What is the fluid in a fluid head?

x-angel

x-angel

Well-known member
I have never figured this one out. What is the fluid in a fluid head? Or is "fluid" just a descriptor of the motion? I know some have grease..
 
I believe the oil is called "White Lithium grease" MULTI-PURPOSE LUBRICANT and I think the brand that makes it is called "panef"
 
It's the hopes and dreams of failed filmmakers. In liquid form. Damn that was really depressing. :crybaby: It's actually Ovaltine. And in the really good ones it is Nestle Quick. There that's less gloomy!:)
 
White Lithium Grease? How about some axle grease? (you know, the stuff in a tube and you put in a grease gun? :) )

so has anyone tried to build on of these?

Being a car-freak, it would seem to be similar to rebuilding a CV-Joint or "repacking the bearings" with grease (I can already see the jokes coming now)

It would seem since these heads go for a pretty good penny, that the attempt to build one would have been made. I have yet to see an attempt. (someone correct me if I am wrong.)

Of course.. I am over here in Kosovo...so I have nothing but time to sit around and think of crazy things like this.
 
I think it is made from the same stuff they distill the bottles of "Prop Wash" from, you know, that you can find by the 5 gallon buckets at different small airports?

*wink*

;-)
 
In the old O'Connor heads it is a thick, clear, silicone based oil. You can buy it by the quart from them. Notorious for leaking.
 
x-angel said:
so has anyone tried to build on of these?

Being a car-freak, it would seem to be similar to rebuilding a CV-Joint or "repacking the bearings" with grease (I can already see the jokes coming now)

It would seem since these heads go for a pretty good penny, that the attempt to build one would have been made. I have yet to see an attempt. (someone correct me if I am wrong.)

Of course.. I am over here in Kosovo...so I have nothing but time to sit around and think of crazy things like this.
Click to expand...

True, but you've inspired me to look into it. Thank you.
 
Are you sure it isn't shock oil? Like from a hydraulic damping shock of the type used in automotive and storm door applications for decades?

I'd be suprised if it isn't... it seems a pretty source for well developed technology.
 
"ok...so what exactly are the parts that move then?"

Well this really depends on what tripod you're referring to?

On my sachtler DV 4, there's a top plate that allows the camera & plate to move back and forth for balancing, without any friction. Most of your upper class tripods have a spring loaded mechanism, so the tilt will snap right back (also depending on the weight), this is also a very good safety feature.

Lets say you're on a roof and your shooting down at a 45 degree or whatever, your hands slip the tripod looks like it's going to go and boom the tripod will snap right back to the level spot. Now this isn't going to work in every situation, but how many people shoot on roofs, well besides me.


Ok so now we have the click and drag feature, this might be kind of complicating to make out of metal and whatever else, I've never seen the inside of one, but would love to. I'd almost want to say that the tripod has bearing inside of it, maybe a industrial bearing might be the answer for a DIY tripod.



dv4.gif
 
x-angel said:
White Lithium Grease? How about some axle grease? (you know, the stuff in a tube and you put in a grease gun? :) )

so has anyone tried to build on of these?

Being a car-freak, it would seem to be similar to rebuilding a CV-Joint or "repacking the bearings" with grease (I can already see the jokes coming now)
Click to expand...

As far as I know, a real fluid head isn't just friction plates packed in grease or oil.

I think it's they're chambers filled with oil, with paddles that have to move through the oil. The resistance/smoothness comes from not being able to just zip through the oil easily.

But I'm just logic-ing this out, being too lazy to actual look it up somewhere. :)
 
"Are you sure it isn't shock oil? Like from a hydraulic damping shock of the type used in automotive and storm door applications for decades?"


Well maybe, I brought my head into ace hardware to a guy that new his stuff. What happen was I got alot sand in my top plate head on a shoot in Mia. and cleaned everything out, this is what he thought it might be. I know I took a chance, but it Works great, no leaks, doesn't run at all. I've even used it to repair the gears inside lenses. It's not a definite, but it does work great.
 
"White Lithium Grease? How about some axle grease? (you know, the stuff in a tube and you put in a grease gun? "


Sorry I'm confused on what you asked in your first post, I was talking about the top plate. I believe the top plate (that moves back and forth) uses the multi-purpose lub, but the chamber I think that it is definitely some sort of oil.
 
Ok...

so we are making follow focuses out of fishing reels...

Steadicams out of plumbing pipe (and even balsa wood in some cases)

Adapting $100 plus 35mm lenses with $2.00 worth of PVC and other spare parts.

So please tell me why no one has tried to make one of these....

All I can do is sit here and think of this stuff.... the only reason we have running water is because of KBR.
 
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