TimValencia Photography wrote:
Get some ballistic nylon and make your own. It didn't take me long at all, and I am not a skilled textile manufacturer. You can make a whole slew of them foe a fraction of the price. yup...

But fill them with lead shot.....

dms graphix wrote:
I was reading some threads about the best stands to use, and, along with other advice, they all suggested using sandbags.  For awhile now, I've been planning to get some sandbags to secure my light stands.  I could use them in the studio for those precarious setups and, even more would like to use them outdoors.  I don't take the studio lights outdoors yet, but I plan to be doing that soon.  So, the big, dumb question:

Where do you get sandbags, what types do you use, and what size/weight do you like?

I checked on B&H and Calumet, and they both have a nice selection of bags running from around $10 to $30 each.  Figuring I need one bag on each leg and might want to secure four or more stands, I'm figuring those bags could cost me a few hundred bucks.  There must be a cheaper way!  Any advice?

Got my sandbags back during the golden age of photography from a film equipment company........never goes anywhere without them...even my tripod is weighted down with a sandbag to keep any vibrations down to next to nothing

JMX Photography wrote:
I use 20lb ankle weights from Walmart.  $20/set.

Those are pretty nice.

I recently saw Medicine balls with handles, available in various weights, there as well.

I plan to move to one or the other of these two options soon.

For beach shoots (any location shoot where hiking in) I am inclined to use the fabric shopping bags they sell at Walmart, Target, or similar stores for about a buck each.

dms graphix wrote:
I was reading some threads about the best stands to use, and, along with other advice, they all suggested using sandbags.  For awhile now, I've been planning to get some sandbags to secure my light stands.  I could use them in the studio for those precarious setups and, even more would like to use them outdoors.  I don't take the studio lights outdoors yet, but I plan to be doing that soon.  So, the big, dumb question:

Where do you get sandbags, what types do you use, and what size/weight do you like?

I checked on B&H and Calumet, and they both have a nice selection of bags running from around $10 to $30 each.  Figuring I need one bag on each leg and might want to secure four or more stands, I'm figuring those bags could cost me a few hundred bucks.  There must be a cheaper way!  Any advice?

Cheap and easy solution:

Find a livestock feed store and ask them if you could snag a few empty feed bags.  Most places will just give them to you, as they usually just throw them out.  They come in a few sizes, so get the smaller ones (25lb?).  They're made of reinforced plastic, and are pretty much weightless when empty.  I stuff a couple in my pack and fill them up with whatever (rocks, sand, etc) when I get there and tie off the end with a short piece of rope. 

They're free, and they work perfect.

StephenEastwood wrote:
buy some strong bags triple up big thick commercial garbage bags, cut them to size and get some dirt/on location or sand from a beach.  Easier is get some large canvas bags at a walmart and fill them with rocks.

Stephen Eastwood
http://www.StephenEastwood.com

so a guy with a porsche, large inventory of hassies, expensive lights, RAID systems, and the envy of photographers is running around digging up beach sand to save a few bucks?  LOL.

JMX Photography wrote:
I use 20lb ankle weights from Walmart.  $20/set.

ditto.. I didn't see this when I was typing.

Dream-foto wrote:
Check with your local hardware store, rock and gravel company or feed store. Here you can buy 50lb sand bags for .40 each.

http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-69275/Detail

And the bags of sand are already heavy duty plastic you can rebag them into other heavy duty bags if you want.

dms graphix wrote:
Thanks for all the good advice.  Yes, I planned to use sand on location when at the beach, but I wanted sturdy bags.  Don't want a mess in the stuido!  Thanks again.

I use teh commercial bags. They have straps in 2 configurations and are easy to hook to a stand.

You may need more than one per stand on an outdoor shoot. I also have used stakes and guywires to secure skrims and such in place.   

Weight the stands so they are counterbalance the way the thing might fall or get blown over.

Ruben Vasquez wrote:
I've become pretty fond of Photoflex counterweight bags. They come empty so they weigh next to nothing but can be filled with water or sand. Which makes storage and transport super easy. Here's a link in case you want to look at them:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … 531&is=REG

Also, and this is just my opinion, but unless you're on location and the wind is blowing, I think it's a little over kill to put more than one bag on a stand. That or if it's a boom then I'll have one on the stand and one on the arm to act as a counterweight.

When I do corporate shots I weigh everything down.  Sometimes I use caution tape to remind people of thos pesky light stand legs sticking out. I've had too many people not paying attention and catch a foot on a stand.  I had a MUA catch one and it hit the ground from 11' up.. OOOPS she says.

It's a bitch to trip the CEO... ..even if it's his fault..

Lorin Edmonds wrote:
Phone books are free and they work.

Not mine. Ferndale's phone book only weighs 4 ounces, and that's with the white and yellow pages in one book.

On the other hand the beach is only 5 minutes away if I need sand, and the river's 5 minutes in the other direction if I need pebbles.

Tom Brooks wrote:
so a guy with a porsche, large inventory of hassies, expensive lights, RAID systems, and the envy of photographers is running around digging up beach sand to save a few bucks?  LOL.

Nah.  His assistants are filling bags with sand at beach shots so they don't slog in (and out) with 400 pounds of filled bags on their backs.

Great practical thread, by the way.  Good link to the FredMiranda article with more info and ideas as well.