DIY Elinchrom Ranger Quadra Speed Ring
I have a 53″ Rotalux that I use for my main light but I wanted another softbox (with grid) to use for rim lighting or when I don’t need something so large. As seen in my other blog posts, I have a 2×3 Amvona softbox, which has already been through two iterations (Mod1, Mod2) so why not go for one more. The third time’s the charm!
However, no one makes a Quadra speed ring, so I had to. The Quadra isn’t designed to support heavy modifiers but luckily, my Amvona softbox connects to the light stand via the main frame/bracket of the softbox, not the strobe.
I should also note that this isn’t as “DIY” as my other posts. Well, it might be for some, but I didn’t have the machinery to make it how I wanted so I had to turn to a pro for a little help.
My first plan was to get a 1″ strip of aluminum (from Lowes), cut the Quadra notches in it, bend it into a circle, then have the welder weld this cylindrical piece to the flange piece (that I would have him make). I made the aluminum piece and it turned out OK, the circle wasn’t quite a circle. I took this to my welder/machinist friend but he recommended we start from scratch using steel. I was game since I knew it would be perfect. They cut the cylindrical and flange pieces out on a laser, then rolled the cylindrical piece into a perfect circle. He welded the two pieces together from the bottom then ground the welds flat.
I then cut out the notches. I first made a template using masking tape and the original Quadra reflector. I lined the edge of the tape up with the edge of the cylindrical part of the reflector (the outer side) and wrapped it around. Then I used an X-Acto knife to cut out the notches, tracing right along the existing notches in the reflector. After that I just transfered the tape to the speed ring and colored in the notches with a Sharpie. Cutting out the metal is easier than you think. For any radiused corners I just used a drill. Then I used a cut-off disc on a Dremel to cut the flat parts and finished it up with a Dremel Tungsten Carbide Cutter (#9903 or 9910). I used the tungsten cutter to cut out the stuff I couldn’t get to with the cutting disc, to deburr, and to round out any sharp corners. Finally, I gave it a quick sanding with 100 grit.
I wiped it down with rubbing alcohol then got ready for paint. I tapped off the inside of the cylindrical part as it was a perfect fit on the strobe and paint would’ve made it too tight of a fit. Also, the paint would just wear off with each use. I primed the speed ring then spray-painted the front part (the part inside the softbox) white, and the back side semi-gloss black. I painted the white part first and let it dry for a few hours so it could sit with this side to the bottom when I painted the back part.
I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!
December 18th, 2010 at 6:54 am
Hi, well done! I’m also trying to do something like that to make a beauty dish for my D-Lites, I just wanna ask you the thickness (in millimeters if you can) of the steel you used! Bye!
December 18th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Thanks! I asked the machinist and he thinks it was either 18 or 20 gauge steel. I just used a dial caliper to measure the circular part and, including paint, it’s about 0.03″ or 0.762 mm thick. I hope that helps!
January 12th, 2011 at 5:47 am
It helps a lot! thanks!
January 29th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Hi Jan, nice work.
Would you be interested in remaking and selling one of these to me? I don’t have experience with metal working and have been dying to get an octabox on my Quadra.
Thanks,
Frank
January 30th, 2011 at 12:44 am
Thanks, Frank. Yeah I can do that. Is your octabox large/heavy? The Quadra isn’t meant to support a lot of weight so if you want to use a large modifier, I’d have to integrate a light stand mount into the speedring, which wouldn’t be a problem. Shoot me an email with some more info and we’ll take it from there!
April 4th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Hi Jan:
I came across this and have the same question Frank has … have you gone into a cottage industry of producing these yet? My primary interst is with the actual Elinchrom products (Deep Octa) and even have a spare existing Rotalux speed ring.
Thanks,
Earle
April 4th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Hi Earle, I never heard back from Frank so I never pursued it any further. I can get more of these made so If you’re interested, just let me know.
May 31st, 2011 at 3:24 pm
I just got a quadra and this ring looks like it puts the flashtube further into the box/dish.ow much would you want to make up a couple?
I’m in NY btw
October 30th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Interested in seeing about getting a couple of these made. Any interest?
Cheers,
Rick