I feel kind of stupid asking about this, but I think you’ll see why it’s a bit of a problem.
I just bought an adjustable (extensible) mount for an inexpensive webcam. The 1/4" threaded screw for the camera is about 2" long and is threaded for about 3/4" of an inch. There is a locking nut that is just a smooth metal disk with serrations on the edge. Everything assembles just fine.
Except that tightening the locking nut against the camera using finger force doesn’t stop the camera from rotating on the nut. The threads must just be perfectly aligned with each other. Just moving the mount causes the camera to swing one direction or the other.
I can think of several ways to cure this, but I’d appreciate opinions. I could put Teflon plumbing tape on the thread to make it tighter. I could use thread locker, but I want to be able to rotate it in the future. I could use a pair of pliers to really jam the nut against the base of the camera, but then I’d need those to loosen it. I could use a wing nut with a nylon insert so it’s harder to turn. I could get a lock washer. I could glue a layer of rubber to the nut so it exerts pressure between the nut and the base of the camera. I could just try another nut that may be threaded slightly differently.
Obviously, I don’t really want to be gluing, locking, or whatever if I don’t need to. I also don’t want to go to the hardware store and buy half a dozen pieces of hardware I might not need. The mount itself was less than $20.
Opinions?
In case it’s not clear, I don’t have anything readily available to try out. No nuts, no wing nuts, no thread locker, no Teflon tape, no rubber pads, or whatever. I’d have to go out and buy a bunch of small stuff to try different solutions.
Are the webcam threads plastic? That would definitely explain why tightening doesn’t help, and would indicate that tightening can’t be used.
Do you have any zip ties? Depending on the geometry, you can place it on the mount and then use zip ties to cinch it down to something.
Assuming the gear is black, get black ones for a cleaner look.
No, both the screw and the webcam mount (insert) are metal. I would like to be able to rotate the camera from time to time…loosen the nut, turn, and re-tighten. I think ties would make that much harder.
In simplest terms, it’s a jam nut arrangement where tightening the nut doesn’t stop rotation.
If that’s the case, then get a 1/4-20 nut and use that–at least you can then use a small open-end wrench to tighten or loosen it with significant force. It really does seem like a problem of the threads all being too smooth so the nut+socket combo just forms one giant nut that rotates nicely.
I’m not sure if I get the picture exactly but I would add another nut them tighten both nuts against each other.
You could try adding an external tooth lock washer as well.
I think that would lock the two nuts together, but allow the camera to turn.
Right now, I’m leaning towards trying a 1/4-20 wing nut. I could get some leverage on it without a wrench. But using a nut and wrench would be an option.
Hi ZoneX. Are we talking about a mount similar to a mini tripod head, except with a 2” shaft? Sorta like this one on Amazon?
(i was puzzled by your statement “The threads must just be perfectly aligned with each other.”)
Securing cameras to tripod screws has been an ongoing design problem forever. Some tripod heads include fold-down metal ‘wings’ to function like a wing nut. Some include a groove on the tightening disc that lets you use a key as a tightening lever.
Without those kind of aids I usually just use pliers to secure the disc tighter.
But for holding an actual valuable camera I buy tripod heads with a removable plate. The plate gets tightly secured to the camera, and the plate comes off and on with a thumb screw.
Yes, very similar to that, but the threaded portion is longer. What I meant by “perfectly aligned” is that, when tightened, the camera base and nut act as a single nut and rotate together. There is no “jamming” of the nut against the camera base to stop it rotating.
I’m not worried so much about damaging the camera or being able to remove it easily. I just want it to tighten so it doesn’t swing to the left or right freely. A socket head like in your link is certainly an option, as it might actually lock in place on the camera mount threads. Again, I’d prefer not to have to try (buy) several different methods, but I may be forced into it.
It doesn’t make sense to me why the “jam” nut doesn’t work and wish I could physically handle it as I may be missing something.
The point of the jam nut is to stretch the threads of the two nuts so they bind on the bolt. The only reason that they do not spread, that I can think of, is that they do not slide cleanly against each other.
See if you can work the jam nut with tools to create the needed stretching, or alternatively, placing a washer between them should allow for independant rotation. Some light cardboard should work to test, and if that is a solution, a more permanent washer could be sourced.
Nylon/plastic would be good but a rubber o-ring would stay on the threads when the camera is not there to keep it from falling off. Put a few extras below the nut in case it does go missing. The wing nut is a good idea for a more functional grip.
I agree that it would not seem likely that the jam nut doesn’t work…but it doesn’t. Tightened as much as I can with my fingers, the whole thing (camera and nut) still swing loosely as a unit.
I just tried your idea of a piece of cardboard. That helped quite a bit. Maybe I should look for large diameter plastic washer. Maybe cork or rubber?
It’s impossible for the jam nut threads “to be perfectly aligned”. Jam nuts don’t work that way. It’s evident you’re not putting enough torque on the jam nut. Which between its small size, restricted area to work in, and your grip strength may simply be an impossible mission.
Replacing the knurled jam nut with a conventional hex nut you can get a wrench on will solve your problem. You may find that with the hex nut being thicker and probably larger in outside dimensions that you will be able get a good enough purchase on it with fingers to torque it enough that the wrench is not necessary.
Your idea to use a compressible washer of cork or rubber is a decent possibility. The issue with jam nuts is there’s no torque or locking force until the nut’s, bolt’s, and camera’s threads all start to be stretched. Which takes comparatively a lot of force. Nothing then lots.
Conversely, if there’s a squeezable washer in between, as the nut begins to squeeze the washer, the force gradient is less; you’re not stretching threads yet. And that lesser torque force required may mean you can tighten the stock knurled nut enough to give you enough bite on the camera to hold everything in place.
Good description. Hate to use a wrench, but it may be the best solution. Using a wing nut may also give me just enough torque using only my fingers.
Just because it’s supposed to function as a jam nut doesn’t mean it will. Is this nut made of stainless steel? Possibly to hard to work properly. The threads of a jam nut must distort sufficiently when tightened that the pressure against an adjoining surface prevents the nut from turning. Possibly an additional nut will help, especially if it’s actually a jam nut, or maybe something like a Belleville washer.
In the mean time, if you have no Teflon tape try a little ordinary plastic wrap for a quick fix. And if you’re buying tape for this get the yellow or red kind used for air and gas connections since the white tape is meant to be a lubricant that might make the problem worse for you.
Hmmm…a Belleville washer looks promising.
I’ve gone ahead and ordered a few hurricane shutter wingnuts. They have a big washer at the bottom like a flange. I may be able to glue something to the washer so it exerts some pressure on the base of the camera. Wish I had a big hardware assortment here at the house.
Should you decide that this might work better Loctite purple would be what you want.
The other thing to try is a nylon insert fastener.
