My DIY Gel Holder - Total Cost 80 cent plus tax

mcgong wrote in post #9425197
Does anyone have a good idea of how to carry the gels? I am trying to find something the is compact and I can organize the gels by type. The only thing I have come up with is by using one of those picture holders that come in wallets. It works, but maybe there is a better DIY solution out there.

Until I find something better, I'm using a shower curtain hook - easy on, easy off, and they stay in one place....

This is a great idea. However....

Bought the 80 cent picture frame from walmart. Couldn't find anywhere that sells a plastic cutter like the one the OP mentioned. Read somewhere in the interwebs that acrylic can by cut like traditional glass. So I used a glass cutter with one of those tiny scoring wheels: fail. Ended up breaking the picture frame beyond salvage. Luckily I bought two extra 80 cent frames as backups.

The next day I located said plastic cutting tool at home depot and was able to make the required cuts. Being the perfectionist that I am, I really took my time to make sure that I wouldn't destroy the remaining two frames. Cuts ended up perfect with a bit of sanding and filing.

Then came time for the bending. With my trusty heat gun, I proceeded to heat, bend, and deform the 2nd frame into a wavy abomination vaguely resembling a tortilla chip...*sigh*. Being careful not to destroy the 3rd and final frame, I was able the coax the acrylic into bending 90 degrees without too much deformity. It's definitely not pretty, but at least this 3rd attempt is a functional gel holder.

My point is this: I love to do DIY projects like this, but sometimes it ain't worth the time and effort compared to just buying already made.

Sorry to make my very first post on this forum long and negative, but I just had to vent.

Carry on!

Kapernicus wrote in post #9960446
This is a great idea. However....

Bought the 80 cent picture frame from walmart. Couldn't find anywhere that sells a plastic cutter like the one the OP mentioned. Read somewhere in the interwebs that acrylic can by cut like traditional glass. So I used a glass cutter with one of those tiny scoring wheels: fail. Ended up breaking the picture frame beyond salvage. Luckily I bought two extra 80 cent frames as backups.

The next day I located said plastic cutting tool at home depot and was able to make the required cuts. Being the perfectionist that I am, I really took my time to make sure that I wouldn't destroy the remaining two frames. Cuts ended up perfect with a bit of sanding and filing.

Then came time for the bending. With my trusty heat gun, I proceeded to heat, bend, and deform the 2nd frame into a wavy abomination vaguely resembling a tortilla chip...*sigh*. Being careful not to destroy the 3rd and final frame, I was able the coax the acrylic into bending 90 degrees without too much deformity. It's definitely not pretty, but at least this 3rd attempt is a functional gel holder.

My point is this: I love to do DIY projects like this, but sometimes it ain't worth the time and effort compared to just buying already made.

Sorry to make my very first post on this forum long and negative, but I just had to vent.

Carry on!

or you could have just used an exacto knife to score the plastic, and a lighter to bend it...seems like user error to me...

vincewchan wrote in post #9845411
Not very smart of me to put the gels so close to the flash heads, but oh well... Live and learn

NorCalNomad wrote in post #9845451
so it looks like only the ones on the vivitars melted...

Melting gels on speedlights is a common mistake. If you leave at least a 1/4-inch gap between the gel and the flash head and keep power below full it generally will not occur. If you need to shoot at full power, just don't fire rapid shots. This will let the heat dissipate.

The darker gels tend to absorb the heat, and I have found that by keeping a slight gap between the gel and the flash head, and by allowing 5-seconds or longer between shots (when on full power) I have not melted a single gel.

PictureDisk wrote in post #9969894
Melting gels on speedlights is a common mistake. If you leave at least a 1/4-inch gap between the gel and the flash head and keep power below full it generally will not occur. If you need to shoot at full power, just don't fire rapid shots. This will let the heat dissipate.

The darker gels tend to absorb the heat, and I have found that by keeping a slight gap between the gel and the flash head, and by allowing 5-seconds or longer between shots (when on full power) I have not melted a single gel.

Agreed, make sure you put the holder at least a 1/4 away or you will melt your gels. I've been running they for sometime now and haven't had any issues with them.

Looks complicated ..

If you like things simple try two velcro pads at the end of each precut gel (from Photogels.com) and you're in business

mmahoney wrote in post #10305333
Looks complicated ..

If you like things simple try two velcro pads at the end of each precut gel (from Photogels.com) and you're in business

free gels are too short, lol if you think this is complicated I'd like to see you approach boiling a pot of water