Introduction: Overhead Camera Tripod

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About: I enjoy hiking and plant foraging... but most of time I do chores!
If you ever need to take good quality photos of anything small, such as jewelry or surface mount components, you're likely to experience the pain of trying to use the "zoom" feature of your digital camera. If you're lucky, you've got a camera with a really good zoom that takes care of shaky hands. If not, you might be in luck using the highest ISO setting and being okay with grainy photos. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a tripod that could make your life easier by taking photos overhead?

Well... now there is! Here's an instructable on how to build it. Granted, this tripod is more of a unipod.

Step 1: Saw Pieces & Make Template

Materials:
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Index Card
  • Miter Saw / Box
  • Sand Paper
  • Ruler
  • Hardwood (30" x 3/4" x 3/4")
Procedure:
  1. Using the ruler, measure, cut and lightly sand the follow lengths:
    • 1 of 1 1/2"
    • 3 of 3"
    • 2 of 10"
  2. Trace a 3" piece onto an index card.
  3. Segment traced rectangle into 4 parts.
  4. Put crosses from coner to corner of each new rectangle.
  5. Put a cross between the first and last rectangle.
  6. Label each cross from left to right (A,B,C,D,E).
  7. Erase any markings on the pieces.

Step 2: Marking Tool

A marking tool is a sturdy metal rod ending in a point. It's used in conjuction with a drill press to center bits onto a template and to mark wooden work pieces. This step shows how to construct and use a marking tool.

Materials:
  • Drill Press
  • Sanding Wheel
  • Straight Rigid Metal Rod
  • Fine Sandpaper
Making the Tool:
  1. Sand the tip of the metal rod with a sanding wheel attached to the drill press.
  2. Insert the roughly sharpened metal rod into the drill press.
  3. Sand the tip of the rod to a fine point using rough and then soft sandpaper.
Using the Tool:
  1. Insert the marking tool into the drill press.
  2. Line up the tool point with crosshair on the template.
  3. Insert a work piece over the template.
  4. With the drill press spinning, lower it slowly onto the work piece.
  5. Raise the marking tool when there is charring.



Step 3: Hole for Wood Screw

This step adds a screw to the upper half of the desk clamp used to secure the tripod to a workdesk.

Materials:
  • Drill Press
  • Marking Tool
  • Drill Bit Assortment
  • Template
  • Masking Tape
  • 1 of Wood Screw
  • 2 of 3" Hardwood Pieces
Procedure:
  1. Tape two 3" segments together on all sides lengthwise using masking tape.
  2. Position template / marking tool / taped segments over template cross 'A'.
  3. Mark & drill a hole (ex. 1/16" drill bit) so that it does NOT come out the other side.
  4. Countersink the hole with a larger drill bit (ex. 13/64" drill bit).
  5. Screw in an appropriately sized screw.

Step 4: Holes for Machine Screws

This step adds machine screw holes to all parts of the desk clamp.

Materials:
  • Drill Press
  • Marking Tool
  • Drill Bit Assortment
  • Template
  • Masking Tape
  • 1 of Wood Screw
  • 3 of 3" Hardwood Pieces
Procedure:
  1. Rotate the previous workpiece around the vertical axis 180° so that the wood screw is over 'D'
  2. Tape another 3" segment onto the newly rotated workpiece.
  3. Mark a hole over 'A' and 'B' using the marking tool & enlarge with a step-drill to the final drill-bit size (ex. 5/32 drill bit).
  4. Drill a hole over 'A' such that it goes all the way through.
  5. Drill a hole over 'B' such that it goes through the two top-most pieces and 1/4 through the bottom-most piece.

Step 5: Top Piece Drilling

This step finalizes the drilling for the top piece of the clamp.

Materials:
  • Drill Press
  • Marking Tool
  • Drill Bit Assortment
  • Template
  • 1 of Wood Screw
  • 3 of 3" Hardwood Pieces
Procedure:
  1. Dissassemble the workpiece. Lay it out as pictured. From top-most image to bottom-most:
    • Top Piece: wood screw termination, 1/4 way hole, through hole
    • Middle Piece: wood screw countersink, through hole, through hole
    • Bottom Piece: through hole, through hole
  2. Using a large step-bit, enlarge the 1/4 way hole of the top piece to accomodate a much larger bit.
  3. Use a large drill bit to create a cavity for a machine screw & washer (ex. 1/2" drill bit).
  4. Rotate workpiece about the horizontal axis 90° over 'C', mark & drill (ex. 5/32" drill bit).

Step 6: Clamp Holes

This step finalizes holes for the clamp.

