Wood vs Metal Tripod (again)

I finally received the custom-made mount/tripod I purchased. Problem! It's 100% metal (aluminum and stainless steel) and extremely heavy! The tripod alone is 21 lbs compared to my Vixen wood tripod which is about 9 lbs. Question! is the metal tripod more stable than the wood in this case? The metal tripod feels extremely stable, but I also know that wood tripods tend to be more stable? Of course, I'm sure there are exeptions? Is this one of them?

-Mike

well micheal, now this my field, weight adds stability, how the tripod is made and the materials used and what manner their applied makes the difference, the wood tripods are only more stable then the typical commercial metal trypods because they use very light extruded aluminium and plastic joints, under load the plastic loses its shape and becomes sloppy in its socket, and the aluminium leg are subject to flexure, a less flexible leg is inharently heavier, metal joints are heavier, etc. btw my tripod is 90 lbs. but it will suport 500 lbs. it extends up to about 9' and dosen't even wiggle with 7' of large refractor on it. so yours isn't so bad. john