Valerie Taylor

Hi Brandon, We have a breakdown of fabrics and various uses with safety characteristics, stops, etc...on our website here: Fabric Specifications If this doesn't help get you started I know there are other rag and textile companies in the industry that will have descriptions of their fabrics like we do so you can google them and see what you come up with, you just may have to do a little in-depth searching but the information is out there.

JD, What you just described is the process for old-fashioned bumper chrome...the government prohibits that, and while there are some platers still doing it in a covert manner for those who restore old vehicles, plating today must conform to AQMD and EPA rules and regulations, which admittedly are lesser in quality to the old-school chrome. C'est la vie. :)

I'm sorry Tim. I thought I had done my profile correctly as in that my information was visible to all. I apparently wasn't paying enough attention when I set up the account.

^^^^^ Generally with this type of thing if there is a 10-20% price difference on a stand it will be due to either the material used in manufacture - steel vs. stainless vs. chrome-plated - the way it is manufactured - castings vs. welds and machining - what is added vs. what is taken away, an additional component on a stand, etc...it really is worth it to find out, especially for the context in which the equipment will be used. 20% is a big variable. Matthews people are proud of the products and I think that is a good thing. My motto, however, is when you buy gear you always have to get what you want. This is a life motto, by the way! :) If that is American or Modern, then that's great. Of course Matthews wants the opportunity to get the business as does anyone else, but ultimately like I said its about testing it to see what you like and then buying based on that. You'll get what you pay for. And if you don't, go back to the manufacturer to figure out why because with the cost of some of this stuff you're owed it, know what I mean? That goes for Matthews as much as Modern, Norms, American, what have you - I'm speaking as a consumer here. You probably did get an email from me, I designed the website and occasionally answer questions.

The proof is always in the pudding...you owe it to yourself to test each of the manufacturers as they all make claims. If I were you I'd go Matthews for the following reasons: They make arms from both chrome plated steel and stainless steel. The stainless is impervious to the environment and doesn't scratch, peel or rust. They use a serrated pattern in their molds with a metallic, not leather, interface gasket that allows the head to lock firmly in any direction without regard to 'righty tighty / lefty loosy.' A 4.5" griphead would not normally be subjected to loads equal to a 200lb man, while at Matthews getting a demo one of the sales guys puts a grip arm in the matthews 4.5" griphead and chinned himself repeatedly. Grip equipment is not gymnasium equipment, but it should be built to hold substantial articulated load and provide years of reliable service. As far as your Hi-His and Mombos, you should always check them out in person to see which you like best because ideally they will last you a decade +, but just in terms of most recent design-mods and leg-strength, maneuverability, flexibility, etc...I think you'll find matthews to be the best of the bunch. So like I said in the beginning of the post, test them all and get what you like best.

Hi Francisco, Check this out: http://www.msegrip.com/matthewscarmountpg1.html This an alternative way to mount it if you don't want to go the suction cup route. It's a camera mounting plate attached to some pipe that's held by two of the matthews cardellini clamps that are in turn fastened on via mini grip heads to the headrests of the car.

Provided you have a way to rig your camera to the end of the stand (which it sounds like you do) and you use something like the MAX menace arm that Matthews makes you'll get solid counterbalance with a small footprint. Take a look: http://www.msegrip.com/mse.php?show=produc...oducts_ID=26560 You need a 3:1 counterbalance ratio if you're going below grade but it works really well and is probably the most economical space-wise. If you can't buy I'm pretty sure you can rent it from someplace like Cinelease or Hollywood Rentals or something like that.