Materials:
  • Drill Press
  • Drill Bit Assortment
  • 10NC24 Tap
  • 3 of 3" Hardwood Pieces
Procedure:
  1. For the bottom piece with 2 holes, use a larger drill bit (ex. 3/16") to enlarge the holes for free movement of machine screws.
  2. With no power applied, manually rotate a tap into the smaller holes of the top and middle work pieces.

Step 7: Clamp Top

This step involves assembling the top portion of the desk clamp.

Materials:
  • Top Workpiece
  • Middle Workpiece
  • 4 of #10 Washers
  • 2 of 3" #10-24 Machine Screws
  • 2 of #10-24 Hex Nuts
  • 1 of Wood Screw
  • Screwdriver
  • Wrench
Procedure:
  1. Insert a washer onto the 3" screw.
  2. Insert the screw into the middle hole of the middle workpiece and tighten.
  3. Insert a washer onto the end coming through the middle workpiece.
  4. Tighten with a hex nut.
  5. Cover the middle workpiece / screw cap with the top workpiece.
  6. Screw in the wood screw.
  7. Insert a washer onto a 3" screw.
  8. Insert the screw into the top hole of the top workpiece and out through the middle workpiece and tighten.
  9. Insert a washer onto the end coming out.
  10. Tighten with a hex nut.

Step 8: Finish Clamp

This step adds felt to the clamp and assembles it for drying. To operate the clamp, set the outermost wingnut so that its space is approximately the size of the clamping surface, then tighten the centermost wingnut.

Materials:
  • Rubber Cement
  • Felt (Scrapbooking / Thin Type)
  • Top Assembly
  • Bottom Workpiece
  • 2 of #10 Washers
  • 2 of #10-24 Wingnuts
Procedure:
  1. Cut out two felt pads for the clamp.
  2. Attach felt pads to clamp using a coat of rubber cement applied to wood.
  3. Attach a wingnut followed by a washer to the outermost screw of the top assembly.
  4. Slide the bottom workpiece onto the top assembly.
  5. Attach a washer followed by a wingnut to the centermost screw of the top assembly.
  6. Attach the clamp onto a spare piece for drying.

Step 9: Camera Attachment

This step creates the camera attachment point. To operate it, screw the camera on, then move the plastic wingnut up to meet the camera. The tension between the two holds the camera in place.

Materials:
  • Drill Press
  • Drill Bit Assortment
  • Marking Tool
  • Dremel
  • Cutoff Wheel
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • 1 1/2" Workpiece
  • 1/4"-20 Screw
  • 1/4"-20 Plastic Wingnut
Procedure:
  1. Stand the workpiece such that the square portion faces upward.
  2. Pencil a crosshair from corner to corner.
  3. Mark & drill a hole at the center of the crosshair (ex. < 1/4").
  4. Cut the top off the 1/4" screw.
  5. Screw in / glue the threaded portion into the newly made hole.

Step 10: Arms & Hinges

This step involves the preparation of the tripod arms & hindges. Rosin is used to increase the friction / hold between the hinges. Rosin can be purchased as 'rosin bags' from sports stores or can be made by boiling pine sap.

Materials:
  • Drill Press
  • Marking Tool
  • Drill Bit Assortment
  • Atomizer (Perfume Bottle)
  • Solvent (Denatured Alcohol)
  • Rosin Powder
  • Masking Tape
  • 2 of 10" Workpieces
  • Camera Attachment
  • Clamp Assembly
Procedure:
  1. Using 'A' mark opposite sides of the 10" workpieces and of the camera attachment.
  2. Drill and tap one 10" workpiece (ex. 5/32" drill bit).
  3. Drill the other workpiece (ex. 3/16" drill bit).
  4. Cover area surrouding the 3/4" x 3/4" square around each hinge hole with masking tape.
  5. Make a 50/50 mixture (by volume) of rosin powder and solvent.
  6. Spray mixture onto each hinge with an atomizer.
  7. Allow time for mixture to dry (30 minutes).

Step 11: Finish!

In this step, final assembly takes place. You can use the tripod for distant shots overhead, or for closeups by adjusting the angle.

Materials:
  • Camera Attachment
  • 2 of 10" Workpieces
  • Clamp Assembly
  • 3 of 2" #10-24 Machine Screws
  • 6 of #10 Washers
  • 3 of #10-24 Wingnuts
  • Screwdriver
Procedure:
  1. Screw in a washer + screw into each end of the tapped 10" workpiece and the side of the clamp.
  2. Slide the other 10" workpiece onto the screws protruding from the clamp side and first 10" workpiece.
  3. Slide the camera attachment onto the other end of the tapped 10" workpiece.
  4. Add a washer + wingnut to each protruding screw.