I have an old, heavy metal tripod my father-in-law gave me 20 years ago. He probably had it 20 years before that, and I think it is long-since no longer made. But the company still makes tripods. I think it's a low-end company, but the tripod has served me well, and I really like how it is made of real metal, heavy, etc. It's a Velbon PH-156.
Anyway, after our soccer game last Saturday, a thrilling 2-1 (14-7?) playoff win to put us in the Final Four for next week, I guess I was excited about the late goal that won it, and as I collapsed the tripod, when I lowered the middle column down to the base, I neglected to turn the knob to tighten it. Not a big deal, unless you decide to thereafter carry it upside down on your way back to the car, on concrete, and watch in horror as it slides out of the tripod legs, and the plate breaks off from the rest of the head. User fail big-time.
My first attempt was to repair it. I have "sugrued" it, but I don't think it will hold. It's a clean break, and the sugru worked well to affix it. I taped it overnight to make sure it didn't move, and this morning, it looks fine, but I don't think it is more than temporary.
My preference would be to replace the plate, but I don't know of any place that might have the replacement plate for this. I believe I can remove the plate from the head fine--it has a knob where it can be rotated from horizontal to vertical, and if you remove the knob, it appears the plate will come off fine--but I don't know of any place that might have the plate (preferably one that fits the shoe).
As I understand it, the panhead for this tripod is not meant to be removed/replaced, so that's not a great option. But I bought a tripod pan head anyway in case I can't get a replacement plate. I think I can use the tripod pan head on top of the 10-foot tall "light stand/tripod" I bought for the Yi action cam as a worst case scenario for this coming weekend.
So my options are:
a) Repair the plate. I have made my first attempt with Sugru. Probably won't hold. It is so far, but nothing has been placed on it.
b) Replace the plate. That would be my # 1 option if I can find it.
c) Use the new tripod pan head I purchased to use with the "light stand" that I use as a tripod.
d) Hack the Velbon tripod somehow to remove the entire pan head and replace it with the new tripod pan head i purchased.
e) Replace the column of the tripod with another column, then put the new tripod pan head on it.
I think b) and c) are my only real options, but if you can think of anything else, I'd appreciate it.
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