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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

My Tak tripod tray project...
#3075853 - 04/29/09 08:50 PM Attachment (56 downloads)

The tray on the tripod that is made for the EM200 mount is always popping out of its rivets and it is just too darn small - who's with me Tak people?!

Well it's been rainy here in Texas for a few days so I made a bigger tray for underneath out of strong 1/4" birch ply coated with rubberized black spray paint. The tray is large enough for my computer to fit. I may even put a 7 ah battery bracket underneath for the motor drive.

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: My Tak tripod tray project... new

[Re: johnnyha]
#3075858 - 04/29/09 08:53 PM Attachment (50 downloads)

No rivets popping out here - I attached the tray with wingnuts. Fender washers were epoxied to the tray before rubberizing. The brackets (and the bolts on top) are painted Tak green. Removes and attaches easily.

Now I just hope the weather clears up!

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Tim C
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 11/11/07

Loc: Marietta, GA

Re: My Tak tripod tray project... new

[Re: johnnyha]
#3075937 - 04/29/09 09:50 PM

very nice!

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tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: My Tak tripod tray project... new

[Re: Tim C]
#3076095 - 04/29/09 11:11 PM

?

Both my NJP and EM-10 trays are attached with wingnuts. Not sure I can picture how you'd fold the tripod if the tray were riveted.

-Tim.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: My Tak tripod tray project... new

[Re: tim53]
#3076560 - 04/30/09 08:07 AM

Looks great, I like the double tray idea. I use the have to same problem with my old Super Polaris too, those tiny screws were always coming loose.

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: My Tak tripod tray project... new

[Re: tim53]
#3076595 - 04/30/09 08:49 AM

Tim - Maybe "rivets" is the wrong word - the top tray on my Tak mount has mounting studs attached that pop into holes on the three corner brackets - no nuts. The tray "pops" out when you want to fold the tripod legs. There are little adjustable threaded retainers that are supposed to help hold the studs in tight but they simply do not work.

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Chris Curran
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/14/05

Loc: Brandon, FL

Re: My Tak tripod tray project... new

[Re: johnnyha]
#3078513 - 05/01/09 07:48 AM

Quote:

There are little adjustable threaded retainers that are supposed to help hold the studs in tight but they simply do not work.

Hmmm... That's odd - mine work wonderfully. Nice second tray though!

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: My Tak tripod tray project... new

[Re: Chris Curran]
#3079389 - 05/01/09 04:27 PM

Quote:

Hmmm... That's odd - mine work wonderfully. Nice second tray though!

Thanks Chris. And to be fair, mine works fine in actual use. But I have a tendency to leave the mount on the tripod (as in the photo), and when I move it back out into the yard in one piece like that, that's when the tray likes to pop out.