my tripod head is insufficient for macro work, and the tripod was wobbling on the annoying not-flat berber floor of my apartment, so i decided, hey, let's weigh the tripod down. at least that will stop the wobbling! so, i looked at the bottom of the center column for a hook to hang something heavy.
"uh-oh, no hook. but hey look, it's threaded and comes off!"
"woah, this center column is just an empty cylinder (well of course it is dumbass)."
"hmm, what should i fill it with... do i have any sand in the house?"
"well, it's aluminum, so i guess i could fill it with water."
*commence filling*
"hmm, i have some steel rods around here somewhere, i should put those in too."
"uh oh, steel rods? water? blurp"
"i know! i'll fill it with this handy motor oil i have sitting around! no rust!"
you can guess what happened.
*SIGH*