Threaded Cable Release woes

[Joseph Bell]

Hello!
I have tried several different brands of threaded cable releases and I seem to lose the little screw-in top pieces over and over again! The little top piece seems to unscrew itself so easily, and please believe me: using a cable release without that little top piece is difficult and unpleasant! Has anyone else encountered this problem, or am I a bit of an idiot? I feel that my problem can be solved in one of two ways:

1) I find out where and how to buy inexpensive replacement top pieces, and stock up on them!

2) I find out about a high-quality cable release that does not have this unfortunate and constant problem!

I will be delighted to hear your ideas and opinions! Sincere thanks!

 

[Deleted member 88956]

There are still lots of high quality on the bay from Nikon and all other all film camera brands we used to know from store shelves.

As this piece, a locking liquid would ensure it it stay in place (when you have it). But I would not even try to get this one fixed. With some luck you get great cable for $15, with less luck $20-25.

 

[bsdunek]

I have never had that problem. In any case, when you get a new one, tale of the button and put a VERY TINY amount of clear nail polish on the thread, and put it back on. Leave it over night. That should solve your problem.

 

[voceumana]

I've never had this problem, but if you get a cable release and can unscrew the top piece, put some Loctite in it when you put if back on. My best cable releases were made by Prontor, but I don't think you can get them anymore, at least not new.

 

[bdial]

Not a problem I've had either. But as mentioned, some nail polish or loctite will resolve the problem in the future, nail polish is probably better for that application.
I don't know of any source for replacements unless you can find a cache of kinked or broken releases you can cannibalize.
You might be able to fabricate a replacement with a conventional nut that you may be able to find at a good hobby shop that stocks hardware and parts for RC models and miniature trains. Or else a slice of a wooden dowel with a suitable hole drilled in it and glued might work as a replacement.

 

[AgX]

I have come across many used ones, including quite some broken ones, but never this fault.

Keep in mind that you still can get new cable releases, even customized, from a manufacturer:
https://www.drahtauslöser.com/SITE/index.html
(for unknown reason they recently cancelled their English pages.)


By the way, all my cable releases I acquired used from camera store rummage boxes or fleamarkets.

 

[Joseph Bell]

Thank you all! I can't believe I'm all alone here! This ridiculous problem comes up constantly! I have lost the little screw-top plunger button on no less than five cable releases this year!! Admittedly they were all cheapos and so I've decided to loosen the pursestrings and so I bought a $40 release from Gepe. I have heard stellar reviews of the Nikon AR-3 but that seems to be back ordered !

 

[AgX]

Well, none of mine got a cap that seemingly had been screwd on.
But as indicated above, just lock the cap on the thread with glue. If done right you will never get it off again even by force.

The majority of my releases got a brand on top of the cap. What brand got yours?

 

[MattKing]

I can't believe I'm all alone here!

Perhaps you have a tendency to twist slightly when you press the plunger.
I have never lost that part, but I have had them come loose and require tightening.

 

[Joseph Bell]

Perhaps you have a tendency to twist slightly when you press the plunger.
I have never lost that part, but I have had them come loose and require tightening.

Thank you Matt, I'm sure you're right about my twisty tendencies. As for the brand of cable release - the most recent ones have been the cheapo Vello brand from B&H. I bought 3 - The first cable release snapped in half on my 3rd exposure and the caps fell off on the other two, lost and gone forever. Luckily I saved the cap from the first one after it snapped. But as I examine this further, I am worried the problem may lie within and not without?! Maybe I'm some kind of twisting hamhanded lummox?

 

[Alan Gales]

I've never had that problem either.

I really like Gepe cloth cable releases. They make them with plastic or metal weave sleeves too if you prefer. They aren't cheap but as long as you don't lose them, they last.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Gepe cable releases&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma

 

[logan2z]

Add me to the 'never had that problem' list. I use this Nikon cable release:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37073-REG/Nikon_664_AR_3_Mechanical_Cable_Release.html

 

[Sirius Glass]

Add me to the 'never had that problem' list. I use this Nikon cable release:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37073-REG/Nikon_664_AR_3_Mechanical_Cable_Release.html

Time for me to pile on: I 'never had that problem'.