Make Your Own Go Pro Pole Cam With Sugru!

We love our Go Pro camera! It is an amazing piece of kit as I'm sure you know. So why not get the most out of it with your very own pole mount! This DIY piece of kit is great for extreme sports like snowboarding where you can have your hands free. Check out this video sugru guru Ben made of him using the pole mount whilst snowboarding.

sugru is perfect for this project because:

- it bonds great to metals and plastics

- it can fill the gaps between the flat go pro mount and the round pole

- it is super strong (Ben hit some trees when filming and it held strong!)

For this project you will need:

1. ski pole (or walking pole, length of PVC pipe or wooden dowel)
2. 2 x 5g minipacks of sugru
3. scissors
4. hack saw
5. stanley knife / scalpel
6. cloth
7. white spirit
8. protective gloves (or just washing up gloves)
9. tape
10. newspaper
11. tape
12. toilet paper (for cleaning excess sugru off your finger tips)

Step 1: Pole Options.

For this project we used a ski pole as we had an old one lying around. If you don't have a spare it should be quite easy to find one. If you head down to any ski rental shop, ski school, mountain bar or restaurant or just chat to a lifty, you should be able to find a spare, bent or broken pole.

Alternatively you could use a walking pole as these often come apart by themselves. If you then place the mount behind the plastic join then you can keep using the pole as a walking pole and a go pro mount.

The benefit of using these poles are that they are robust, designed for extreme conditions and already have a grip and leash (handy so you don't lose your expensive camera).

But if you want to use something simpler then try using a length of PVC pipe or wooden dowel. You could add you own sugru grip to the end.

Step 2: Prepare Your Pole.

If using a walking pole then skip to next step.

Take your ski pole (or PVC pipe, wooden dowel, etc), measure and mark a length between 25-30cm from the bottom of the handle.

Use a hacksaw to cut the pole.

Once cut you will need to block the hole at the end to not waste sugru up there.

Fold up some newspaper and stuff the hole.

Step 3: Prepare Your Go Pro Mount.

You will need to peel away the sticky pad that comes on the go pro mount. If the pad becomes too sticky, remove some of the tackiness by just pressing it into the table a number of times.

You can peel off most of the pad with your fingers but if it does become a bit stuck use the stanley knife to separate it from the plastic.

Once off there may still be some bits of pad and gunk left on the mount, scrape the worst of it with your finger nails.

It is best to have a really clean surface to apply sugru to so once you have got everything you can get off with your fingers then soak a cloth in a little bit of white spirit and rub the surface until clean. It is advisable to wear protective gloves when doing this, washing-up gloves should work fine.

Step 4: Attach Sugru to the Mount.

Now your ready to apply some sugru to the mount.

Cut open one of you minipacks and knead the sugru in your fingers for about 10 seconds.

Shape the sugru into a sausage the length of the mount.

Press the sugru sausage into the base of the mount and shape it into a long pyramid. Ensure there is a strong bond.

Step 5: Think About Your Grip.

Before applying the mount take some time to think about your grip.

When we first built this we had the front of the grip facing up but actually this proved quite uncomfortable to hold.

Having the front of the grip facing down makes for a far more ergonomic hold.

Step 6: Applying the Mount.

If using a walking polet hen skip to the next step.

Now you know which way up you want your pole, it is time to apply the mount.

Press the point of the pyramid into the top of the pole.

Press the sugru that spreads out the side back into the mount and the pole. Ensure that the edge of the sugru is worked flat into the pole and mount for a super strong bond.

Do the same at the front and back of the mount.

Check to make sure that the mount is straight. Straighten if needs be and repeat the previous pressing.

Step 7: Walking Pole - Mount Application.

If you are using the walking pole then press the mount behind the plastic join, this will mean that you can still use the pole for walking when you are not filming.

Press the sugru that spread out the sides into the pole.

Smooth the sugru with your finger.

Check that the mount is straight.

If using this pole then there is no need to apply more sugru, jump to step 9.

Step 8: Covering the End.

Open the second minipack, remove the sugru and knead in your fingers.

Shape it into a flat piece and spread over the end of the end of the pole.

Spread the sugru into the pole and the sugru you have already applied. Really spread down the edges to ensure a strong bond.

Smooth it with your finger.

Make sure that the sharp end is fully covered. You don't want to impale yourself when using it in extreme conditions!

Check that the mount is still straight.

Step 9: Leave to Cure.

Leave the pole mount to cure for a full 24 hours.

Leave it hanging over an edge so that it does not stick to anything.

Use some tape to secure it in place.