Cut-down vibrations

What are a few ways to cut down vibrations on a mount/tripod? Also, I have three questions in particular:

1) I have a spreader on my tripod - Would I want it toward the top or botton, or in the middle?

2) The dovetail rail on the SCT is attached by only a single screw knob to the mount head. Is there some way I can at least plug up the space around the area the screw touches the dovetail rail? Can I use cork?

3) I figured out that four 2.5-lb weights instead of one 10-lb countweight isn't as stable because the weight is distributed across the countweight bar (which is long). I figure I'll get a single 10-lb barbell weight and put it as close to the center as possible (this is an alt-az mount, similar to the GR-2) and lock it into place using my "real" 10-lb countweight. Barbell weight holes are bigger than the counterweight bar though - what can I use to make the hole smaller?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

-Mike

Mike,

Here's a few ideas:

Get some chain or rope. Get a "pet screw." I don't know what their real name is, but you can get it at Home Depot. It is a bout a foot long, and has large threads on one end and a handle on the other. They are used to anchor the ropes that hold pets. You screw the threaded end into the ground. Tie one end of the rope or chain to it, and the other end to the spreader on the tripod, and thighten the sucker down. Vibrations will dramatically slow down.

As for making the hole in the barbell smaller--use a "bushing" they are available in brass in various sizes at your local ACE hardware.

Alex