Tripod Feet

LeeRatters

LeeRatters

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I have this old Redsnapper tripod. I finally got around to sorting the screw feet as they had corroded and not moved for many years!

My question is now, how does the whole 'bolt' unscrew to replace with longer spikes?

Is it likely to be just held in with locktite? I could try to unscrew them a little forcefully but I don't really want to break anything completely....
 

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What do the feet screw into (in terms of material)? If it's steel feet into aluminium bosses, dunking the ends into hot/boiling water might be enough for the different coefficient of thermal expansion to loosen them, failing that, hot oil. TBH, I'd be tempted to try to get hold of Redsnapper and see what they suggest.
 
Plusgas is my dismantling fluid of choice.
If an overnight soaking of that doesn't work next method up is heat.
For that I use an old B&D hot air paint stripper which causes less damage than a blowtorch.
 
Well, the tripod is aluminium. But the threaded feet appear to screw into a little "boss" of some material which seems to be pressed into the bottom of the leg.

The nut/rubber feet obviously screw up and down the thread but the threaded bolt is obviously tightly attached to the leg.

I could try heating if it's held in with some form of locktite. But I don't really want to snap the boss section off.
 
It's possible that the threaded spikes are moulded into the bosses. I'd try asking Redsnapper.
 
Just seen this and thought it was appropriate. Not really helpful (I've done that bit!) but appropriate!

1639764149887.jpg
 
LeeRatters said:
My question is now, how does the whole 'bolt' unscrew to replace with longer spikes?
Click to expand...
They are not meant to. That boss is most likely aluminum and bonded in place with an adhesive like loctite 620. Using heat to debond the spikes is likely to adversely affect the boss as well.
The long spikes are intended for tripods w/o convertible feet... i.e. the rubber feet are removed/entirely and replaced with short spikes, long spikes, pad feet, etc.

You could possibly remove just the spike, or the boss w/ the spike and re-bond the boss later... but then it is quite possible that those spikes are not the same thread (3/8-16 is typical for interchangeable feet, but not universal).
 
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sk66 said:
They are not meant to. That boss is most likely aluminum and bonded in place with an adhesive like loctite 620. Using heat to debond the spikes is likely to adversely affect the boss as well.
The long spikes are intended for tripods w/o convertible feet... i.e. the rubber feet are removed/entirely and replaced with short spikes, long spikes, pad feet, etc.

You could possibly remove just the spike, or the boss w/ the spike and re-bond the boss later... but then it is quite possible that those spikes are not the same thread (3/8-16 is typical for interchangeable feet, but not universal).
Click to expand...

Yes. This is the likely case I think (y)

I did replace the feet for spikes on my other tripod & I did think the threads looked different but all my accurate measuring stuff is in work.

I think it's going to be leave it or break it & then re-fix it - which I don't know if I can be bothered with tbh

It's only because I was on soft grass a few nights ago & it was okay to shoot with left alone, but very wobbly to touch. I had the other tripod with spikes pushed in the ground shooting 30-40 minute exposures & that one just wasn't moving a single bit.
 
If you're reasonably competent with tools and have a set of taps (for cutting threads), you might be able to cut the existing spikes off fairly flush with the bosses, drill the remainder out, thread the holes and screw the longer spikes in. Or relegate that tripod to other duties and get a new one for commercialmas!
 
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