Iphone or Camera Tripod #1: Getting Started.... Tripod Legs.....

This is a great project for your scrap wood laying around the shop. I’m building this entire thing out of left over wood. This is all my own design. Not really going for looks…..but for functionality. By the end of it it’ll work for a Iphone AND a digital camera. This is my “practice” tripod, as i’m not using any plans….just designing/building as i progress…. (except for the blueprint below which needed to be perfect). If this one turns out really nice and functional maybe I’ll build an even nicer one. Anyways, hope you enjoy. If you have any questions let me know, but hopefully the pictures show enough. Thanks for looking…....

So the picture above is what I have done so far. The basic mechanics are in place. Nothing is sanded or anything like that yet.
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Above is a close up of the top mechanism. It will have a 1/2 dowel up through the middle that can raise and lower the iphone on the tripod. A threaded T-nut will be inserted into the round piece of wood and a bolt will hold the position of the dowel.
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The mechanics of the tripod so far without the donut-shaped piece of wood on top (which will be glued in place)
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Above shows the channel cut into the legs to accept the smaller legs that will be able to slide up and down to increase the height as needed
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Here the smaller legs are in the channel and you can see how much height it will gain from this! I will router a slot through the bigger legs, and a knob will tighten on a bolt in the smaller legs, to hold it into place
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Above is the “holder” for the iphone(4). The part that you can see in the picture is how you’ll look at the screen. It is cut short enough that the iphone’s lens peaks over the top, and is not obstructed. I will use picture frame holders (that hold the backing of picture frames in) on the edges that can hold the iphone in place and then turn them to get it back out.
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Above is the template I created for the mechanics of the tri-pod. Feel free to print them out if you so choose to build your own.

Tomorrow I will be working on the top mechanism that connects the Iphone Holder to the tripod and allows the Iphone to tilt forwards and backwards. not sure if I’ll make it so you can tilt it side to side, as I think I’ll just adjust the legs for that motion. This tripod will also be able to be used on a regular camera, not just my iphone. Stay tuned to see the rest of it, hopefully tomorrow. Thanks for looking. Comments always welcome!

-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!