Clamp for Floresent softboxes to have 2 on a stand

[Joseph W. bourke]

Here’s a very useful video on different ways to achieve this. Personally, I own a couple of Manfrotto super clamps (pricey), several of the mini-clamps (not Manfrotto and cheap) which are close to 2 inch max opening. A couple of 7 inch magic arms – Chinese, and very good, but not for heavy equipment. A must have is sandbags, which will anchor your light stands, even if they’re light duty. I buy the Giottos small ones from B&H, and then put 2.5 pound weights for weight lifting in them (they hold 2). This method avoids the sand or lead shot, and they’re very easy to work with. Anyway, here’s the video:

https://dslrvideoshooter.com/studio-part-2-grip-lighting-accessories/

There are also adapters (Matthews is one manufacturer) called a double-header and triple-header, which would do what you want in one solution, but they aren’t so cheap:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/33186-REG/Matthews_429580_Baby_Triple_Header.html

Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com

[Todd Terry]

Hey Ben…

That piece of gear you linked to is called a Mafer Clamp, and is made for exactly what you are wanting to do. Most of them already have a 5/8″ baby pin attached to them, which is what you’d need.

If you buy them from B&H or direct from Matthews they can be a slightly pricey piece of hardware, but you can no doubt find no-brand ones on eBay… just search for Mafer Clamp.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Ben Edwards]

Thanks, that’s great. Think we will get a small clamp and a lighting stalk to screw into it.

Camera Magic Friction Arm Small Super Clamp Crab Pliers Clip Small-size B7G7 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322466693683).
1/4″ and 3/8″ Spigot Stud Adapter Male Screw Threaded to Light Stand (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302265923075).

Can’t find a cheap Baby Triple Header but the price world not of been a big issue. The main reason to go for the above is they are small. We have a large estate (Chrysler) ‘herse’ to carry all the kit and its very full (and we want to add some fresnels and a blond to it).

Granted its the jib that is the biggest thing.

Will the above work?

Thanks for everybody’s advice.

Ben

—
Ben Edwards – Freelance Picture Editor
https://www.funkytwig.com

i5 3550 3.3Ghz, Windows 7 / Mac Lion, Nvida 550 Ti, 16GB Mem

[Todd Terry]

That combo should work.

Since the baby pin stud has both 1/4″ and 3/8″ threads, and since the clamp has both 1/4″ and 3/8″ receivers… be sure you use the larger ones.

In a setup like that I’ve had the 1/4″ studs shear off… especially those made of brass. That one doesn’t appear to be brass, but better use the bigger end anyway.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Ben Edwards]

Thanks Todd,

I almost certainly would of done that but others use the kit. I will leave the studs screwed into the clamp to try to ensure this.

Ben

—
Ben Edwards – Freelance Picture Editor
https://www.funkytwig.com

i5 3550 3.3Ghz, Windows 7 / Mac Lion, Nvida 550 Ti, 16GB Mem

[Todd Terry]

Personally I’d probably just grind that quarter-inch stud off. Fix their wagons from the get-go. 🙂

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com