Permanently Fix a Manhasset Music Stand

Most band and orchestra teachers have to constantly adjust those old Manhasset music stands. They wobble at the base and fail to hold music up. This instructable will permanently remedy this problem.

Step 1 Why does this music stand fail?

Answer: Cheap parts, misuse, overuse, and poor fastening.

More specifically...

The bolt that connects the base of the music stand to the shaft, has too much lubricant on the threading. Although it initially allows for easy assembly, it also allows the bolt to back out of the shaft.
[see picture #1]

The pivot section of the music stand (in back of the music stand's face) relies on inferior washers, which slowly deform from regular use. The deformity of these washers causes a lack of tension, which then causes the face of the music stand to sag (this is why your music keeps falling down). Also, the inside of the nut may not have a nylon component, which allows the nut to back out at times.
[see pictures #2 and 3]

The connection between the shaft and pivot will sometimes slip out. Overtightening can deform the apparatus, so I will suggest using epoxy and a nylon nut instead.
[see picture #4]

Students are to blame for most of the wear and tear. They stand on top of the music stand base, wiggle it around, constantly adjust the face, etc. Students will have a difficult time destroying your music stands after this instructable.

Comments

[mdickinson]

Awesome job. Excellent ideas and very clearly explained. Thank you!

[psl]

It should probably be mentioned early on that this Instructable will make the stand impossible to disassemble. As an instrument maker I'd definitely think twice before doing that...

[McPhystal]

You are absolutely correct. However, in a large music program (within an urban public school) the intention would be to secure the stand so that it is nearly impossible to disassemble. Even though students are instructed to respect their equipment, they still manage to unknowingly lean all their bodyweight on a music stand, thus causing the bolts to loosen and back out. For those who are traveling musicians, I would not recommend this instructable for your portable stand. However, if you have a dedicated music stand for home use, it couldn't hurt to secure it permanently.

[Farewell88s]

There are Sooo many music stands like this at my school, I only wonder if my music teacher would let me fix them!

[jpond009]

As a Orchestra Music Student, in High School, stands, as you have seen and experienced, can get horrible (when the stand's bottom can rotate 360 degrees in all directions, you know you have to do something) and I always, always get stuck with that one horrible stand. This is a great Instructable, and I've tried one or two of these tricks, and they work marvelously.

[reedz]

I'm not sure how many people will fully appreciate this but as a jazz band member who occasionally "borrows" music stands and fixes them up while in possession, I know how bad that some stands can get.
We had one that the base would hold the entire thing at a 45* angle and still no one would fix it.
Any idea how to adjust the inner spring? We also have a stand that every time you push it down, it will slowly slide itself right back up.

[McPhystal]

Concerning the stand that slides up, I would suggest purchasing a Manhasset Stand Lock. I would attempt to create a cheaper version, but it is already pretty cheap. I haven't had too many problems with the inner spring mechanism, but you have peaked my curiosity. Although I think that the inner mechanism is inaccessible, I'm sure that I will destroy an old music stand in the pursuit of knowledge. I'll get back when I know.

[reedz]

I was looking around and all I could find was a turn knob that kept the stand from sliding up or down. Is that what you were talking about? You could get a tap and drill a hole in the outer sheath of the stand and thread in a small handle that could do about the same thing. I will see if I can find that stand again and give you a short video of it, I'm a junior this year in marching band and can pretty much get away with murder around my directors. I'm sure if I find the stand I could take it home and do some invasive surgery.

[McPhystal]

I think that your drilling idea would work pretty well, but I wouldn't want to compromise the integrity of the sheath or the inner shaft. If we collaborate, I believe we can come up with a cheap and effective solution that rivals the stand lock.

[reedz]

Perhaps you could slide a piece of aluminium in along with the inner shaft to protect it as you drill the outer sheath, it would only really need to be a quarter inch hole in order for a screw to go into it. Just something to grab on. Another idea would be to use two rubber clamps connected to each other, place one on the sheath and one on the shaft to keep it in one position

[reedz]

Oh sorry. I meant to add... FIVE STARS!!!! WOOT!

[zjharva]

i remember these problems when i used to do band at school. good instructable!