Tiltall Mods

[Rick A]

This looks like the correct place to post this. After much consideration, today I took the plunge and decided to modify my Tiltall tripod. I love the leg set, and their ease of use and ruggedness, but despise the head. The mounting plate is too big, and I have to pull my camera off to rotate the back, plus with my arthritis, it's difficult to get the mounting screw tight where it's located.
I pulled the column off the legs and headed down to the work bench, chucked it into my vise and applied the heat gun to the base of the head where it mounts to the column, gave it a rap(or three) with a mallet, and presto--head removal success. Lest I forget, there is a screw that must be removed first, but after that, heat will pop the epoxy bond allowing the head to slide off. Next, I inverted the column and reinserted it into the legs and re-installed the screw, then replaced the removable bottom cap(now on top) and put a 3/8-16 brass adapter on, then screwed my Manfrotto 804RC2 pan head in place.
Now I have a Tiltall I love even more than before, complete with QD plate and much improved, more ergonomic adjustments. One more thing, it converts to a monopod by removing a leg and screwing the pan head onto it. Pretty cool for those spots that don't allow tripods but will let you use a mono.

 

[hamradio]

Nice work! It's good to see another user of the B&J 4x5.

 

[EdColorado]

Very nice Rick! I have a couple of Tiltalls around here and like you, love them except for the antiquated head. One question. Is that adapter you used to mount the new head an off the shelf part or did you make it?

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Cool mod! It looks like that tripod and head combo is a perfect fit. I never liked the original tiltall head much either.

 

[Rick A]

Very nice Rick! I have a couple of Tiltalls around here and like you, love them except for the antiquated head. One question. Is that adapter you used to mount the new head an off the shelf part or did you make it?

It's the cap on the bottom of the column plus a brass thread adapter that screws on to the 1/4-20 stud that makes it 3/8=16. I think I bought the adapter from B&H a few years back. Someone on LFF informed me that different columns are available and correctly threaded plugs as well from someone on line. I looked it up and it's kind of pricey, my mod only set me back about half an hour plus parts on hand. I found this last night after being informed(rather rudely)by one of the snobs over there.
http://tiltallsupport.blogspot.com/