Something to mount multiple flashes on a lightstand

[kenwood33]

I have been looking for metal plate or something to mount multiple flash units onto a lightstand, and bouce off/shoot thru an umbrella. Does anyone where I can find one? Hopfully it is not too expensive.

[ghostman]

You mean a swivel bracket?

http://flashzebra.com/umbrella_adapter.shtml

You can find it at B&H and Adorama as well.

EDIT: Scratch that... you said "multiple".

[PacAce]

Had to wade through more than a couple of pages of this forum but I finally found the thread on the same subject. Not sure if this will help but take a look.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=404540

[kenwood33]

That is very close to what I am looking for. But I am looking for one that can mount > 2 flashes. Thanks anyway.

[rhys]

Can I make a suggestion?

Get some of these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/359574-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_R03005_Tripod_Mounting_Screw_with. html

Get some of these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&ci=0&sb=ps&sq=desc&ac=&bsi=&shs=flash+tripod&ci=652&fakeSubmitButton=Submit+Query

Then get some of this - as long as you need: http://www.speedymetals.com/pc-966-8257-18-x-12-303-stainless-steel-hot-rolled-annealed-pickled.aspx

Then drill through it where you need tripod screw holes. Mount the flash mounts on top of the tripod screws, using the nuts to tighten them.

The central hole is a bit more complex - if the Manfrotto stuff doesn't have a tripod thread in its base then you'll need to drill a hole the same size of fractionally larger than the core of the tripod screw (ignoring the threads) and to tap it with a 1/4x20 tap. These are cheap and easily available. You must take care to get the thread vertical though and I suggest practicing beforehand. I've done it myself with a hand tap set and made screws with a hand die set. Make 1/4 of a turn then back off a turn and repeat the process until the thread is completed. Piece of pie - really :D

[rhys]

Or you could buy one of these to put through as the central mount - it has a female screw.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/192273-REG/Hama_HA_5131_Extra_Long_Screw_15mm.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/400/Bushings_Screws.html/mnp/0.0/mxp/0.0/pn/2

If you use the latter and use two then you don't even need to tap a screw thread into the steel - just a simple case of drilling holes. Start drilling with a small drill (1/16th) then use the 1/4" drill - it's a lot faster and easier. You might need a tungsten-carbide drill bit.

[adrenalnjunky]

what's the significant difference between some of these 1/4"-20 threaded knobs listed here, and the similar knobs found at hardware stores .50- .75 each?

[Wilt]

what's the significant difference between some of these 1/4"-20 threaded knobs listed here, and the similar knobs found at hardware stores .50- .75 each?

It could be shaft length...you need to be careful that the shaft is not so long that when it is threaded into the base of something and tightened, that it does not punch its way into the interior of something (like the interior of the camera!)

[rhys]

what's the significant difference between some of these 1/4"-20 threaded knobs listed here, and the similar knobs found at hardware stores .50- .75 each?

I tried some 1/4 x 20 nuts on a tripod screw and found they didn't fit all that well - I suspect the tripod screw is a less accurate fitting.