A DIY Clip Gel Holder
We have featured some awsome gel holders on the site before. But never one with this simple approach. It is fast to mount, easy to use and leave no residue on the strobe.
It also fits any size flash and any size gel, how cool is that?
Thanks, Jerry R Hamby, for this awsome build.
Items needed for construction:
- 3-4" 3/8" dowel rod
- small clip
- rubber band
- screw driver
- power drill and 2 sizes drills.
Step 1: Starting half way back on the dowel rod, cut down the 3-4" dowel rod to about half size on one end. This cut should be slanted from the halfway point to the end. This beveled cut accomplishes two things. It prevents the dowel rod from rolling and elevates the clip up and out of the light of the flash.
If you are cutting this by hand, make sure you are pushin the knife away from you, or better yet, place the dowel in a vice.
Step 2: Drill a 1/16" hole in the end of the dowel. Be careful of a broken bit and whoops, slips. These can cause great pain and much blood. (I just happen to know these things). A vise would be adviseable to hold the dowel. and the hole should be right in the middle of the "circled edged".
Step 3: Drill a 1/16" pilot hole in both sides of the clip.
Step 4: Drill a 1/8" hole in the top clip lip.
Step 5: Screw the clip onto the dowel. Adjustments will need to be made to accommodate your size screw. Using a flat head screw will be best. You now have the finished product.
Step 6: Place the dowel on any attachment with the use of a rubber band. Any size gel can be used anywhere. I used it here on a 25 year old Soligor MK-32A flash (monster size), a square snoot (inspired by a DIY project on this site), a baby strobe. The uses are endless. If you are looking for that pro slick look you may wish to spray paint it black
About the Author: Jerry R Hamby, unfortunately does not have an online presence, usesa home studio. He does church family free portraits, and go to nursing homes and then burn the pictures to a CD (again for free). "... My wife and I did not have enough money to have commercial portraits made when our children were young. I now have the ability and equipment to help my young church families and the elderly."
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Comments
Sweet...I especially like
Sweet...I especially like that the 'holder' can be positioned to even put two gels on the flash (i.e. casting side-by-side colors onto a background) or even a flag to prevent spill.
Gel Holder
Thank you. These are quick and easy to make. I took a scrap piece of dowel and a clip. I had it done it five minutes. I appreciate your comment.
Good idea but the methods make me shiver
This is a good idea for a gel holder but..
I'm a firm believer in "people will do what they see'". Give whatever warnings you want (which are sparse here by the way) but unless you model best practice some other idiot will use a utility knife on a dowel in his hand or drill a dowel or a piece of metal while holding onto it.
These are all extremely dangerous practices which could result in serious injury.
I'm a loyal follower of your blog Udi but I feel you made an editorial oversight here in displaying these dangerous photos.
re: safety
Hi iamunique127,
Thanks for turning my attention to that. The drilling image was removed and replaced with an explanation, and a short annotation was added to the utility knife pic to explain how to use it (kinda similar to the way you sharpen a knife).
Gel Holder
iamunique127 is correct about using a vise. I understand his concern. However, my vise has a chipped jaw and I was afraid some other girl (this one from OSHA) would complain.
And my Navy Seal knife still has blood on it.
Jerry
Re: Safety
I am not really sure that we need to remind people about basic safety practices.
If you slice your finger off then that is a learning experience.
You will not do it again.
There comes a time when we must let the chicks out of the nest.
gel holder
Thank you, James. Some people are so consumed with "do-gooder, big brother" control issues they are not very much fun to know. Personal responsibility is a great virtue. Robert E. Lee said, "Duty is the most beautiful word in the English language". Responsibility is the same in meaning, or at least a cousin to duty.
Simple tutorial
Hi Jerry -
Great simple fix for those who use gels. (I didn't find anything particulary dangerous about any of this. Hooray for being grown ups!)
All of that aside, I did log on to specifically say I am moved that you use your photography skills to serve your community. I feel it rare that people do that these days - especially to senior citizens - and I find this gesture on your part really admirable. Keep up the good work!
Ok, I'm off to lop off a finger...
Sha
gel holder
Thank you for taking the time to post. Nobody has more fun than I do. I get to know my church family individually and the seniors are so appreciative. We get so busy making ends meet that we forget about the young children and the elderly who made this country great.
Thanks for the tips. And this
Thanks for the tips. And this is pretty effective for everyone?
Way too dangerous and
Way too dangerous and complicated!! Simply take any shallow box top and keep the corner intact. cut about 1 inch wide and length to suit. remove some portion of the vertical side of the length to allow rubber band to hold. Deep boxes can also be modified with additional cutting. clip need not be drilled to clip to the vertical face of the lid. I will post images on Flickr @ Search Ends Here.
Complicated and dangerous???
Complicated and dangerous??? Not for a man!
Quote: "[If you are cutting
Quote: "[If you are cutting this by hand, make sure you are pushin the knife away from you, or better yet, place the dowel in a vice
Step 2: Drill a 1/16" hole in the end of the dowel. Be careful of a broken bit and whoops, slips. These can cause great pain and much blood. (I just happen to know these things). A vise would be adviseable to hold the dowel. and the hole should be right in the middle of the "circled edged".]"
Obviously a potentially 4 fingered man. :^)
New direction for directions
My apologies. Apparently hyperbolic instructive humor is beyond your abilities. I will take people like you into account from now on.
guys, please play nice
we are here to have fun. keep it non personal.
Right Again, Udi
Udi, you are absolutely right. After 30 years teaching children and another 10 years teaching actual adults, I should have more patience and not enjoy the repartee so much. Sometimes it is so much fun.
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