Introduction: Tennis Ball Tripod

Recycle a dead tennis ball into a pocket camera tripod.

Get sharp photos using a wall, fence, tree branch, door, car hood, bamboo pole, or a signpost.

Velcro, bungee or hang from a suction cup with the optional mounting holes.

Step 1: Mark and Cut

Cut the ball in half with an kitchen scissors, a craft knife, or even a kitchen knife.

Wear good safety goggles. Blades can slip or snap.

Mark three tripod feet on the edge of the ball with a pen or pencil.

Each flat foot is about 3/4 inch (18mm) wide.

There should be about 2 inches (50mm) between the edges of the feet.

Cut arches between the feet to make the basic tripod shape. Arch size and shape are not important.

Cut a 3/4 inch hole in the top of the ball.

Optional step: cut a side slit in the top hole for more tilt.
Optional step: make bungee cord holes above each foot.

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Step 2: Make Washers

Cut two circles from the other half of the tennis ball.

Each should be about 1.5 inches across.

Drill, cut, or punch 1/4 inch holes in their centers.

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Step 3: Assemble

Buy a 1 inch plastic bolt, 25 cents at Home Depot.

It should be 1/4 inch diameter and have 20 threads per inch. This is close to the standard camera mount size. Since the bolt is soft plastic it will not strip or damage your camera.

Push the bolt through a washer so it sticks out of the felt side.

Then put the bolt through the tripod base from underneath.

And finally press the other washer on the top.

Now you can screw the tripod into the mounting hole on the bottom of your camera.

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Step 4: Use for Web Car Fence Window Wall

Use the tennis ball tripod on your desk for a web cam

The rubber feet keep the tripod from slipping on your car roof for quick group shots.

Optional bungee cord holes let you attach it to vertical, diagonal or horizontal poles, posts, fences and trees.

Suction cups let you mount your camera as a bird feeder or surveillance cam.

Or prop and level your camera against a wall, window or door jamb for steadier shots where flash is not allowed.

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Pocket-Sized

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Pocket-Sized