YOUR OWN TRIPOD, CHEAP!

Mr. Pfannenschmidt’s tripod used old fashioned wooden crutches.  I employed metal units that are common today.  They quickly adjust for height with just the push of a button.  These were purchased at the Reuse Centre of Recycle Ann Arbor for 4 dollars a pair.  Except for some ¼” oak plywood used to make the tray and ¼” threaded rod and bolts, all other materials were left over from the old pedestal project and some home remodelling.  The tools used were a power hand drill, router with circle cutting guide, sabre saw, a “chop” saw (bought for the home remodelling job) and a drill press at my place of work for drilling a few holes square to the board.  A cheep drill attachment available at most hardware stores could sub for the drill press.

The tray (fig4) is made from ¼” plywood and some quarter round trim. 
Three pieces of ¾” plywood with groves in them on the underside of the tray (fig2) fit snugly onto treaded rods on the legs (fig6).  The tray’s purpose is not only to hold items but mainly to keep the tripod legs form spreading or twisting.  The use of hand tools prevented the ability to have very tight tolerances.  (Well prevented me anyway.)  The result made for some very high class looking craftsmanship (fig3).  The tray goes on the tripod in just one way.  Markings on the under side of the tray and one crutch leg line them up.  The tripod consisted of the two pieces (fig1) that go together truly in seconds for the final assembly (fig7).

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6