Lantern stand for camping

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Any ideas for a camping lantern stand?  I was thinking of something that can easily be attached (with some type of clamp?) to those picnic tables found at most campsites.  I use a fluorescent light instead of a gas lantern, but it should be able to work with both kinds:Thin-lite fluorescent lightColeman makes this free standing one, but it isn't ideal since having the light over the middle of the table would be better than at one end:Electronics Engineer (embedded controls)Miller 200DX w/ Coolmate 3Thermal Dynamics 82 plasma cutterGrizzly G0678 8x30 millPM1440BV 14x40 latheHF 6x12 surface grinder
Reply:how bout one of those shepherd hooks? http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=29968
Reply:Originally Posted by afabhow bout one of those shepherd hooks? http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=29968
Reply:Not too hard to do. To make it collapsible, you will need to get either square tubes or pipe that sides inside one another. The simple way to do the adjustment would be to drill thru holes and use hitch pins to set the heights. You could also use a hole drilled in one tube with a nut welded to the outside and a thumb screw or knob bolt to tighten against the inner tube. The only problem with this is it sometimes distorts the inner tube and it makes sliding it a pain if the fit is tight. A heavy lantern or one with gas, I'd go for pins for safety. A light weight electric one you could do either.The clamp is simple. Get a C clamp from HD, Lowe's, HF etc and weld it either to the bottom tube or to a chunk that things will slip in. Here's a quick one I made up to fit an old desk lamp where the base got lost. Attached ImagesLast edited by DSW; 01-02-2010 at 04:57 PM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWNot too hard to do. To make it collapsible, you will need to get either square tubes or pipe that sides inside one another. The simple way to do the adjustment would be to drill thru holes and use hitch pins to set the heights. You could also use a hole drilled in one tube with a nut welded to the outside and a thumb screw or knob bolt to tighten against the inner tube. The only problem with this is it sometimes distorts the inner tube and it makes sliding it a pain if the fit is tight. A heavy lantern or one with gas, I'd go for pins for safety. A light weight electric one you could do either.
Reply:It might. I don't work enough with alum to know without going to my supplier and playing a bit. With the steel tube you need to watch out for the inside seams frequently.Another thought would be to do it with threaded pipe or weld in bolts and threaded couplings, if you didn't have a lathe to turn some nice inserts. Last you can always look for something that already telescopes, camera tripod leg, boat pole, painters pole etc. I made some lobster tickel sticks that colapsed from small golf ball retrievers. It was cheaper to buy them and cut the ends off than build our own..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWIt might. I don't work enough with alum to know without going to my supplier and playing a bit. With the steel tube you need to watch out for the inside seams frequently.Another thought would be to do it with threaded pipe or weld in bolts and threaded couplings, if you didn't have a lathe to turn some nice inserts. Last you can always look for something that already telescopes, camera tripod leg, boat pole, painters pole etc. I made some lobster tickel sticks that colapsed from small golf ball retrievers. It was cheaper to buy them and cut the ends off than build our own.
Reply:The ones I was doing were for a limited run production. I needed 50 that were all the same and looked professionally made. For just a one off you might be able to get by with alum tube if they'll sell you small quantities. I'm lucky several of my suppliers sell cut lengths cheap. I was thinking more about keeping your eyes open at goodwill or on trash night as well as when you wander strange stores. I've found all sorts of odd ball items in boat supply, farm supply, old hardware stores, industrial supplys etc. that you don't usually see at Depot and places like that..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWThe ones I was doing were for a limited run production. I needed 50 that were all the same and looked professionally made. For just a one off you might be able to get by with alum tube if they'll sell you small quantities. I'm lucky several of my suppliers sell cut lengths cheap. I was thinking more about keeping your eyes open at goodwill or on trash night as well as when you wander strange stores. I've found all sorts of odd ball items in boat supply, farm supply, old hardware stores, industrial supplys etc. that you don't usually see at Depot and places like that.
Reply:I guess it never really occurs to me to mail order materials. I just kept my eyes open where ever I go for fab shops and various suppliers. I've also found one or two suppliers from recomendations from guys on here. The only things I usually order are speciallty tool steels, and MSC's facility is right down the street, so I just get them shipped in to there N/C.They should be able to tell you if the tubes will telescope easily. When I used to work for a retailer who also did mailorder, if we could ship things nested in one another we would to save shipping volume. Why send 3 boxes if I can slide the three tubes inside one another and send one as long as I don't go over weight..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by afabhow bout one of those shepherd hooks? http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=29968