Sinking tripods

Yep thats a lesson for him to learn. You have to get a new backsight if you relevel. I had an instrument man that did the same thing to me.

We don't have the problem but a few days down here. We just keep leveling the thing and getting new backsights.

A while back there was a thread that discussed similar issues and suggested setting short stakes flat on the ground under the feet of the tripod. I usually drive large hubs in and set the feet up on those to avoid movement but found that this other method seems to work as well.

Hub up. Set a hub for each tripod foot. We use 2"x2"x12" hubs successfully for this purpose in wet/soupy conditions. If you will be re-occupying the station the addition of a whisker to each hub makes subsequent hub recoveries easier.

Ground is still freezing solid at night. Maybe I could frost-pin them in. I'll give it a try. B-)

I've done something similar in real marshy ground cutting and driving natural stobs down to refusal to set up on. Thinking this will work just as well. Thanks

After a long dark winter, I just can't begin to complain about the flood of sunshine and warmth!

While in snow.. etc in Chicagoland area, we used to set up the tripod, and then move over from each leg about 6", and drive a 3/4" conduit, leaving the tops up maybe 1-2". And, reset the tripod legs into the conduit. Worked pretty good.

(Your mileage may vary)

N

In windy conditions sand bags over the feat work wonders in improving stability, imagine that they would work for your application as well.

Previous thread:

http://beerleg.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=299442#p299819

Being in SoCal this is often a problem working on asphalt.
We would carry "feet" in the belt chain bag.

Feet = short, maybe 2-3 inch sections of lath.
Guess you could make them out of any small square piece of wood.
They just lay on the surface and press the tripod tip into it a little.
Guess you could add something rough on the bottom side.(never needed to do that)

Depending on how soft ground is maybe this trick will work with bigger squares.

Another common problem is tripod tips "slipping" on smooth concrete.
Take the miner's pick and tap a slight divot into the concrete.

Being a former snow guy, I used to pack ice around the legs all the time. Then check back and if something looked wacky it probably was. I did also carry some about 6" dia washer looking things that I'd set the legs in. Worked really well.

I had the same problem setting up on asphalt, as the temperatures went up and the legs sunk in. The washer thingy's worked good for that too.

Check your hardware store, or make your own out of some wheel covers or something.

Around here, it's the friggin wind. 15-20 mph is a "mild" day. Not good for me either, so I try and plan accordingly. It gets over 20 and I'm back in the truck, just like in MI if it got below 15 deg, I was back in the truck.