I regularly use Lowel Lights in my studio. As I have pointed out elsewhere, occasionally I will overtighten the clamp on a Lowel stand and the collar will fracture. The clamp will still “work” but I am one of those people who simply doesn’t like to have any compromised equipment when i go on a shoot. This repair applies to Lowel Omni, Lowel Uni, Lowel KSA, and probably other Lowel Stands.
Taking the old Lowel clamp off
1.The first thing you need to do is get the proper Lowel clamp before you start the repair. You order them by the type of stand and the letter on the clamp (A, B, C, D). You may want to order a couple of extras and have them on hand in case you feel frisky and one day and overtighten another one. Locate the broken clamp. In this case it is the Uni Stand Clamp D. You can see where it is broken in this image.
2. Remove the thumbscrew and use a screwdriver to remove the remaining screw that is holding the clamp.
3. Pull the clamp away from larger diameter pole and toward the smaller pole (away from the base of the stand). You may have to wiggle it a bit to get it started.
4. Pull the two poles apart.
5. Remove the old clamp from the smaller tube. You may have to use a flat-blade screwdriver to pry the clamp open in order to get it over the lip on the pole .
Installing the new Lowel clamp
Installation is the reverse of removal.
6. Get the new clamp. Put the small end of the clamp on the small pole first (so that the small part of the clamp goes on first). You may have to pry the clamp open with a screwdriver in order to get it to go on (just like you did for removal). Don’t pry it open too much or you will brake it. Insert the small pole into the large plole and move the collar down over the large pole.
7. Make sure everything looks correct and then put the screw in the bottom of the clamp and the thumbscrew in the top.
8. That’s it. If you have questions or comments use the form below. Hope this helps.
Tags: broken clamp, light stand, Lowel, repair
Lowel DV Creator 55 Photography Video Light Kit Review DV-903Z | Blacksburg Photographer and Roanoke Photographer wrote,
[...] that the clamps on the stands can sometimes fracture if you overtighten them (here is a tutorial on how to repair a broken stand). I have already had one of mine break, although the stand still functions fine. Likewise, the [...]
Link | May 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Andy Pischalnikoff wrote,
Thank you!
Working for the State of California is great, but we have tight budgets off and on, so thank you for sharing how to repair bad Lowell light stand clamps!
Andy Pischalnikoff
Multimedia Specialist
Link | August 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Alissa Krahenbuhl wrote,
Do you know anyone who will do light stand repairs?
Link | June 9th, 2009 at 10:36 am
jon wrote,
What is wrong with the lightstand that you have and what brand is it?
jon
Link | June 9th, 2009 at 10:39 am
David Taylor wrote,
Jon, thanks for this! I just received a replacement collar myself and was wondering how to put it on. I thought it would be easier to remove the top stud but for the life of me I couldn’t figure it out. It must have something to do with that hole below it, maybe a hex screw? Don’t know, but I sure was uneasy about forcing the collar over that lipped end, but it worked in the end. Thanks again for your instructions.
Link | October 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Andrew wrote,
If you remove the clamp above the one you are replacing you can slide the broken one right off the top and you don’t have to use a screwdriver.
Link | November 2nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Mark Verschelden wrote,
Thanks for the detailed repair. Just broke a collar in the cold weather. Where can I order replacement collars like this?
Link | December 23rd, 2009 at 2:16 am
Rich R wrote,
I just bought a used have a lowel omni stand (01-33) online. It’s in pretty good shape but the smallest top section doesn’t tighten enough to lock when extended to any degree. I don’t see a broken collar or anything broken for that matter. is it just a matter of inserting a larger washer or do these tighteners wear out even if no “broken”?
richreilly(at)hotmail.com
Link | February 18th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Tim wrote,
Thanks! Any tips on how to remove the top stud of the light stand? I see two pins and assume they push in but wondering if you know any tricks to this?
Link | April 3rd, 2012 at 10:36 am
jon wrote,
Tim,
If I had to remove the top stud of a Lowel Lightstand, I would probably try the following. Keep in mind that I have not done this.
On my model it looks like there is a pin pressed in there. Pressing something out that is that small might be possible, but may not be easy. I would try that first. Maybe put the part in a vice and tap it lightly with a hammer and something that is about that diameter. If that doesn’t work, you could try drilling the old pin out with a good drill and some oil.
I would go to the hardware store and see if you can find something to press back in there. You could always put a bolt in there, which might be rough on the hand and it would not retract all the way, but it would make it useable (assuming it is not useable now).
My two cents.
If you find something that works, please post back here so others can benefit.
Link | April 8th, 2012 at 8:39 pm