How dumb would it be to take a dremel to my Quadra head?

Removing the tube will have no effect on use with adapter.

Rai33 wrote in post #9281282
Modify it and be sure to post the pics up so we can see what you've done. Will it still work with the EL-Adapter? (this is a must for me as I use the umbrella holder with an elinchrom deflector with my beauty dish).

Well removing it wont, but adding something there in its place might. (dependin on size and shape.


Kindest

As per OP's thread:

"I have no qualms about it's stability or durability, and this head will still fit into the adaptor perfectly this way"

Of course this assumes you follow the OP's possible/pending mod process - or something similar.

Given the design of the head and the fact it also has it's own swivel mount, once that glorified 7mm straw Eli saw fit to mold into the head is out of the way, there are a number of ways a DIY-centric person could modify (or jury-rig with some Manfrotto bits) a Quadra to properly be used with an umbrella or similar.

Key points will be treating the brittle plastic of the head with care if it involves attaching/clamping X to the head itself (vs using it's swivel mount) -- and trying to keep the head, when mounted, as in-line as possible with the umbrella shaft. Of course a solution that doesn't add X minutes and cursing to the set-up and /or tear-down process would be an added benefit.

PIMM- while I no longer own a Quadra, am curious as to how you'll approach the issue. Best of luck.

Conner999 wrote in post #9283619
As per OP's thread:

"I have no qualms about it's stability or durability, and this head will still fit into the adaptor perfectly this way"

Of course this assumes you follow the OP's possible/pending mod process - or something similar.

Good point, i missed that.

I'd be curious to see OP mod it, eventhough i have no desire to it my self since i dont use umbrellas.

Hi all, not gone quiet, just on holiday!

We modded a Quadra head in the shop when they first came out....

By unscrewing the tilt handle and removing the lower part of the stand mount you leave yourself a lovely bracket with a hole in it. You can then attach a Manfrotto litetite to this bracket (the head will be tilted to one side but this doesn't matter).
I've put a (blurry) image here:
http://****/57ByGa

Hermes wrote in post #9277774
I modified my equally craptastic d-lites. Didn't stop me selling them, and even if it had, I would have done it anyway. Having kit that works is all that matters.

Any tool worth using is worth modding.

I managed to successfully mod mine, but I'm not done as it looks a bit shoddy, though it's very secure. I used a thin loop of a pvc pipe, sanded to create a wedge shape, to fix the taper of the back of the head, and provide a cylinder for a plumbing clamp to grab on to (without the PVC wedge straightening it out, the clamp slides off because of the taper). I also had to dremel two thin slots into the umbrella holder and support tab. The result is a very tight and secure umbrella swivel holding it. I want to finish it off with fiberglass or some other resin to give it a more professional look, but haven't found anything yet.

I'll post photos tonight. Now it can hold any shaft diameter, with a retaining screw, and the shaft is only about 3-5 mm lower than it was with the built in one. Now I can easily hold westcott double folds and the softlighter with no creep or worry about plastic snapping.

poopinmymouth wrote in post #9327879
I managed to successfully mod mine, but I'm not done as it looks a bit shoddy, though it's very secure. I used a thin loop of a pvc pipe, sanded to create a wedge shape, to fix the taper of the back of the head, and provide a cylinder for a plumbing clamp to grab on to (without the PVC wedge straightening it out, the clamp slides off because of the taper). I also had to dremel two thin slots into the umbrella holder and support tab. The result is a very tight and secure umbrella swivel holding it. I want to finish it off with fiberglass or some other resin to give it a more professional look, but haven't found anything yet.

I'll post photos tonight. Now it can hold any shaft diameter, with a retaining screw, and the shaft is only about 3-5 mm lower than it was with the built in one. Now I can easily hold westcott double folds and the softlighter with no creep or worry about plastic snapping.

Sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing the images of the mod.

Any ideas for a lightweight resin or polymer to finish this into something a bit smoother and more professional looking?

poopinmymouth wrote in post #9328719
Any ideas for a lightweight resin or polymer to finish this into something a bit smoother and more professional looking?

I'd have to see the components but whenever I make brackets and DIY's with aluminum, steel or PVC I use Rustoleum Painter's Touch primer and matte spray paint. I like the finish, the paint covers real well and very consistent and gives me a real professional look.

There is also gelcoat (pigmented polyester resin) used to give a smooth finish and color to fiberglass. Gives a smooth, glossy, colored surface (think boat/seadoo hull, Corvette/Saturn body, etc). Any marine auto repair supply store will have it.

Here is is atop a light stand. The good news is this works perfect for me. The bad news is that this swivel was only available for a while from an individual here in Germany. I don't even know how I'd get a 2nd. It's very strong. I removed the built in hotshoe, drilled the holes larger, made a 3mm thick aluminum plate with matching screw holes, and sandwhiched a normal plumbers clamp between the aluminum plate and umbrellla swivel, then tightened the screws to hold it. Next I made the PVC loop, it's thin at the front, thick at the back, to counter the taper of the back of the quadra head. I lightly sanded the smooth plastic of the quadra head, applied UHU plast (german glue for plastic) and let the pvc adhere to the quadra head. Now the clamp has a flat surface to grip instead of the taper that it slid off before. I also had to make it triple thick where the actual clamp would hit, to make it even with the lip of the quadra head. I then dremeled a slot into the umbrella swivel and tab to let the clamp through, and tightened securely.

Here we go:

Nice work...