Quick Tip: DIY "Four Square" Flash Bracket
Looks like the four square is gaining popularity with off camera flash photographers. If you can shell the bucks for four strobes (only 268 for four YN460II) , why not get them all together for increased power / shorter recycle time.
We did have a dual flash bracket and a triple flash bracket, but this version of a four flash bracket (AKA four square) from an Electrical box and a few washers by Destin Danser is just too good to be ignored.
The version described below is made to work with Yongnuo CTR-301P radio triggers, so my attachment method uses ¼-20 threaded Bolts This could easily be made to have female cold shoe mounts using a male ¼-20 to female cold shoe adapter instead of the elevator bolts. Note there are only 3 flashes attached in this photo, because I’m not yet cool enough to own 4.
Parts list
- Metal electrical box (I got mine for $.97 at Wal-Mart)
- (4) Three quarter inch long, quarter-twenty thread elevator bolts
- (16) Half inch washers
- (4) quarter-twenty thread wing nuts
All this cost me less than $7 at Wal-Mart, and my local Hardware store.
*ignore the 4 large fender washers. I ended up not using them.
Instructions
1. Punch out all the metal covers in the electrical box. I’ve already done this before taking the first photo.
2. Stack 4 washers on each elevator bolt and put 1 bolt through each of the outside holes in the electrical box (see photo). Then place a wing nut on the bolt to hold it in place temporarily. This can also be used to keep them in place when the receivers are not mounted on the bracket.
3. Remove the wing nuts and attach the triggers.
4. Attach Flash units
Turn everything on, and shoot away!
If you feel that this was not enough to satisfy your lost of flashes crave, check out this video featuring photographer Dave Black for double the pleasure
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Comments
less washers
Thats a great idea. I would suggest using a shorter bolt, and maybe a bolt washer box washer bolt combination so it is easier to deal with when you need to mount your brackets or triggers and you are less likely to drop all of those parts on the floor if you get a case of butter fingers.
The correct way to pronounce Nikon...
Interesting video but its extremely annoying when he pronounces Nikon incorrectly.
Its not pronounced "Nigh-Kon", it should be pronounced "Nih-Kon".
Anyway, I was very supprised on the range he was getting from those grouped flashes...Before seeing this video I would'nt have thought it possible.
WOW
Okay, first if you want to be technical about it, the correct pronunciation (ii hatson) would be like "knee-cone", but once a company abandons the proper pronunciationof their name and runs ad campaigns where it is pronounced "nigh-con" then everyone can pronounce it any way s/he pleases. (Compare that to Porsche who consistently uses the longer 2-syllable pronunciation in all advertising, contrary to popular usage.) But really the bigger issue here is the myriad spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors in your post as you ironically criticize another's pronunciation of a foreign word.
Try using jam nuts to keep
Try using jam nuts to keep the bolts and washers in place, and to set the depth of the mounting point for the receivers. Then you can just take the receivers off when you need to use them elsewhere and the rest of the unit will stay in place.
Nice build! I like the look of this MUCH more than the PVC adapter, and the cost MUCH more than the Four Square.
Jam nuts
Jon, thanks for the tip. I could use Jam nuts and a washer to hold it in place for sure. I chose not to, because I like having the receiver flush against the box as it adds rigidity to the whole structure. I guess it doesn't really have to be flush though, I'll grab some jam nuts and see if I feel it's strong enough. Thanks!
less washers response
Yeah, I would have loved to use less washers, even if just to save weight. I couldn't find any shorter bolts at my hardware store though so I used what I had. I'm actually thinking I'm going to have the washers and bolt welded right to the box. It would only cost a few dollars to get done, and then It's a permanent thing. No more worrying about dropping anything.
but how to attach to light stand
I might be missing something but how do you attach this DIY fouraquare to a light stand or a handle?
welder
Destin, you could avoid hiring a welder, if you use JB weld, or plumbers putty. I would use it even if I had a welder handy for some projects.
Handle/Welder
As far as a handle goes, I'm still working that out. But there are alot of holes in the back of the box that I can use to mount it to, so I'll probably go that route. I actually have some small pieces of angle iron, I'm thinking of just bolting one to it, and drilling a hole in it big enough for a a 1/4-20 bolt to go through, and then using a nut to secure it in place. I just wanted to get the basic idea of this up, a handle shouldn't be hard to figure out.
Thanks for the tip on the JB weld, I didn't even think of that. I'll try it!
As soon as I get some example shots from this, I'll post them up on my facebook fan page. Keep your eyes open for that. (click on my name in the article to go to my fan page)
Thanks for the Tip
This is one DIY project that was so simple I was able to do it.
It worked terrific.
For want of a drill motor...
Pretty clever Destin. I've got a half dozen of these boxes in my garage and never thought of this mount.
You could have saved the weight by drilling a 1/4" hole in the opposite sides of the octagon. Also cut the heads off the 1/4x20 bolts and put the wing nuts inside or run the wing backwards up the bolt, thread into the receiver and tighten by turning the wing back down. I think a spigot on the back of the box and the umbrella adapter at 90* on a lightstand and you're blazing. Oh yeah, don't forget the official flat black paint (wink!)
Correction to the article
I just caught the part where he said you can get 4 yn-468 II's for $268. That implies that they are selling for $67 each. I got my first one from ebay for $39 shipped to my door. That means you can get 4 of them for $156. Just wanted to point ya'll in the right direction.
re: where the price comes from
Hi Destin,
Thanks for the correction. I was not sure where / which of the ebay sellers is a legit so I went with Amazon. Its a really nice price reduction if you go ebay!
Link to seller
Here is a link to the seller that I got mine from on ebay. Got it on about 3 weeks from them, and it came just as described. I've got 2 more on the way as we speak.
YN460
There seems to be 2 models of the YN460, other with GN 33 and other GN 38 so make sure you know which one you're getting. The price difference is not too much, about 10usd.
Kind of
There is the YN-460 and the YN-460 II
They are different flashes entirely, although very similar. I'm talking about the YN-460 II which is the newer and more powerful one..
Less Hardware
ok, here is another idea. First, instead of the "elevator" bolts, you could use thumb screws and 8 washers.
1-Cut a screw thread into the fender washers (which you did not use) with a screw tap.
2. Use nuts as the spacers to make certain the thumb srews do not bottom out before the triggers are tight to the box.
3. Once the length of the thumb screws have been determined, mark them with something (a sharpie?) and use a file to cut a groove around the thumb screw.The groove should be the thickness of the washer.
4. Thread the nuts and one fender washer onto the thumb screw, put it through one of the knock out holes and thread the final washer onto the outside of the box. The groove will allow the screw to turn without tightening the washer to the box, so it can move smoothly.
5. Attach the triggers to the box.
This allows the nuts to stay on the box and will keep them from falling off if you remove the triggers. Also, using the thumb screws means youdo not need any tools to tighten everything up.
Build Update
Hey guys, just a quick update on this build. I built another version, in which I JB welded everything together (that suck rocks, btw) and painted it black. I'll email some photos over to the guy that runs this site when I get a chance to take them. Thanks for all the positive feedback so far!
This material looks like
This material looks like galvanized steel. When you weld that it produces hazardous gases; afterward, you'll need to wire-brush the metal and then paint it so it doesn't look awful, and to keep rust down.
JB Weld
http://jbweld.net/index.php
It's not the same as MIG, TIG, or any other arc or acetylene welding that you're thinking of. It's an incredibly versatile epoxy. Personally I buy it in the huge industrial size tubes.
Waste of money
Why would you do that, you are way better off using something like the Elinchrom rangers the cost would not be to far off the set up in the video.
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