Make a Camera Stand From a Vintage Film Reel

In this Instructable I'll show you a quick and easy way to display vintage camera's. I came up with idea after finding a couple of old film reels at a flee store. I picked them up for a couple of dollars not knowing what I was going to do with them and then it stuck me that they would make great bases for stands.

It didn't take me long to work out that a vintage camera would look great with one of the reels as a base

You don't need any fancy tools to make one and just a couple of parts is all you need to put this stand together

Supplies

PARTS:

1. Vintage Film reel - eBay
2. 1/4 camera screw - eBay Maybe also something like this from Ali Express would work as well
3. Aluminum Tube 10mm OD - local hardware store
4. Bolt that fits snuggly inside the tube - just try one at the hardware store when you buy the tube
5. Not to fit the bolt
6. Epoxy glue

TOOLS:

1. Grinder
2. Pipe cutter (or just use the grinder)
3. Files
4. Dremel
5. Pliers

Step 1: Enlarging the Hole in the Film Reel

In order to secure the aluminum tube(from now on called 'the tube') to the film reel, you need to enlarge one of the holes in the film reel

STEPS:

1. First thing is to mark out the section that you want to remove from the reel.
2. Next use a cutting wheel on a dremel and cut out the section marked
3. File off any rough edges or burrs
4. Push the but into the hole

Step 2: Adding the 1/4" Mount to the Aluminum Tube

You can get lots of different types of 1/4' camera mounts. The one I choose has a mount on both sides. This made it easier to secure into the tube of the stand. I didn't bother do do anything too fancy when adding the mount to the tube, just used some good old epoxy.

STEPS:

1. Start by cutting the tube to length. You can make it any height that you like really. I used an angle grinder but a pipe cutter would work perfectly.
2. File off any burrs on the tube and clean up the edges.
3. Mix some epoxy and carefully dripping it inside the tube. Make sure you hold the tube at only a slight angle so the glue doesn't run right down the inside of the tube.
4. Place the mount inside the tube and then secure it in place with a vice
5. Place the vice so it is vertical and make sure that the mount is centered in the tube
6. Leave to dry for 1/2 hour.

Step 3: Adding the Bolt to the Aluminum Tube

The bolt makes it supers simple to attach to the film reel via the install nut.

STEPS:

1. The first thing you need to do is to remove the head from the bolt. Secure the bolt in a vice and use an angle grinder to remove the head.
2. File and remove any burrs
3. Mix up some more epoxy glue and again drip it into the open end of the tube
4. Place the bolt inside the tube, leaving about 8mm sticking out. You don't want to leave too much of it will stick out the bottom of the film reel
5. I also added a little tape around the bolt and tube to ensure it didn't move.
6. Leave to dry for 1/2 hour

Step 4: Securing the Tube Into the Film Reel Base

This is the easy bit!

STEPS:

1. Grab the tube and screw the bolt into the nut inside the film reel.
2. Do it up as tight as you can and then use some needle nose pliers to hold the nut whilst turning the tube
3. Place on a table and make sure everything is sitting flat and straight
4. Last thing to do is to secure a camera onto the mount and find a good spot to display it.