Tripods, Jacks & Supports

A wire tripod suits light beakers and quick heating, while a heavier cast iron tripod handles larger flasks or vessels without wobbling.

Make sure the jack's minimum and maximum height cover your setup, and that its load rating comfortably exceeds the weight of your heating mantle and flask.

A scissor jack lets you fine-tune height without disturbing a clamped flask, unlike repositioning a fixed tripod or stand.

A tripod alone does not support a round-bottomed vessel; add wire gauze for flat-bottomed glassware or a clay triangle for crucibles.

A tripod is a fixed-height stand that holds wire gauze or a crucible above a heat source, while a lab jack is height-adjustable, letting you raise or lower equipment using a scissor mechanism.

Yes, for flat-bottomed glassware like beakers and flasks, wire gauze spreads the heat evenly and stops the glass resting directly on the tripod's bare rim.

Yes, as long as the jack's load rating exceeds the combined weight of the mantle and its contents, and the mantle sits centred and stable on the jack's platform.

This is usually caused by uneven leg length or a bench surface that isn't flat. Check that all three feet make firm contact before heating anything on top.

Wire tripods are lighter and fine for everyday beaker heating, while cast iron tripods offer more stability and heat resistance for heavier vessels or prolonged heating.