Photograpy Light Stand - Cheap, easy and handy

A useful piece of studio equipment to hold lighting units or reflectors and reposition them easily.

Step 1 Putting it all together.

Super cheap photography light stand. If you have a few items in you garage you might not spend any money for this stand.

What you need is:

1 set of 5 leg computer chair casters. One of those that are just press fit on the seat post. If they are plastic it will be much easier. If you do some dumpster diving in an office park you might be able to get a set or two for free.

5 2" deck screws. (Bolts if you use metal legs.)

A 12" diameter circle of 3/4" plywood. You could use a 12 x 12 square of precut plywood available you know where.

A length of galvanized pipe the length you want you light stand standard to be. I used 1" pipe because that's what I had leaning over in the corner. 3/4" or even 1/2" pipe would work just fine unless you have really heavy lights.

A floor flange that fits the pipe you chose.

4 wood screws that fit the floor flange and are about 1 1/2" long.

Some tools that would help:

Electric drill with wood drill to drill for the screws and a Phillips head bit to install the screws. Metal bit if you are using metal legs.
Phillips screwdriver for adjustment.
Marking tool (pencil)
Ruler
Level (optional)

What you need to do is find the center of your plywood "shelf".
Align the shelf over the leg set.
Measure and mark 5 places where the 2" screws will connect with the 5 legs.
Drill pilot holes in the plywood only.
Insert the first screw and drive it through the plywood until it touches the plastic leg.
Check that it is hitting the leg close to the center and use the drill with the screwdriver bit to "self-start" the screw in the leg. Stop just before it gets tight and pulls down on the plywood. Now install all 4 other screws in a similar manner.

Place the floor flange in the center of the plywood and mark for the holes. You can drill pilot holes or it you're feeling luck you can "self-start" the wood screws.

Screw the pipe standard into the floor flange to hand tight.

Check that the standard is close to perpendicular to the floor. If it's not then use screws (bolts) in the plywood to align the pipe but loosening and tightening them.

Now you have a great moveable light stand for you studio. You can put extra weight on the shelf if you have heavy lights. Most of the bases are very wide and strong so the will be very sturdy and secure.

Now get in there and take some pictures.

Comments

[Re-design]

Anybody built one of these beside ME? I've got 3 and use them in my studio all the time!

[2ManyProjects]

Wow, great design and simple to build. I am now on the lookout for old chairs.

[Re-design]

Dumpster diving in the office parks. Most of them just slip on and off so not tools needed and you don't have to take home the whole chair.  I use and extra one for a roll around light stand in my shop.

[studyaces]

Hi, This looks very handy to have in the studio. I have been searching for DIY stands rather than tripods and elaborate screens to hold lights and reflectors. My question relates to attaching the flash, light or reflector. How do you connect the light and how do you reposition it? Thanks for your consideration. I look forward to your response. Cheers!

[Re-design]

I built my lights out of plywood so it was easy to use "U" bolts and wing nuts to attach to the poles. I have one that uses a heavy duty spring clamp to attach. There are several inst. here about building lights and clamps that might work. A lot depends on what you are trying to attach and how it was designed to attach. Good luck and let us know what you figure out.