The FastCap Third Hand Tripod

 I got a pair of FastCap "Third Hand" telescoping poles about a year ago. Primarily to mount my laser level on.  The telescoping poles are really good and I like them a lot.  They are handy for more than just supporting a laser level but that's my primary use.

Because they work by standing up between a floor and a ceiling, they are limited by height.  The ones I have are limited to about a 11 or 12 foot space.  Any ceiling taller than that, a lot of vaulted ceilings,  I can't use the pole to mount the laser level.  I also have the FastCap laser level mount device designed specifically for use on their telescoping poles.  Very nice device to have.

But, if it's a taller ceiling,  none of that matters.  I've tried other tripod stands but they don't work well enough or at all for me.  They either are very shaky or not strong enough to support a sturdy pole.  But, FastCap sells a tripod specifically for their telescoping poles.  Imagine that.

The most important aspects I look for in this situation is that it can support a fully extended pole, it can maintain plumb position, and it resists vibration and movement, especially on wood floors.

By fully support,  I mean keep the pole from tipping over and be able to hold it steady.  In regard to maintain plumb, a laser level usually can overcome just a degree or two of the mount being out of level or plumb and still be accurate.  The more it can hold 90° in all vertical directions, the more accurate my lines will be.

Wood floors transmit every step people take to some degree.  A good tripod should be able to mitigate the vibrations in the floor so that the lines projected aren't shaking and bouncing all over.  Moving level lines are not accurate level lines.

Does the FastCap tripod continue it's reliability with its tripod,  here's what I think...

For the rough ~ $30.00 that it costs on Amazon,  I'll give it 3.5 stars.

The reasons being... (good things-🟢,  not good things-🔴 )

1. 🟢 It opens up and expands into position fairly easily and feels really stable.  It has a lock knob that tightens around the telescoping pole to keep it secured to the tripod.

2. 🟢 It does hold the pole at a fairly plumb 90° angle to the floor which makes stabilizing the level easier.

3.  🔴 The feet stabilizing braces aren't the most confidence inspiring things in the world.  As you open the tripod to expand the feet out, you feel the braces not seeming to be as sturdy as you'd prefer.

4. 🟢 On a very stable surface, like a concrete pad or floor, there is no shake or wobble, as one should expect.  Though others still fail, this one does not.

5. 🟢 On a not-so-stable surface, like an old wood floor, there is in fact, a lot of wobble.  Also to be expected.  However, it does recover fairly quickly, within seconds once movement has stopped and is still.  At 4 or 5 feet away, the shaking effect is noticeably minimized. I gave it a green because no tripod is unaffected by an old wood floor.  This tripod recovers quicker and better than others I've used.  And this test was with the pole extended to about 9ft high.  The higher the loft, the shakier the effect.

6. 🔴 While the make of the tripod is sturdy enough, there actually is not a lock to keep the feet extended to any specific point you adjust them to.  You're just counting on the stiffness/sturdiness of the joints to stay put.  I really think a position lock would be a great improvement for tripod 2.0.

Mind you, I'm comparing the tripod mostly against the use and performance I expect or prefer such a tool to do in use, not necessarily against other tripods specifically.  

For what it is, what it does, and what it costs, it's actually pretty good. Not overachieving, but certainly meets expectations handily.

Improvements can be made but it has other potential uses than just a laser level that my biggest concerns are less of an issue.  For example, as a worklight pole base, it will be great.  As a general support pole base, to hold up something at a distance from you, especially while working on a ladder, it can be very useful.  I expect to utilize this tripod in multiple ways going forward to maximize the value and usefulness of it.