Making a Spotting Scope Stand? Suggestions?

[Sly Old Fox]

I hope that this a not considered a X post as I have a WTB threat for a scope stand also.
"I need a substantial edge benchmount post stand that will support a Pentax PF-63 Zoom. I find that bench and ground tripods are too shaky and as the scope has the 1/4" X 20 thread mount to the rear of the balance point and it tends to be objective heavy. I've priced the USA made Sinclair and it is beyond my means.
Worse comes to worst, I shall need to coble one together, perhaps a solid one inch diameter post bolted to a 6" C clamp but the adjustable head to hold the scope as yet is vague in my mind."

I know that I can put together a solid post or a say 2" diameter tube for the post and fasten it securely to a good size C clamp to accomdate benchs from 2" to 5" but the adjustable head holding the scope is the critical problem.

Any suggestions will appreciated.

 

[Flying Beaver]

What about a pipe clamp setup? You can buy the ends - they're used by cabinetmakers, carpenters, etc., and then get the exact length of pipe you need, threaded on one end. Use this to clamp to the table, railing, or whatever.

Then, use a small U-clamp (like a small muffler clamp, they sell them for TV masting, etc.),

clamped at the appropriate height on the pipe. With an extra nut and lockwasher, and 3/4" x 4" predrilled "utility plate" from home depot's fence and gate hardware section, and a bolt threaded appropriately for the scope mount, you're away.

Total cost might be $15. Try Princess Auto or House of Tools for the pipe clamps and the u-clamps.

An alternative solution would be to buy the pipe clamp, buy a $9.95 tripod from some outfit like XS Cargo, cut off the head, then McGuyver the tripod head to the pipe clamp with a couple of hose clamps.

I've seen lots of variations of this setup at ranges over the years, and it appears to work very well.

 

[wapitiwhacker]

You could maybe buy a Bushnell window mount for about 40 bucks. That would solve your adjustable head problem. Once you have the window mount then all you have to do is fab up the steel tube deal you were thinking of with a steel plate about 4"X4"X1/4" welded to the top to attach your window mount to. Bonus is, if you hunt you now have a good window mount to toss in the truck to glass with off the road.

 

[maynard]

Google spotting scope stands. Some places do sell just the head to mount on your own stand. Although you may think a good spotting scope stand is beyond your means, it will seem like a small price to pay if your scope falls over or tumbles off the bench.

 

[SandRoad]

Here are a couple commercial designs

ww.championshooters.com has all kinds of stands, and more importantly, accessories that you could bolt onto your own stand.

Google spotting scope stands. Some places do sell just the head to mount on your own stand. Although you may think a good spotting scope stand is beyond your means, it will seem like a small price to pay if your scope falls over or tumbles off the bench.

The stand is the easy part. As maynard said above, it is the swivel head that is more difficult. Here is a great comparison of swivel heads for stands. Go to the bottom of the page for pictures.

http://www.ray-vin.com/tech/shc/headcompare.htm (this is a comparison/review page, not a dealer site)

 

[SSJChar]

maybe get either one of those 6 axis desk lamps, the ones with either a heavy base or clamps onto the table(probably the better choice), and just ditch the lamp part. might be expensive though, i dunno, are those lamps expensive?

 

[SandRoad]

maybe get either one of those 6 axis desk lamps, the ones with either a heavy base or clamps onto the table(probably the better choice), and just ditch the lamp part. might be expensive though, i dunno, are those lamps expensive?

A stand needs to be very sturdy and rigid. Any slight vibrations are amplified through the scope.

For instance, an 80mm scope on top of a regular height, lightweight camera tripod doesn't work because of too much vibration.

 

[cdnrokon]

I bought one from champion shooterssupply , the last one pictured and I must say that so far I am happy with it, I bought both a Konus 80mm scope and creedmoore stand and both have been great.

 

[Sly Old Fox]

A spotting scope clamp-on stand for the bench.

Thanks for all who have responded and I think that I have hit upon a workable solution which should work. It involes a large cast iron C clamp for the bench, a 16" length of black 2" internal diameter ABS pipe, 2 muffler clamps. I have a "Focal" unipod with a quick detachable mount for the scope. With a slight modification to the unipod, I can drop it down the tube to hit the ground.

If it works reasonably well and I get my PhotoBucket up again, I will post an image.

As I will be using this set up for this summer only, cost was important and I've had the $1.50 garage sale unipod for years.

And as some of you commented, a full size tripod between benches is too wobly and in the way, while a table setting tripod is vulnerable to falling and still not stable enough.

Cheers to all,

Sly Old Fox