Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

If the clamp nut breaks simply send it in for repair. In most cases the repair is performed quickly and covered under warranty.

Has there been any change in the design to either beef up the plastic or a mod to prevent the threaded insert from breaking loose?

I had the plastic break on one VML and the threaded insert break loose on the 2nd.

I don't plan to use the insert for future mounting.

Any plans to sell an optional mount?

I was designing one to be machined out of aluminum, but it proved to be a very expensive proposition (2/3 the price of the VML) :shock:

@onetrack97 - You might take a look at a new mounting solution that I designed for the VML. It's called the VML Bracket, and is making quite a name for itself as the ultimate mounting solution for the VML. It's solid, secure, reliable, and is designed to prevent the problems that you (and hundreds of other VML users) have experienced. You can find out more information by going to http://www.vmlbracket.com. Let me know if you have any questions.

I eagerly await my mini for next week (finally will have my own!), and the VML Bracket should be arriving today! :D I have several spare Manfrotto super clamps laying around, but I want to see if I can make the VML Bracket work with a Global Truss clamp which would allow for closer mounting of the setup to my lightstand. I know the clamps differ in size at the point they meet the VML Bracket, but I think I can make it work. It's going to be a blast being able to use my B1600 out in the field and not be burdened by my HEAVY Dynalite XP1100 :lol:

4/27/12 update: I've received the VLM Bracket, but using the Global Truss clamp the setup hugs the lightstand tube too closely, not allowing me to close the lightstand legs sufficiently enough for transport. I want to keep the VML installed at the bottom section for stability and practicality: not having to take it off during transport in my car saves me time - God knows I have so much spare time working weddings in NY /sarcasm :lol:

This topic is active elsewhere on the net so I thought I would post here where it might do the most good. I needed a cost-effective alternative to mount the Vagabond that would allow for stable mobility in the field and put zero stress on the battery. After pricing the available options, I decided to make my own from parts that were readily available. Follow this linkhttp://www.chriscarverphotography.com/blog/2014/1/the-tower-of-power to see my solution in detail. Not selling anything, you can source and build these yourself.



I'm still working on a sexier solution for securing the battery on the bracket but this works...very well.

I had been wanting a better way to attach my Vagabond Mini Lithiums for location mobility, so thank you to Rob Galgraith for doing the heavy lifting in his review here of the best alternative clamps:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/multi_pagea ... 1667-11915

Of the ones he reviewed and tested, I opted for the Global Truss clamps. Of the three sizes of this clamp Rob mentions, I found the "junior" to be the closest fit for the tube diameter of my lightstands. I made just a few mods, though, to make them work a little better:

- I placed gaffer tape on the VML where the bracket screws in to prevent turning of the bracket and gouging of the VML's housing.

- I placed 7 layers of gaffer tape in the arches of the bracket - where bare metal would otherwise touch the metal of the lightstands. This helps the bracket hold more snuggly to a few different diameters of lightstand tubing, and prevents the bracket from sliding down easily.

- I put a couple of rubber bumpers (round and light yellow in the photos) at the base of the VML to help it rest against the lightstand and prevent stress on the threadmount on the VML.



Here are photos on my Flickr stream of this approach:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92211832@N ... 0087718096

This makes for a sturdy mount that has a fairly small footprint, is flexible, and very cost effective, you might want to look at these clamps. I bought mine from B & H for about $9.00 each:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/6 ... Clamp.html


Craíg

http://www.craigwasselphotoart.com

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the VML bracket...http://www.vmlbracket.com.
It's pricey, but it's rock solid.

Well...that was kind of the point. For the price of one VML bracket and a super clamp, you can make 3-4 of these with a lower center of gravity.

Actually - though maybe not in this thread - the VML Bracket has been noted and recommended here in other threads and in other forums around the web, and with good reason. It is a very solid mounting approach. Rob Galbraith endorsed it as one of his top two solutions in this article which I linked to a few replies up:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/multi_pagea ... 1667-11915

He gave an equal nod to the Global Truss clamp, which is what I ended up going with and what I posted photos about above. I went with the Global Truss clamp instead because of:

- portability (considerably smaller)
- cost (far less)
- speed of use/mounting

These are extremely important to me since I use my Einsteins/VML so much on location. The simple and inexpensive mods I made to the Global Truss which you can see in the pic above and on my Flickr link greatly minimize the advantage the VML Bracket has of providing a more secure mount. If my light stands got heavily banged and bumped around to the point that the Global Truss was not strong/secure enough, then probably more than just a battery or thread mount (read: Einstein) would get broken as well.

Other advantages to the Global Truss + the mods I did? You can mount it anywhere: above the bottom lightstand knuckle, below the bottom lightstand knuckle (see the examples in my Flickr link), or anywhere vertically on the lightstand. With most medium size lightstands and with the Global Truss/VML mounted below the bottom knuckle, you could completely collapse and fold the lightstand, pick it up as one, and change locations without removing anything. That is a huge advantage to me when on location, and another reason I did not go with the VML Bracket.

Craíg

http://www.craigwasselphotoart.com