Looking for a faster front standard attachment method

[tim k]

The (hopefully) attached picture of the front end of my diy 4x5 shows how I get front swing, shift, and setup the camera with the knob attached to a 1/4"x20 threaded rod. The rod and knob are captive on the standard base, and a threaded insert lives on the base.

So its not too bad, but I find it tedious screwing the thing in and out. The threaded rod is a bit too long, and I could cut it off to make it much quicker. But after I got my speed graphic with its simple little lever, I just hate that knob.

There is a question here; anybody got any ideas for some sort of quick fastening device?

Thanks for looking.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

How about a cam lever lock, like the ones used for bicycle seatposts? Look at bicycle parts catalogues and you can find titanium ones that could probably be cut to size and rethreaded if necessary.

This kind of thing--

http://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup.asp?IGPK=2126177976

You can find better ones, but that's just what I turned up quickly.

Then something needs to be slotted so you can release it and slip it out.

 

[tim k]

David, that never occurred to me, good idea. I'm going to look into that.
Thanks

 

[bdial]

I was about to suggest a cam lever, then read David's post. Similar lever locks are available from places like McMaster-Carr for machinist's jigs.
Here are a couple of more sources;
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_175318_-1___
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1083622_-1_400021_400002_400215

 

[tim k]

bdial, I did check out the machinist stuff at McMaster-Carr, but everything seemed really overkill. Thanks for the new links.