DIY softbox

[Carlos_E._Martinez]

OK. Here's the challenge: how about DIYing a softbox for some open heads we might have?

Last week I started thinking about it. The main barriers to cross are the speedring and the flexible metal bars inside the dome.

The Chimera I used last Saturday, fitting an open Arri 650 head, had a square aluminum frame that entered on the holders up front.

It had four holes, where you forced in the four metal bars holding the dome.

The speedring must be metal. Wood or acrylic wouldn't stand much use or the heat.

So we would have to start with a solid aluminum plate, about 1cm thick, to make the frame from. I wonder who would cut that frame for me, externally and internally.

Then come the elastic metal bars. They work very much like on an umbrella. The Chimera's were about 4mm thick, if I remember well, with a thicker point where it enters the ring. The assembly has to be taut, so as to stay as a dome.

Which metal would have that elastic characteristic escapes my mind. It has to be thin, straight and ellastic, so the tension beween the external dome and the force on the speedring keeps the shape.

Suggestions? Ideas for the two problems?

 

[Cool Lights]

OK. Here's the challenge: how about DIYing a softbox for some open heads we might have?

Last week I started thinking about it. The main barriers to cross are the speedring and the flexible metal bars inside the dome.

The Chimera I used last Saturday, fitting an open Arri 650 head, had a square aluminum frame that entered on the holders up front.

It had four holes, where you forced in the four metal bars holding the dome.

The speedring must be metal. Wood or acrylic wouldn't stand much use or the heat.

So we would have to start with a solid aluminum plate, about 1cm thick, to make the frame from. I wonder who would cut that frame for me, externally and internally.

Then come the elastic metal bars. They work very much like on an umbrella. The Chimera's were about 4mm thick, if I remember well, with a thicker point where it enters the ring. The assembly has to be taut, so as to stay as a dome.

Which metal would have that elastic characteristic escapes my mind. It has to be thin, straight and ellastic, so the tension beween the external dome and the force on the speedring keeps the shape.

Suggestions? Ideas for the two problems?

I've already looked into this a long time ago. It's really not worth it. For instance where will you get the heat resistant material that's black on one side and silver reflective on the other? Making an effective speedring is not easy either.

Ebay is such a great inexpensive source for softbox hoods that it doesn't make so much sense to DIY it...

 

[Carlos_E._Martinez]

You may be right, Richard. Though it might take some time until getting one. Most on eBay now are flash types.

I will look into it for some time and see if it's possible.

In any case, making speedrings for my Ianiros may be tricky, as they have just have a thin lip where to screw the ring to. So I may end up buying the rings from Photoflex. I think they can work with any softbox, don't they?

 

[Carlos_E._Martinez]

Well, how about this?

http://www.studiolighting.net/foam-core-homemade-softbox/

It may not be the final thing, but it's a start.

 

[Cool Lights]

yes I know about that one but I don't like it very much. Its just not portable really is it? foam core is really something that when you put it in place you shouldn't carry it around that much...

 

[Cool Lights]

You may be right, Richard. Though it might take some time until getting one. Most on eBay now are flash types.

I will look into it for some time and see if it's possible.

In any case, making speedrings for my Ianiros may be tricky, as they have just have a thin lip where to screw the ring to. So I may end up buying the rings from Photoflex. I think they can work with any softbox, don't they?

I wouldn't count on that. Better make some measurements to be sure.

 

[Carlos_E._Martinez]

It's a bummer then.

Except for the speedring, I don't see why they cost so much money. I don't see why the dome material iself and the thin rods have to cost so much.

 

[Carlos_E._Martinez]

For instance where will you get the heat resistant material that's black on one side and silver reflective on the other?

The most common type heat resistant material which should be available is that used on oven handling gloves. The gloves are cheap, so the material also must be. It's also silver color. Common black brim could be used on the outside.

I also read about the material used on balloon making, also flame-proof.

And the most obvious one, though Probably not as easy to find is the one used in flame-resistant suits, and firemen might know where to get the stuff.

Making an effective speedring is not easy either.

Probably the most difficult part to achieve. I will start this project with a simple 4-wire truncated pyramid prototype.

This I will have made at a metal welding shop. First I will do the ring that will hold the pyramid to the Ianiro. This ring has to be screwed in to the light head on at least three points, and the ring should have four holes for the wire structure to bolt in.

My first prototype should be with the wires "bended out", instead of "bended in" as on all softboxes. The diffuse holder frame will be the maximum size the wires will bend out to, and also bolted in.

It will look more like a lampshade than an umbrella, if you get the idea. In fact the softbox it's a mix of those two structures, which are usually round instead of square.

After I sort out the problem on how to make the structure unfoldable, so it can be carried around, I will think of the final shape and how to do it.

Ebay is such a great inexpensive source for softbox hoods that it doesn't make so much sense to DIY it...

Well, not really. Prices are still rather high and it's not easy to find them so cheap; and there's always the ring, which you must get for your specific light head.

For me there's also the problem of bringing them down to Brasil, which would increase the final price.

But with the ideas above I think we are half-way to a workable softbox.

 

[Cool Lights]

But I've bought 3 or 4 from eBay in the $20 range. The rating on them said good up to 1000 watts. So I don't think they are just for flashes. Yes I think the export to Brazil thing could be tough. If you find a good source of heat resistant material let me know. I looked for a while and didn't find a good one.

 

[Carlos_E._Martinez]

But I've bought 3 or 4 from eBay in the $20 range. The rating on them said good up to 1000 watts. So I don't think they are just for flashes. Yes I think the export to Brazil thing could be tough.

What brand and types were those? Westcott, Chimera? For that kind of money I would certainly buy them and have them sent here. What about the speedrings?

If you find a good source of heat resistant material let me know. I looked for a while and didn't find a good one.

There seem to be two: aluminized amianto and ceramide. They take up to 400 degrees C.

There's another called ceramic fibre fabric. but I don't think it can be used for our purpose. Goes up to 1250.

The amianto is probably the material used in oven gloves and cooking aprons. I will see what I can find out.