Camera Mount (how to save some ca$h)

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:16 am

I got a new digital video camera for X-mas this year. I thought it would be cool to get some track video if I could do it w/o all the hassle of the previous setup I had. The new all digital camera definitely would help, but I still needed an in-car mount.

From what I’ve seen, not much beats the I/O Port Racing camera mount for a roll bar. It has tons of adjustment to get the camera just where you want it. They must think a lot of this thing since it’s $110.00 though. FYI, this is the one I’m talking about in case you aren’t familiar with it:

I like that mount, but $110 seems mighty steep to me. I mentioned it to Kendt and in 10 mins he sends me a link to this which is $34.95 for the same head used in the I/O port setup.

So I ordered the new head, then proceeded to buy the other parts needed to make my own mount. I bought two of these at AutoZone:

I didn't want to marr the powdercoat on my roll bar so I bought one of these 1/8" thick rubber sewer couplings at Lowe's:

I welded the muffler clamps to a 1/8" steel plate, and after a little grinding, and painting I ended up with this:

Total invested...about $50. A pretty decent savings for an afternoons work IMO.

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:59 am

Nice job VK, now sell them for $80.00 and you've got a cottage industry going !!!!! Start taking orders at the next event.

After LeMons is over We can take orders on other performance enhancements for low cost... Or not.

WalterHouston · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:29 am

I'll take one!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:45 am

WalterHouston wrote:

I'll take one!

It mounts to a roll bar old man...last I checked you didn't have one.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Bernie Baake wrote:

Nice job VK, now sell them for $80.00 and you've got a cottage industry going !!!!! Start taking orders at the next event.

After LeMons is over We can take orders on other performance enhancements for low cost... Or not.

Seriously VK - you should! The IO Port is way overpriced. I know I want one when I get a bar installed

.

I'll advertise on the LeMons forum - lots of people who just built cars that could use an inexpensive camera mount.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:29 pm

Vincent - how does the head attach to the plate? bolted through the bottom?

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

Vincent - how does the head attach to the plate? bolted through the bottom?

Trade secret :lol:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:36 pm

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

Vincent - how does the head attach to the plate? bolted through the bottom?

Yes. The head is threaded for standard tripod which is 3/8-16NC pitch IIRC.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:29 pm

Very nice!

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:03 pm

I would buy one!

robharvey · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:50 pm

Nice job VK!

I'm curious where to find some type of bushing (ie, the red thing at the base of the IO Port version) to help dampen the vibration and keep it from being transmitted to the camera. Any thoughts??

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:22 am

robharvey wrote:

Nice job VK!

I'm curious where to find some type of bushing (ie, the red thing at the base of the IO Port version) to help dampen the vibration and keep it from being transmitted to the camera. Any thoughts??

That "bushing" is polyurethane and is relatively hard as a rock. My thinking is my use of the rubber coupling between the bar and the mount will dampen more vibration than the I/O Port bushing. Only time will tell after the test this weekend. I can always add something if need be. Either way, itr wont cost me an extra $60.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:19 am

robharvey wrote:

Nice job VK!

I'm curious where to find some type of bushing (ie, the red thing at the base of the IO Port version) to help dampen the vibration and keep it from being transmitted to the camera. Any thoughts??

If you made up a mold, you could use something like 3M Window Weld. It's gotten more expensive in the last couple years, but a caulk tube of it is still around $12, and it will dry to a semi-hard rubber. Also useful for filling old busted engine mounts on Hondas.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:24 am

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

If you made up a mold, you could use something like 3M Window Weld. It's gotten more expensive in the last couple years, but a caulk tube of it is still around $12, and it will dry to a semi-hard rubber. Also useful for filling old busted engine mounts on Hondas.

Ryan and I used some of that stuff once and it is very messy. I'm sure it would work like you suggested.

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:38 am

VK, I think that its worth a try without damping. newer cameras are stabilized so the vibrations may not be a problem. I agree with you on the rock hard poly dampener not taking out vibration. To take out high frequency vibrations the dampener would need to be super soft. Test it before even considering any mods.

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Camera Mount (how to save some ca$h)

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