Britek Softbox help

dustino

dustino

Well-known member
Hey guys,
I did a search and couldn't find any answers to my question. I just got a kit from Britek including a softbox. I had heard people say these softboxes could sometimes be troublesome, so I was glad to see how easily they are put together. But then the trouble hits. I cannot get this thing broken down to save my life... Trying to pull one of the arms out of the "hub" seems damn near impossible - and I'm a pretty big guy. Am I missing something - have others had this problem? Do I just keep pulling on this thing or is there an easier solution. Thanks for helping my dumb ass out...
 
Just figured it out (bend the bars, duh) - but not before cracking some of the reflective lining on the box, damnit.
 
Yep, I had thge same struggle until I figured out my best technique. It is the biggest shortcoming they have that the instructions for that are so lousy. A picture alone does not quite cut it.

To disassemble, here is what I do.

Remove the front face.
Place it face down on a table. Press down on the ring base, bending all four arms at once to take pressure off the hub/arm angle.
Slide out one of the bars from the hub, and then one next to it on either side. The last two are easy.

Before I figured this out, it would take me 5 minutes to take apart. Now it is about 15 seconds.

To assemble, I do a flip of that, bending one arm at a time into place in opposite pairs.
 
I emailed Tom and he also suggested placing the ring on the floor, holding one hand on it, and then push down and pull out one of the bars. Seemed to work pretty well, also.

I just hate that I've ripped a brand new piece of equipment within an hour of use. Tom has provided great service thus far, but I would suggest he put his own photocopy of how to disassemble the boxes since Britek doesn't do it.
 
My Britek softboxes are on order, waiting for shipping. Someone wanna take photos of that and post them so we can all see what you're talking about?

DVXuser.com is like having better-than-manufacturer-supplied-instructions for just about everything I own.

Justin
www.beyondtimemedia.com
 
I damaged mine too. Britek seemed nice enough when I griped, but getting them replaced just never quite happened. WHen I get done with editing current project, maybe I will shoot a tutorial on my method. It is NOT putting the ring on the floor, just the opposite.
 
I realize your method is different than what Tom suggested, galt, but his seems to work pretty well, too. I should also note that Tom just emailed me offering to replace the cover for shipping charges only. Great customer service.
 
Bingo! We all have great cameras and we all shoot/edit video. Leave your camera running the next time you setup/teardown your softbox (this push the ring base down is confusing the hell out of me) and WMV or MPEG it.

No?

Justin
www.beyondtimemedia.com
 
I already packaged mine up to ship back to Tom. I think it'll be pretty self-explanatory once you have your lightbox in front of you, though. If not, PM me and I'll send a pic once I get my replacement.
 
You definitely want to put the ring on the floor as opposed to the face of the softbox. If you put it face down on a surface that has any give to it, there's a good chance that the rod may puncture its pocket.

The ring down method is much safer - simply push a rod down gently while pulling the locking collar and it will rotate forward allowing the rod to come loose. After the first one, the subsequent ones will be much easier.

This applies to assembly as well - putting pressure on a face down softbox will eventually result in a poke-through incident.

I once accidentally dropped a large photoflex soft box just a couple of feet onto carpet and one of the rods punctured the velcro flap instantly.

Joe
 
Does anyone know of a way to make a softbox for one of the smaller 300W Briteks fit on a larger 600W light?

I didn't realize that they were different sizes and I've changed out one of my 300W for a 600W. Should I just go and order another softbox?

Thanks.
 
Okay, I got my britek's yesterday and I totally understand what you're talking about. Of all the instructions I didn't bother to read, those were probably the lousiest. But ring on floor method seems to work pretty good.

Justin
www.beyondtimemedia.com
 
I just got my Britek's today, and I'm having trouble with the softboxes. Even after reading all of your comments, I still have not figured out how the proper way to disassemble the softbox. (A corner and some foil lining has already been ripped).

I would really appreciate it if someone could post a few photos or even a video to demonstrate the best way to assemble and disassemble one of these things. I'd hate to ruin the softbox even more on the first day of use...Thanks!
 
Here is something quick and dirty:

Softbox

I think it looks even harder on this then it really is. Like it was said before, this really only takes 10 seconds once you get it. The key is that you must take the pressure off the pin at the base of the ring or you will never be able to slide the thing out.
 
Great Bennis! Thank you so much for that video! I was doing it completely wrong before. It's just too bad my softbox already tore up on the edges.

Justin, I got my softbox from rostronics.com.

Thanks again!
 
Bennis's way works, but if the softbox slips, you can rip the corner out of the edge where the poll rests. I take the diffuser off the softbox and bend the first pole back to pull out the pin, making it less likely that I'll tear the pocket... but different stroke, right!

Nice video!

Justin
 
I lay mine flat and press down evenly. Then pull one of the receivers out of the hub and swing it forward as I release the pressure. The rest go easy. I got the hang of it after the 3rd or 4th try. It's not the best design, but the box itself works great and it's an unbelievable price. I just ordered another one Saturday.
 
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