Tripod for Macro?

I went to the gun show yesterday, mostly looking for one guy who used to sell old lenses. Either he wasn't there or didn't bring any lenses (I think it was the latter).

So, having bought nothing, photography or gun related, and having nothing else to do before work, I remembered my need for something like a heavy cutting board for a base, and went to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Lo and behold, they had quite a heavy cutting board of an appropriate size and thickness, and for $40 instead of $75.

I'll probably drill a hole for a threaded insert and move the furniture foot to it today.

Update:

The t-rails on which I mount my flashes are too long for the cutting board (18" long), so I took an extra 24" rail and cut it in half.

I still have to mount the 5/16" threaded insert.

I have everything back together this morning.

Last night I used an online reference for what size drill to use to use to make the hole for the 5/16" threaded insert. It said 1/2", which is completely wrong. The insert just dropped into the hole. Fortunately, I had some epoxy. Contrary to expectations, the insert is epoxied in firmly enough to hold the weight of the cutting board when held by the furniture foot.

The cutting board wanted to slide around, but I had some stick-on plastic non-slip feet that hold it in place perfectly.

The rails went on perfectly.

My subject stage is a bit large for the cutting board, so I will end up either modifying it or making a new one.

It's not a 36" optical breadboard, but it wasn't $300 either.

My current tabletop macro rig:

Temma wrote in post #18633264
My current tabletop macro rig:

Hosted photo: posted by Temma in
./showthread.php?p=186​33264&i=i217887454
forum: Tripods, Monopods & Other Camera Support

Hosted photo: posted by Temma in
./showthread.php?p=186​33264&i=i225832689
forum: Tripods, Monopods & Other Camera Support

It's the cutting board to which I previously referred.

There's a threaded insert into which different height furniture feet can be screwed, allowing for either horizontal or vertical shots. There's a 3/8" threaded insert on top of each foot onto which a ballhead can be mounted.

Hmm - very good!

(Looks complicated.)

Archibald wrote in post #18633334
Hmm - very good!

(Looks complicated.)

Thanks.

It's actually quite simple, especially compared to some of the rigs you see.

The only "complicated" part is the Wemacro rail which I would need regardless of how it was mounted.

My contribution is:

1. One piece of wood (the furniture foot)
   
2. One 3/8" threaded insert in the top of the foot
   
3. One piece of 3/8" threaded rod
   
4. A reasonably priced ballhead
   

Wow! Nice setup.

An improved rig with a longer post and more stable base for greater working distance for lower magnifications: