Repairing tripod socket on Speed Graphic (5x7)

[domaz]

Well the good news is a found a 5x7 Speed Graphic recently for a good price. The bad news is I found out the tripod socket is stripped out somehow. The side tripod socket seems to work fine takes a standard 1/4" screw. But the main tripod socket on the bottom seems like it is too big to take a tripod screw but it's definetly not a 3/8" socket. Can anyone give me a general idea of how to remove the old tripod socket and replace it? Or is this a harder job than I realize?

[E. von Hoegh]

Maybe it's a 5/16" thread?

[cyrus]

Is it stripped or just another size? I guess it depends on how badly it is stripped. Other than drilling it out and then gluing in an adaptor that takes a standard 1/4" bolt I can't think of any other option. I did this once using 3M's Marine 5200 glue. It works but ain't pretty (leatherette covered up the mess)

[domaz]

Maybe it's a 5/16" thread?

I'll give that size a try. But it would be strange to have the side socket be one size and the main socket be another. I suppose the previous owner (engraved University of Michigan Botanical Gardens interestingly) might have swapped the tripod socket for some reason.

[Jim Jones]

I don't recall just how the tripod socket is mounted in that camera, but a 1/4" T-nut available at almost any hardware store seems like the easiest fix. T-nuts come in different styles. Hardware stores also have threaded inserts to screw into wood and tapped for common bolt sizes, but the bottom plate of a SG may be too thin to properly support such a shortened insert. When using these inserts, I prefer to epoxy as well as thread them into place for maximum strength.

[Greg Blank]

I would have it remachined. I would check with SK Grimes to see if they can do it.
Ultimately the idea would be to insert a plug that won't move, perhaps even screwed into the camera base. Then the plug is reamed back out to the required size using a tap on a drill press. To do a "good" job having a specialized chock for the tap is required.

[Douglas Henderson]

Domaz,

I have an old Graphic 5x7. The bottom tripod mounting socket is 1/4 inch. Beyond this info, I can't really suggest how to go about with any replacement of the socket--it is buried beneath the leather covering and appears about inaccessible from the interior.

A simpler solution might be to just mount an additional metal or hardwood plate with a 1/4" socket insert.

Doug

[Jon Shiu]

Another option is to attach a quick release plate with wood screws.

Jon

[E. von Hoegh]

Put a helicoil in it.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#

[John Koehrer]

I've modified items like this by permanently installing an insert and then drill & tap it to the desired size.
It's clean and solid.