Hacksaw and grinder for ballhead install?

[Scott_1469]

Wow do I feel dumb. I bought a Flashpoint F-9 ballhead to replace the pan head that came with my Slik Pro 340 tripod. I was clearly missing something when I ordered it as there was nothing to attach it to my center post. It has a threaded flat base, and my center column has a 1/4" threaded socket. I'm guessing most of you haven't used a hacksaw and a grinder to replace your ball head? Well I did.

The only thing I could think of was to saw the head off of a 1/4" bolt and grind the crud off so it could be threaded. Screwed one end into the tripod threads, and the other into the ballhead.

Does this sound right to you? Of course, I'll locktite it but I'm just curious how this is normally supposed to work, or what else I should have ordered.

Side note. I'm not a ballhead expert (as you can see), but the Flashpoint F-9 ballhead feels VERY nice. Max load of 40lbs, and 8 ounces in weight. Smooth, buttery, quick to adjust/lock and very strong. Very impressed.

[krb]

Normally the head is female and the legs/base is male.

[crn3371]

Sounds a little strange. Like Ken said, usually the tripod base is male, while the head is female. That and the fact that usually the tripod/head connection is 3/8 not 1/4. What was holding the original pan head to the tripod?

[Scott_1469]

Sounds a little strange. Like Ken said, usually the tripod base is male, while the head is female. That and the fact that usually the tripod/head connection is 3/8 not 1/4. What was holding the original pan head to the tripod?

Not this one. Female receptacle in the center post. The base of the pan head screwed into the center post with a 1/4" bolt (not the other way around). Seemed like it was more difficult than it should have been, but it feels good and tight. Thankfully the head shipped with a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter.

[SkedAddled]

Strange to me, too.
The center head mount on the tripod typically has the 3/8-20 threaded stud.

Could you provide links to the gear involved, Scott? I'd especially like to see more of your Flashpoint head.

[Scott_1469]

Strange to me, too.
The center head mount on the tripod typically has the 3/8-20 threaded stud.

Could you provide links to the gear involved, Scott? I'd especially like to see more of your Flashpoint head.

Yep, here's the tripod:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/439931-REG/Slik_613_338_Pro_340DX_Tripod_Black_.html

And the head:
http://www.adorama.com/FPTH9.html?searchinfo=flashpoint+f

[SkedAddled]

Ah, I see the Flashpoint head is an Adorama-branded device.
I did know about this series. Looks interesting.

Still strange to me, however, even though the SLIK tripod appears to be
an all-inclusive legs/head offering.

Oh, well. It's not so different from my Manfrotto 725B DIGI setup, I suppose.
The included ballhead was sorely lacking in weight capacity until I found a source
for a column/head replacement, as just the head could not be replaced by conventional
means. I suspect your efforts were similar, looking for an upgrade to an existing
set of legs which were already fully adequate.

I simply replaced my 725B column with an Amvona-made 486RC2 ballhead clone attached
to a center column, and it's been as good as gold for me. Probably similar to your reasons
for sawing & grinding, I suspect, but perhaps I found a cleaner solution to my own situation?

[krb]

Yep, here's the tripod:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/439931-REG/Slik_613_338_Pro_340DX_Tripod_Black_.html
The legs of that setup are available without the head at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/393635-REG/Slik_613_339_Pro_340DX_Tripod_Legs.html so you should have been able to simply unscrew the old head and attach the new. Maybe some set screws in the base, but still a fairly simply removal. Maybe they used Loctite on the stud and that caused the stud to come off in the old head?

[Jon]

According to Slik (http://www.thkphoto.com/products/slik/slik-pro340dx-a.html), you should have had a 1/4-20 threaded shaft on the tripod:Already have a favorite tripod head you would like to use?
Or, would you rather use a SLIK professional ball head? No problem. The PRO 340 DX head can be removed and the tripod legs have a standard 1/4-20 thread that can also accept a thread adapter to 3/8 in. Between these 2 sizes, the PRO 340 DX can mount almost any tripod head on the market today. The sturdy legs can handle up to 8.8 lbs of equipment with ease.

[fitzhughsmith]

Did the tripod have a through hole? Mine does. If so, you could have threaded in a fully threaded machine screw/bolt from the bottom to create the male stud. Sounds like the hacksaw and grinder did the trick though.

[Scott_1469]

Did the tripod have a through hole? Mine does. If so, you could have threaded in a fully threaded machine screw/bolt from the bottom to create the male stud. Sounds like the hacksaw and grinder did the trick though.

Yep, I didn't want to run out for one, so I made my own. All's good. I was just surprised it wasn't as simple as screwing off the old and screwing on the new.