D_Venable Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 yep, I made a couple of suction cup camera mounts, one just like mine will cost you around $40-50 to make, and less than a couples hours of work What you'll need: Suction cup lifting tool (got mine from Harbor Freight: CLICK HERE, the one I found in the store for the same price is red and rated for 200lbs)$6 Bogen 3025 3-D Tripod Head (CLICK HERE)$30 + shipping ($5-10) 3/8 thread x 1.5"-1.75" length bolt (depending on if you use a washer on the bottom, the 1.5" bolt probably only uses about half the available threads in the tripod head base)$0.50 1" wooden dowel rod, about 4 1/8" long(this will need shaved down to fit inside the handle, as it's smaller than 1", but bigger than 7/8", which is the next size available dowel at Home Depot)$3-4 (for 48") 3/16" dowel rod or pins$3-4 (for 48") couple drops of thread lock too. Start with the suction cup handle: http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4828.jpg Now, put the 1" dowel rod inside the handle for reinforcing (this is where it needs shaved down to size, the inside of the handle tapers down in size towards the middle) You'll have to remove one of the suction cups to do this though, as the black lever gets in the way. Push on the center of the bottom of the rubber portion of the suction cup http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4855.jpg turn it upside down, while still pushing in, then twist the cup in the handle to move the silver metal plate out of its channel http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4856.jpg when in this position, push the bottom of the suction cup again, this will allow you to pull the pin holding the black lever on http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4857.jpg Now you have the room to put the dowel rod inside the handle http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4829.jpg After the dowel in in there, drill a 3/8" hole for the bolt to hold the head on. I also drilled two 3/16" holes for 3/16" dowel (not all the way through), for alignment "pins" on the head to help preven tthe head from twisting off the bolt: http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4843.jpghttp://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4841.jpghttp://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4840.jpg Now put the 3/16 dowel pins in they're holes, and push the bolt through the 3/8" hole http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4845.jpg Little bit of thread lock now http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4847.jpg Then place the tripod head on the dowel pins, and tighten the bolt down (this is where the wooden dowel reinforcment comes into play, so the handle won't colapse when the bolt is tightened) http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4848.jpghttp://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4850.jpghttp://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF4854.jpg Now its ready for use. I have yet to test it, and I won't be able to for a while. but I've offered the first one to Alcyone, who's gonna use it on the 10th at a Rally-x. Not sure if I want to start making these, so I made this post, so everyone knows how to make one. it's actually really easy. You can use any tripod head with this, but you won't have near the adjustability as with this head, and I could not find another tripod head like this one either. EnjoyDerek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcyone Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 best part is this will stick to just about anything best I can tell. so the most fun will figuring out where best to put it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted October 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 clean glass would be best, but as long as you have a flat and smooth surface (which our cars have a TON of) it'll hold really well. the box for the suction cups even say for dent removal, lol Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starion1991 Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 clean glass would be best, but as long as you have a flat and smooth surface (which our cars have a TON of) it'll hold really well. the box for the suction cups even say for dent removal, lol DerekI have the same suction cups!...not too good on the dent removal! lol If i were to make a camra mount out of suction cups...id go with a better suction cup...ive used these and they do fail sometimes :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingQuest Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 Just FYI, a ball head would probably work well here and have easier range of motion. They are smaller, so they take up less space on the suction cup mount. The only bad thing is, they can get pricey (most expensive one I've seen is $867 for just the head)! If you have a lighter camera (small digital or SLR still camera) something like this would work awesome. It's rated at 5 lbs. as opposed to the 6.5 lbs. of the head you are using. It's also only $10.95. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/221096.jpg This one is rated at 22 lbs. and is $49.95. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/347653.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcyone Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 Just FYI, a ball head would probably work well here and have easier range of motion. They are smaller, so they take up less space on the suction cup mount. The only bad thing is, they can get pricey (most expensive one I've seen is $867 for just the head)! If you have a lighter camera (small digital or SLR still camera) something like this would work awesome. It's rated at 5 lbs. as opposed to the 6.5 lbs. of the head you are using. It's also only $10.95. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/221096.jpg This one is rated at 22 lbs. and is $49.95. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/347653.jpg the handle could eb used with those too. I may look at thos e for it once it gets here if I can't get the range of motion I need but the tripod headf on it looks fine.and way better than the walmart tripod i bought to experiment with. side note: whem I downloaded my test vid to vista it showed up as .movand nothing on here seems to open it.what should I look for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted October 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 .mov is supported by Quicktime thanks for the suggestions guys, I just wanted a cheap suction cup camera mount for myself, and one of the guys that makes something just like these (ie the same one DJpowerhouse has) uses this tripod head, I liked it range of motion and adjustability, so I gave it a shot, and I really like it. When I'll be using this outside my car, I plan to put the camera strap in the door or hatch, depending on where I place it, so my camera won't fall to the ground at 30+ Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingQuest Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 I may have to make one of these with the $50 ball head. That way it'll hold a heavier camera (or at least have the added strength). Then again, what would I use it for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreitz3 Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 How well do you think this will work on my non 80's car? (Curves) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcyone Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 HAHA^ nice ride.. I'm planning on putting it as an in car at first on the rear hatch.. your roof isn't that curvy. BTW bugeye FTW with the WRX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcyone Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 I got it and it's really cool. looks perfect on the hatch glass. straight shot out the front window. this tripod head is awesome any angle you want it easily attainable I'll get some driving around vid after I fix the master cylinder and maybe get a memory card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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