Some Interesting Facts About Compass Tripods & Other Tripods

If someone says the word “tripod” to you, your first thought probably is an image of a professional photographer snapping pictures. Tripods certainly are one of the tools of the trade for any photographer, but there are also other tripods used by other people in other occupations. The world of tripods is much bigger than you might think, and tripods are needed for a variety of interesting tasks.

A compass tripod is a handy tool that has been used by surveyors for hundreds of years. This also might be known as a surveyor’s tripod or perhaps a survey compass tripod. Whatever the name, this three-legged device can hold a variety of important surveying gear such as a total station, a theodolite or a compass. The theodolite is one of the most common surveying tools, and this important device aids a surveyor when he or she is measuring angles. The total station is a device that includes both a theodolite and an electronic distance meter or EDM.

The surveyor’s compass is another tool that might be mounted onto a compass tripod. Surveyors and other types of engineers also might refer to this type of compass as a circumferentor. Before theodolites were developed, the circumferentor was the main tool of the surveying trade. While it’s true that modern theodolites are used far more these days than a surveyor’s compass, the circumferentor is sometimes used by professionals such as mining engineers or foresters. It doesn’t really matter which of these common devices are used, a compass tripod or an elevation tripod will make the job much easier.

In addition to many types of stationary tripods, there are also important tripods known as elevation tripods. These can hold equipment such as the total station or a theodolite and are helpful because you can adjust the elevation of the tripod to take additional measurements. You don’t have to take off the theodolite and move the leg height; you can simply make adjustments while the total station or another device is mounted to the elevation tripod. Considering how heavy some of the equipment can be, using an elevation tripod can make your work much easier.

The sturdy elevation tripod can handle the weight of a device such as a total station or a surveyor’s theodolite and also easily adjust into different heights. You simply turn the crank or handle of the compass tripod to move it up and down to your desired height. These elevation tripods do tend to be a bit heavier than a compass tripod or other types of tripods. You might find that these tripods weigh more than 20 pounds, but that added weight does keep them steady and still as you adjust elevation.

While the elevation tripod and also the compass tripod are certainly not the only types of tripods out there on the market, they are very popular for surveying and engineering tasks. When making a tripod purchase, it is important that you consider the source of your purchase. For instance, companies such as Warren Knight have been producing quality tripods for decades and engineer them specifically for those using devices such as theodolites and total stations. In addition to being able to handle the weight and size of your devices, you also might need a non-magnetic tripod, so be sure to inquire about this specification. In addition, weather resistance is important as you will be working outdoors and experiencing temperature and humidity changes and perhaps rain and other weather-related issues.

Carey Bourdier loves blogging about precision scientific instruments. To get more details about surveying products like a surveyor compass, or to find other alignment instruments, go to the Warren Knight website now.