A Better Grid Hack

I'm sure many of you have learned the advantage of using grids for your off-camera flash. There are a few companies that make them for small flashes including Honl Photo and Opteka. The Opteka ships with a velcro speed strap which is nice. Honl photo sells a speed strap separately. Either way, in both cases you have these Velcro flappy things that you're supposed to attach the grids with from the sides. It's a pretty clunky way of trying to attach them, it is kind of hard to get them on firmly and straight.

 So, Speedlight grid really cool, installing the Speedlight grid, not so cool. There's a much better way and it's cheap and easy.

What you need:

 Drill with a 3/16 drill bit

1/8 inch size bungee cord

Two pieces of Velcro (hook side)

First of all, on eBay you can buy about 50 feet of 1/8" bungee cord for about eight bucks including shipping. Why would you want 50 feet of 1/8 inch bungee cord if you only need about 20 inches to do this hack? Because once you have it, you will use it for a thousand things. Trust me.

How to do it

You will drill your four holes through the outside casing of the grid top and bottom, the separation of the holes on each side being about 2 1/2 to 3 inches in between. Now cut yourself two pieces of bungee cord about 10 inches long each. Burn the ends with a match to stop them from fraying. Make a knot on one end, then thread the cord through both holes, leaving about three quarters of an inch of slack finish up by tying the other end in a knot.

Then, you just cut a piece of Velcro (hook side) about an inch and three quarters long and however wide you think is necessary. Wrap it around the Velcro cord and stick together, adhesive to adhesive.

Now when you install it onto the speed strap of your flash, the bungee cord will provide a slight bit of tension and hold it firmly in place. Waaay better than what the manufacturers give you!

Nice!