Make a Monopod from a Walking Pole, using Sugru.

My boys have started getting into photography, but often have trouble keeping the camera still enough for really clear shots.

The obvious solution is to buy a mono-pod, but why buy when you can make, especially when you have Sugru?




_{Edit: this project got picked up by PetaPixel!}

Step 1 Materials and tools

Materials:

I used a cheap aluminium walking pole (which I already had), a quarter-inch diameter bolt, a few centimetres of 2mm paracord and a 5g "Smart Hack" sachet of black Sugru.

Tools:

Leatherman multitool, rotary tool and various small pointy things that came to hand.


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<sub>On the subject of materials, allow me a small off-topic rant:

Always buy your hardware from a proper, local ironmongers (hardware store).  They know what they are doing, and they know their stock.

I bought the bolt for this Make from my local ironmonger.  It cost me 7 pence, and is exactly what I needed.

My father has no local ironmonger, just a branch of a large chain "DIY" store. When he needed a small hook a few days ago, he had to buy a bag of five, they cost £2.65, and the first two snapped when he tried to screw them into the wood.</sub>

Comments

[rimar2000]

Good idea, Kiteman! One question: in the UK, is the walking stick used usually, or only handicapped people use it? (maybe I read too many novels of Sherlock Holmes)

[Kiteman]

Around town, walking sticks are generally aids to walking (for the elderly or infirm). These, though, are walking poles, intended for hikers to take some of the strain off their joints and help balance on tricky terrain.

[gmjhowe]

And fighting off wild animals on the broads..

[santy22]

Pretty sure you can't take on more than a mole with an aluminum hiker pole.

[king kolton9]

same here in usa

[ewfw]

Oh my gosh, I did this a few years back before I knew about instructables. I used J-B weld and it has held for many excursions. With a little ingenuity you can prop it up and get yourself in the picture.

Great instructable.

[Kiteman]

Thank you!

[bertus52x11]

Nice one.
How long does this Sugru stay "well" once you have openend the pack?

[Kiteman]

Usually [allegedly] about 30 minutes before problems set in.

[ChrysN]

"why buy when you can make" 

Sounds like a great motto.