DIY velcro speed strap for speedlites
I’d like to start by giving credit to Honl Photo for the design idea. I had the supplies already so I wanted to see what I could come up with.
For those of you who don’t want sticky-backed velcro on your flash, this is the perfect solution. It’s quite simple to make and only takes a few minutes if you have a sewing machine.
Supplies:
- 1.5″ wide loop velcro, about 10.5″ long and non-adhesive-backed
- 1.5″ wide hook velcro, about 1.5″ long and non-adhesive-backed
- a piece of bicycle inner tube roughly 11″x1.5″
- needle and thread/sewing machine
I started by trimming the inner tube slightly narrower than the velcro
so that it didn’t stick out from underneath. Then I sewed the inner tube to the loop velcro and let a piece of the inner tube stick out past the velcro a little to act as a pull-tab. On that same pull-tab end is where the small square of hook velcro goes, sandwiching the inner tube. I used the standard box-X on each end.
Now you can use a variety of velcro accessories like grids, snoots and bounces without having to use stick-on velcro.
Oh, and to the guys who feel that sewing threatens their masculinity, just think of a sewing machine as a [potentially dangerous] power tool. Have you ever impaled your fingertip with a needle? I hear it isn’t a pleasant experience…
Tags: DIY, speed strap, speedlite, strobist, velcro
August 19th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Your site will be extrermely helpful to new photographers. Your ideas will especially help those just starting out. Keep your ideas coming.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Again, thanks for your great ideas. It has been most helpful.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Keep up the good work.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:34 am
Fot those of you reading danish, I’ve made a Speedstrap thats a little thinner without the innertube. You can find it here http://www.bo-vejgaard.dk/artikler/g%C3%B8r-det-selv-speedstrap/.