FESTOOL DUO LIGHT on regular tripod

[Mr Speaker]

I know this is an older thread, but for someone like me that reads these now because they just now had a need for the info: As my username implies, I have some involvement with loudspeakers. And I have the SYSLITE DUO. When I started out, I too was one of those, every tripod is the same, every orbital sander is the same and the cheapest worklight will do because I was starting out and had zero budget. Not all speaker stands are equal and I now only use K&M as they are the best, more expensive but also a lt better. More stable, will last longer, more reliable. The Festool tripod is steep, and even more expensive that a K&M. It is built like a tank and has that cable management. the cable clip low is the difference between toppling the stand of just moving it over a few feet when someone trips over the wire. I have a bunch of K&M speaker stands, so I just designed and printed an adapter. But if you do not have a K&M or similar, take a deep breath and get the Festool tripod.

Compare it to why you bought the SYSLITE versus a cheaper worklight. They both give light, and it will work, but the SYSLITE is just better, better thought through. The cherry is that you will look so much more professional to your client.

 

[Mr Speaker]

I made a design for a 3D printed adapter. After tinkering it fit well, but broke off when someone tripped over the cable. The Syslite luckily landed in my hands. I redesigned it to have reinforcement in the form of countersunk screws. If anyone wants to print it, I have the 3D model

 

[grobkuschelig]

[mention]Mr Speaker [/mention] I would be interested in the files for printing!

I solved the issue by using a thin speaker stand with an added plastic sleeve out of some old pipe for the occasional use, but surely a proper adapter would work better.

I just did not have the need recently so have not looked into it again.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Packard]

Can someone post an image of the mounting?  I have extensive experience in photo studio lighting and I might recognized the mount. 

Does it look like any of these:

These are Manfrotto adapters.  Also marketed under the name of “Bogen” in the USA.  They are manufacturers of high quality professional tripods and light stands.  I have several and they are very, very good items.
https://www.google.com/search?q=manfrotto+light+mounts%2F+adapters&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiAs92JqJKDAxVgG2IAHWMADrEQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=manfrotto+light+mounts%2F+adapters&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECCMQJ1CKFFifJmCcKGgAcAB4AIABmwGIAeMGkgEDOS4ymAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=ULt8ZYDLN-C2iLMP44C4iAs&bih=874&biw=1572&client=firefox-b-1-m

 

[Michael Kellough]

Packard, counterintuitively, this light is more closely related to audio equipment than photo equipment, at least in how it is mounted to a stand.

The light has a simple 32mm diameter unthreaded socket in the bottom, about twice as big as a 5/8” thread.

As has been pointed out above, Festool made an ordinary K&M speaker stand “their own” by reducing the typical 35mm pole to 32mm. So nothing “from the shelf” will fit.

 

[Packard]

The only logical take on this, is that Festool marketing wanted to lock in the sale of their light stands.

The photography lighting industry had long ago perfected the light stand to light connection, and generally at a far lower cost.

Not that good studio equipment is cheap.  My 1980s vintage camera stand cost me $1,100.00.  A number that sticks with me because it was a tough number to deal with.  It is still in production, the last time I checked, and priced at an eye-watering $3,900.00.

If anyone is interested, I’ll let it go at half price ($1,950.00),

 

[scb_yyz]

Check out RAM mount offerings.  All sorts of adapters,  adjustable clamps and such. 

Ram Components - B-Sized

 

[Packard]

Shown above is the almost universally used professional studio photography lighting mount. 

It has a 1/4”-20 screw thread (male) at the top and hidden from view, another 1/4”-20 female screw thread at the bottom.

The overall heigh (excluding the screw thread) is 30mm  (1.18”)

The major diameter of the barrel at the top and at the bottom (not including the knurled section) is 15.65 MM (0.617”).

The minor diameter of the barrel in the center is 11mm (0.433”)

The material for Bogen/Manfrotto is brass (preferred).

Cheaper versions are zinc plated steel (not preferred.)

The brass pieces allow the set screw to clamp harder without damaging the screw thread ends.

Surprisingly, all of these have settled on the 1/4-20 threading for mounting, though the thumb wheel set screws are typically M6 metric.

Perhaps these can be mounted on the light. 

In the USA I see Bogen brand more often than Manfrotto.  I believe in Europe the standard is Manfrotto.

The newer versions appear to have a hex nut in place of the knurl.  I see that there are other versions of this stud, though the barrel diameters should be the same for all of them.
https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/products/stands-arms-and-clamps/lighting-accessories/

 

[Packard]

I crossed posts with SCB.  Manfrotto also makes a mount for joining various sized stand components.  I have one on my boom arm.  I suspect it would be rather pricey.  It is quite substantial.

I will get a photo later.

OK.  Here is the photo.  It is probably shown in the link I provided earlier, but it was quicker to take the shot than to go through the over 300 products listed under “clamps” in the Manfrotto catalog.

It consists of left and right section that swivels.  Each side can accommodate (it seems) 6 different diameters of tubing. It locks extremely solidly, and is of very robust construction.  I’m sure that could be made to work.  It might be cheaper to simply shell out for the Festool stand than to buy the bracket and a standard light stand or tripod. 

Note: Light stands are cheaper than tripods, but do not have the tiltable head.  They depend on a pivot on the light itself.  If the light has a pivot, a light stand is the better choice than a tripod.

Note:  Manfrotto also supplied stands to the retail point of purchase industry, and it might be easier to locate some of the components from those sources.  I doubt it will save any money, however.

Amazon carries some of these parts and also sells cheaper knock-offs.  I don’t know how good the knock-offs are though.