Question about tripod part

Hi, I'm more or less an amateur photographer so I don't know all the terms for parts yet but I need advice on a tripod part. I got a good deal on a 6' telescopic tripod ($1.50 at a thrift store), but the only problem is the top part (the head?) is just a blunt plastic circle approximately 3/4" wide. Too wide to actually use on any camera equipment that I know of. So I'm guessing that it's missing the real head, but I've searched online and have only found tripod heads that screw onto another normal, small screw. Nothing that would fit the large fixture this one has. What kind of part should I be looking for?

Thank you.

No one can really answer your question as you have not supplied enough information. Is their a male mounting thread that a head could screw into? If so what diameter and thread pitch? If not is their a threaded hole in the center of that plate? If so, what diameter and thread?

Now, what type of camera will you want to use on this tripod and what type of tripod head do you want to use?

Show us a picture.

There is no thread. Nothing anything can screw onto. Just a large, smooth plastic knob about 3/4" wide. I'd like to add about a 1/4" thread to it. This is all I know about it as I am not an expert and could not find any appropriate parts myself. I checked Ebay, Amazon and other places but all I found were heads with 1/4" threads that screw onto other 1/4" threads, which is of no help.

Picture is attached.

Attachment 163468

Did you try to unscrew the plastic part? It looks in the picture that it would.

It's all one solid piece. Nothing unscrews.

Another picture.

Attachment 163469

Wonder if it's a stand for speakers or a background. The plastic post looks like a bigger version of what's used for monolights, etc..

This definitely is not a camera tripod.

Is there any way it could be converted into a camera tripod?

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Originally Posted by jamesnoname

Is there any way it could be converted into a camera tripod?

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Absolutely, but if you have to ask how, you're might not be the person to do it.

I'm quite willing to learn and experiment but short of just gluing the thing on, I'm not sure what needs to be done. I haven't been able to find any acceptable adapters on Ebay, Amazon or specialist equipment sites so far.

That's a camera tripod, but that part is the remains of the rotating base of a head (now gone)... I had gotten a nice little Slik from a thrift store that had one of these on top and it came off somehow... I can't remember if there was a male or female thread inside that part, or if there was a screw that came from the bottom of the plate that is on the center column, but it did unscrew somehow... I think there was some threadlok on the threads to keep the head from unscrewing...

Try to look up through the center tube bottom to see if there is a screw holding it on, but the part can be grabbed with a small pipe wrench, or long handled pliers, and given a good counterclockwise turn and it should start turning (but you will tear up the unwanted part)... There will be a 1/4" NC-20 screw or 3/8"NC-16 screw underneath, but you will need another head with one of these threads, but you might have to cut a piece of one of those threaded sized bolts if the top plate has a female hole so it can thread into the female hole on the head...

But some cheap tripods just have a plastic plug that goes into the center post with this on the end... The better ones (like my Slik) will unscrew... Look VERY carefully around the bottom flat plate for a thinner than razor's edge gap where it might unscrew, then wrench it...

If in doubt, bring it to a good old skool hardware store, find the smartest looking employee, and tell them that this unscrews but you don't know how to do it, or have the tools, and ask them to take a crack at it... (I'm assuming this tripod was cheap, and you have little to loose if it needs a little sweat to get it off...)

Get the piece off first, and see whats there...

(BTW; My Slik I found is called an Able 300 DX which is fairly steady using a 35MM + 300MM lens, or a 4X5 monorail at lower than waist level camera positions, but does not extend super tall, but only fairly steady with the center post fully extended, but I think that these are not far over $100 new... Made of metal parts, does not ring when hit, very easy to carry around, and your smaller cameras with WL finders will love it!!! Good, cheap, new or used tripod, but I don't know about the factory head on it, because it was missing...)

Good luck!!!

Steve k

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Originally Posted by jamesnoname

Is there any way it could be converted into a camera tripod?

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Of course there is, but not worth the bother for most photographers. I paid $1 for a similar, but somewhat smaller, tripod with intentions of adapting it to a light stand. It is awfully flimsy for most photography. The plastic top could be filed flat and level, and a hole drilled down the shaft and tapped for a 1/4x20 stud. The stud could be epoxied into those threads with about 1/4 inch protruding. On mine the plastic top is pinned to the shaft. Drilling too deep a hole will cut the pins.

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Originally Posted by LabRat

If in doubt, bring it to a good old skool hardware store, find the smartest looking employee, and tell them that this unscrews but you don't know how to do it, or have the tools, and ask them to take a crack at it...

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Translation: The old bald fellow with the white chin whiskers whose scarred hands look like old shoe leather. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LabRat

If in doubt, bring it to a good old skool hardware store, find the smartest looking employee, and tell them that this unscrews but you don't know how to do it, or have the tools, and ask them to take a crack at it...

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We have that man at our Ace Hardware. I came in with messed up knobs for a Calumet C1. As I was rummaging to put some parts together the gentleman asked if he could help. I showed the knobs and screws and he said, "Gosh we had a drawer full of Calumet parts. I'll show you what you can use." He was a photographer for our last, genuine analog studio in town. So very cool. Now whenever I come in I have his immediate, friendly attention.