to limit the spread.. I use some ~1/8" nylon with a spring lock* and the distance is adjustable.
Chain would be limited to a fixed length.

*the spring lock is used on most jackets with an adjustable waist or hood.

Tips for removable caps for tripod spikes?

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Tips for removable caps for tripod spikes?

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