I'd like to start this thread for all of us who like to go to Home Depot, Lowe's, or our favorite hardware store, and are dying to share a cool little $3 device or something that has really helped out or made our work go faster.

Here's mine. At home depot, they sell these plastic orange things called 'cable cuffs.' They look like tiny little handcuffs for cables. And they work great.

http://www.cablecuff.com/

They're a buck a piece, and found in the power tool section, obviously to keep your excess cord from going everywhere. I use them to bundle up my Lowel light cords, they take a second, and they're a heck of a lot faster and better than the little rip-ties that come in the Lowel case.

Like I said. They're a buck, and they work great. No messy cables.

I used them with a light white trashbag and some stands the other day as a French Flag. Worked in seconds.

I just thought I'd share, and thought if anyone else has some 'cheapie' workarounds that they got pretty geeked about to share, I think this could be an awesome (and funny) thread.

Hey, those do look good, think I'll try them on my girlfriend ;)

My recent deal was found on eBay. I wanted a very large Zero Halliburton aluminum shipping case, which can cost $1,000 + for the genuine article, for the largest sizes.

I found a 35.5"x26.5"x 9" one on eBay for $40 + $29 shipping. I did some panel beating with a rubber mallet myself and chiseled off the old locks and handles and had it completely sand-blasted for $75.

A nearby luggage repair shop is currently fittings new Halliburton wheels and new locks and handles. Then it will be off to a foam cutter for custom liners.

Total cost (plus a bit of my own sweat) will be around $350 + the cost of foam. That's less than half the new cost of a ZR29W-SI which is only 29"

T- brackets (3"). Cover them with different colors of Gaff tape and you have instant and reusable marks. $2.29 /2

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30050673
a bit more than $3 but worth it for a cheap gobo light. Especially good for those 80's style "light shining through blinds" type shots

Terry cloth wristbands - washable, reusable eyepiece pads (cheaper and more comfortable than chamois eye cups). Especially important when using rented gear to avoid eye and skin-borne germs. <$1.50 / each

I use these Velcro cable strips. I loop onto cable and leave them there on - no chance of loosing them! They are light and cheap and not bulky and just do the job. Oh yeah! 'cos they are always tagged ON the cable, I know where they are!

http://www.studiospares.com/pd_538170_VELCRO%20CTIES%20120MM%20%206S.htm

Grazie

Graham,

I'm rather partial to the same sort of ties/ straps. Work well with all my mic cables.

But hey, I can beat the lot so far: How about free?

The ultimate lens filter remover. Never fails, always available, and usually provided free, courtesy of the local mail man/ person?

Yep, the humble rubber band.

Ever tried getting a Polarising Filter off your UV filter?

Getting a Polariser off, full stop?

Fear not, the humble rubber band does the deed.

Just get one wide enough to get a grip on, long enough to go round the object, get a grip and.........it's off!

The fact that they keep turning up on our doorstep, every week, free, Gratis, and for nothing, is a Godsend.



CS

Hi re the cable cuffs, I've had some for a few years now. In the UK if anyone wants any I got mine from PC World of all places. As far as I'm aware they still sell them. Also try Staples.