What should I put in light stand sandbags, and where can I buy it cheaply?
Asked 10/20/2014
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2 answers
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I bought empty sandbags for stabilizing a light stand and need to fill them myself. What material works best for studio or location use? Is regular sand okay, or is gravel better? Also, what type of store usually sells suitable filler at low cost?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
9
My two cents.
The sandbags are to stabilize your gear, not to be a burden. In my opinion, use whatever you have on site, little rocks, bigger rocks if you are on location. Beach sand if you are on the beach. Tools and bolts if you are in a workshop.
Yes, some materials can damage a bit of your bags. But I would not carry extra weight if traveling. To protect a bit your sandbag from sharp rocks you can put them inside another bag, use some of those socks that have not a pair anymore, or make an inner bag with a sturdy cloth like denim.
If you are in a studio, I would use small river rocks. Not sand. Sand is very abrasive. Some have a lot of dust*, and I do not want either of them flying around if I am using, for example, some wind machine. If you choose to use it, put them inside a zip plastic bag... But even then I would not use it.
You can buy some round river rocks on an aquarium or some home improvement store. You can give them a small wash before using them.
Some nuts and bolts are a good option, but a bit more expensive.
You also can use beans, but they are probably too light in comparison.
*Dust test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wpGGJ1uBbE
Originally by user37321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user37321
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For light stand counterweights, the safest choices from the community answers are dry, clean sand or small rounded gravel like pea gravel.
Pea gravel is often preferred because it’s less likely to leak through seams and makes less mess than sand. Rounded stones are also gentler on the bag than sharp rocks. Dry, washed sand can work too, but it can be abrasive and dusty, so it’s best sealed inside an inner bag or zip bag before going into the sandbag.
Avoid wet material or dirt with grass/leaves, since organic matter can rot, smell, or grow mildew. If you’re on location, people often use whatever is available temporarily, but for regular use, clean dry filler is better.
Where to buy: hardware and home-improvement stores commonly sell dry sand and pea gravel cheaply, often in larger bags. Landscape supply stores may also carry similar material.
Tip: if you use sand, double-bag it to reduce leaks and dust.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago