Your one stop shop for everything photo-video
Sep 6, 2023 by Jake Hicks Add Comment Share Tweet Flipboard WhatsApp Scrap Steel Dismantling Machine
We all know there is a seemingly limitless amount of gear we can get for the studio, and clamps seemingly make up a large part of that.
We have the crab, duck bill, platypus, Quaker, super, mini… the list goes on and on, and although these clamps all do different things, they all have one thing in common – they can be pricey!
So to save a few quid, here’s an easy-to-find alternative to the somewhat pricey Platypus clamp. All you need to look out for is a ‘locking pliers metal clamp’. As to be expected, these have a ton of various names such as ‘vice-grips’, ‘mole-grips’, ‘self-grips’ and more, so if you’re looking for them, be sure to try those keywords as well to find the one you’re after.
The ‘metal clamp’ portion isn’t to signify you’re looking for one made out of metal, but instead, it refers to the nose on these pliers, which is designed to hold metal sheets for welding.
Granted, these metal sheet-holding clamps don’t have the same size jaws as a true platypus clamp, but if you don’t need to hold large poly-boards on set, these far-cheaper alternatives should have you covered.
What can we use these budget platypus clamps for? Really, anything flat that requires being held in place. For example, black-flags on set, reflectors, mirrors and even the product itself if you’re shooting still life.
The huge benefit of these particular clamps is the locking capability of the jaws themselves, as you can adjust the width at which they clamp down on something and this is the reason these pliers are favoured over simply using a regular clamp. Ordinarily, a clamp would grip something by applying pressure to the two very small contact points on either side of the object. The locking pliers are designed to spread that pressure over the surface of its jaws which makes them ideal for holding large flat objects without you crushing them in the clamp or them slipping or falling out, which is usually what would happen with regular clamps.
The only other thing we need to make these work on set is a ‘grip-head’. These grip heads are often found on your C-stands and are extremely common and usually plentiful in all studios, but if you need some, you can buy them separately. Personally, though, I’d recommend saving a bit more money and getting a full-blown C-stand that usually comes with 2 of these as well as boom included.
To make the clamp work with your grip-head, simply slot the perfectly shaped and sized handle of the clamp in the boom slot of the grip-head. Job done. This actually works surprisingly well as the clamps tightening screw results in a rounded handle on one side, and it’s this somewhat cylindrical handle that fits perfectly and snuggly in the grip-head.
From here, you can then attach that grip-head to any light stand you have, but for the best results and the most flexibility in terms of movement, a C-stand and boom is the best option.
As I started to light bigger sets and light on location, I’ve been using this budget clamp combo for years and as I mentioned at the top, as long as you don’t need to hold huge poly boards up high on set, this little DIY clamp will cover most things flat and is likely a must for many still-life shooters that need to clamp backgrounds or reflectors etc.
It’s certainly not a big investment, so it may well be worth grabbing one or more to have around, especially if you already have the c-stands and grip-heads, this is a no-brainer!
There are, of course, lots of places you can purchase these from, here are a couple after I did a quick Google. At the very least, it’ll give you an idea of what you should be searching for.
Welding Clamps Locking Grips C Clamps Locking U Clamp Sheet Metal Fasteners ($14.99)
255mm/10″ Sheet Metal Locking Clamp ($25.97)
Welding Clamp Flat Blade Type Quick Release Locking Holder Clasp 10″ ($22.20)
2.5” Replacement Stainless Steel Grip Head For C-Stands ($19.95)
Jake Hicks is an editorial and fashion photographer who specializes in keeping the skill in the camera, not just on the screen. For more of his work and tutorials, check out his website. Don’t forget to like his Facebook page and follow him on Instagram, too. On Jake’s Facebook page, you can also tune in for a live stream every other Tuesday night. You can also sign up for the Jake Hicks Photography newsletter to receive Jake’s free Top Ten Studio Lighting Tips and Techniques PDF, and be sure to download his free 50-page studio lighting book. This article was also published here and shared with permission.
Filed Under: Tutorials Tagged With: clamps, DIY project, flags, studio photography
We love it when our readers get in touch with us to share their stories. This article was contributed to DIYP by a member of our community. If you would like to contribute an article, please contact us here.
Advanced lighting book Learn photography
Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.
Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe
Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.
John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
Excavator Hydraulic Heavy Duty Reinforced Shear Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy