Sinar Question - Base & Extension the same?

New user dumb question -

On a Sinar F - are the base rails and extension rails the same?

I have two base rails and would like to put them together-

Do you just unscrew one of the ends of a base rail to make it an extension?

Do you need some sort of special tool?

Thanks for any insight-

I don't know if you can convert a base rail into an extension rail by removing one of the ends. It's probably better just to sell one of the base rails and buy an extension rail.

The extension rail and base rail are joined like a male/female electrical plug. The triangular handle on the end of the base rail has a threaded center. On the extension rail there is a long tube with a screw that fits the threaded core on the base rail. The extension rail is screwed in that way. I'm not sure you can convert the base rail, but I'd agree with David that you ought to buy an extension rail.

That being said, your base rail is normally a 12 inch rail. Extension rails come in 6" and 12" I believe. Having bought a 6" rail, I'd rather have the 12" rail. When I use my 305 G-Claron, I use both rails and am fully extending the bellows...and I wish I had a bit more room to fiddle.

S

There's also an 18" extension rail.

Sinar base rails have a fixed black plastic bushing at one or both ends with a threaded metal insert. Sinar extension rails have a red plastic bushing at one end which is connected to a threaded rod which runs the full length of the rail and will screw at the other end into the insert in the black bushing of a base rail. No tools are required for this, the red bushings turn easily by hand, under no circumstances attempt to unscrew the black bushing from a base rail. There is the further aspect that a black plastic end stop is available which screws onto the end of the threaded rod of an extension rail and locks this, thereby turning it into a base rail. This can be handy if you want a one-piece 18" rail. There are also metal screw-on caps which have no real function but screw onto the plastic bushings to make them look tidier!

Regards,

David

Thanks for the information - now I know the difference between the two rails.