replace the pad/cover on a tripod head

David Brown · Apr 21, 2006

What would one use to replace the pad/cover on a Bogen/Manfrotto tripod head/QR plate? I think material - cork/rubber - would be simple enough, but I'm really more concerned about the adhesive. What will stick to the metal?

Maybe a sheet material with a self-stick adhesive already on it ("peel and stick"). Some type of rubber or cork gasket, maybe?

Or, does Bogen sell replacements? (Doh!)

For the record, it's a plate from the Bogen 3275 (410) head. Since replacement plates are only $15, let's not make this too big a deal.

Cheers, y'all

David

Dave Parker · Apr 21, 2006

Hi David,

I replace all of mine with leather and use a small bit of rubber contact cement, I picked up a 1 pound bag of leather scraps at the local hobby shop and have been making new pads for my tripods as well as carry straps for various cameras for about a year now out of that bag, if I remember right the bag of scraps cost about $5.00

Dave

David Brown · Apr 21, 2006

Satinsnow said:
I replace all of mine with leather and use a small bit of rubber contact cement...Dave

Now we're talking. I bet we even have some rubber cement around here somewhere ...

photomc · Apr 21, 2006

Got me to thinking about this David....and I found this place might be a possiblity. Then again, maybe not.

Charles Webb · Apr 22, 2006

Don't for hevens sake use Rubber Cement, that is for paper etc. Use a contact cement like Barge Cement, made for use with leather. Weldwood makes a dandy contact cement in a 8oz bottle that is plenty to do a couple tripod heads.

Charlie...................

Dave Parker · Apr 22, 2006

Charles Webb said:
Don't for hevens sake use Rubber Cement, that is for paper etc. Use a contact cement like Barge Cement, made for use with leather. Weldwood makes a dandy contact cement in a 8oz bottle that is plenty to do a couple tripod heads.

Charlie...................

Charles,

When I said rubber cement I actually meant the contact rubber cement simular to what has been usd in the past to apply leather coverings by the camera manufactures, it is the weldwood cement you apply to both side, contact them, then pull apart and let dry then recontact them, make for a extremly tight bond, same stuff I used to restore two of my speed graphic cameras. good stuff.

Dave

David Brown · Apr 22, 2006

Satinsnow said:
Charles,

When I said rubber cement I actually meant the contact rubber cement simular to what has been usd in the past to apply leather coverings by the camera manufactures, it is the weldwood cement you apply to both side, contact them, then pull apart and let dry then recontact them, make for a extremly tight bond, same stuff I used to restore two of my speed graphic cameras. good stuff.

Dave

Thanks for clearing that up Dave and Charles! As it turns out, I didn't have any rubber cement anyway. (Might have some contact ...)

Mike, good link. I think much of that lind of stuff is also available at craft stores, too.

Cheers

John Koehrer · Apr 22, 2006

Ifn' yer gonna use leather, you could always use one of your wife's old purses.
A good source is resale shops where they're available fer a buck or two.
Cork is available at hardware stores used for lamp bases or gasket material.

grahamp · Apr 23, 2006

I find the textured rubber mats sold in kitchen shops for opening jars useful as a friction layer on top of tripods. Cheap, but not elegant enough for a permanent replacement on a 'nice' tripod, perhaps.

Paul Sorensen · Apr 23, 2006

John Koehrer said:
Ifn' yer gonna use leather, you could always use one of your wife's old purses.
A good source is resale shops where they're available fer a buck or two.
Cork is available at hardware stores used for lamp bases or gasket material.

No, honey, I don't know who cut your purse up. It sure wasn't me...

edz · Apr 25, 2006

Satinsnow said:
Charles,

When I said rubber cement I actually meant the contact rubber cement simular to what has been usd in the past to apply leather coverings by the camera manufactures, it is the weldwood cement you apply to both side, contact them, then pull apart and let dry then recontact them

For a leather adhesive I typically use "Hirschkleber".. I'm not sure what its made of.. but could well be some animal collegen (such as deer or rabbit).. In the case of cementing leather onto metal a good "cement" is shellac. It provides a strong bond and is renewable. In a rush I've, however, used some tubular tyre mastics. They work well. If you really want it to hold from now to eternity there are some of the 3M contact adhesives from the automobile industry.....

replace the pad/cover on a tripod head

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