Introduction: How to Make (Torch Braze) a Smart Phone Tripod Mount
This Instructable will show you how to make a smart phone mount for a tripod. In the pictures, you will see me mounting a Sprint Motorola Photon Q phone onto a Manfrotto tripod (with a very convenient removable mount).
Step 1: Measure Your Smart Phone
Since this is a non-adjustable mount, it will need to be customized to fit your smart phone. So, the first step is to measure it's length and width. The Photon Q is 2.5" x 5".
Step 2: Make the Mount's Top Piece
To make each of the three prongs that hold onto the smart phone, perform the following sub-steps:
1) Bend the end of a piece of (1/16" or 3/32" RG45) wire down into a lip using needle-nosed pliers. (Pic 1)
2) Use the wide part of the pliers to make a second bend as shown (Pic 2).
3) Make a 90 degree bend in the wire (for the Photon, make this bend 2.5" down from the bend made in the previous sub-step) (Pic 3)
4) Braze a 1/4-20 nut onto the end of this wire (Pic 4). This will attach to the tripod bolt (Pic 5).
Step 3: Make the Mount's Bottom Piece
To make prongs for the bottom piece, follow these sub-steps:
1) Take a length of wire, and bend in half.
2) Bend a lip (Pic 1) with needle-nosed pliers on one end of the wire.
3) Use the long part of the needle-nosed pliers to make the second bend (Pic 2).
4) Repeat sub-steps 2 and 3 to make a prong on the other end of the wire (Pic 3)
Step 4: Torch Braze the Pieces Together (as Shown)
I used a Little Smith Torch with MAP and Oxygen (oxy/fuel setup), and a bronze welding rod, to torch braze the top and bottom pieces together as shown.
Step 5: Plasti-Dip the Mount
I dipped each of the prongs in Plasti-Dip and then used a paint brush to apply the Plasti-Dip onto the center of the mount. Then I went online and ordered a large 1-gallon pail of this stuff so I can dip the whole piece in next time.
Step 6: Try Out Your New Mount
Try out your new tripod mount!. Mine was a little bit tight due to the Plasti-Dip, but that was no problem with this design. I just pushed (bent) the bottom prongs together a little bit to create the needed slack. If your mount is too loose, then just do the opposite. Spread (bend) the bottom prongs outward.
Now you can record videos or take pictures remotely from your smart phone, using products made for this. For example, the product I bought cheaply at Ollies is called Click & Go! PLUS. I finally can make some YouTube videos using my smart phone...out of excuses.
Step 7: Removeable Tripod Mount
My Manfrotto tripod is a work of art, but sometimes it's a pain to remove the Manfrotto tripod adapter to screw and unscrew this Instructable mount onto/off of it. I bet it's worse if you don't have a Manfrotto-type tripod, which leaves you with a bolt sticking up. Now you have to screw/unscrew the mount on/off the bolt. Hmmmm.
To combat this problem, go out to www.clayclothmetalcraft.com and download some freebies, which includes a never-before published Instructable-like PDF-document called How to Make (Torch Braze) a Removable Smart Phone Tripod Mount. Then you will be able to leave one piece of a mount attached to the Manfrotto tripod, and simply remove the other half of the mount for re -installation later. This makes it easier to remove a smart phone from the mount.
Or you can move that piece and attach it to your car mount (this will be my next Instructable).
If you have questions or comments, please contact me using the info below.
Happy Crafting,
Mark Unger
