Watch: This DIY GorillaPod Is Easy, Fast, and Dirt Cheap to Make
Need a tabletop tripod fast? You can make one yourself with just two supplies.
GorillaPods are a desirable product for filmmakers because they can be bent into almost any shape you want. You can wrap them around stuff, mount them to stuff, and form them into whichever shape is easiest for operating your camera. However, they cost money...not a whole lot of money, but money nonetheless, so if you're strapped for cash and need a piece of gear that does a lot of what a GorillaPod does, then you should check out what the DIYCameraGuy has got cookin'.
Back in February, the DIYCameraGuy used some Nite Ize Gear Ties to make a DIY microphone shock mount that didn't require any hardware in order to assemble it. Well, he's back to show you how to make a DIY GorillaPod using the same inexpensive gear ties and a carriage bolt.
Okay, you're only going to need two materials...one if you're like most humans who have bolts lying around somewhere.
- 24" Nite Ize Gear Ties (x4)
- 1/4" -20 carriage bolt (x1)
- GoPro ball head (optional)
All together this stuff will cost you about $10, unless you listened to my advice last time and stocked up on Gear Ties (or something similar), in which case you already have a bunch of them and this would be free.
Of course, if you want to use a ball head and don't have one, you'll have to shell out anywhere from $8 to $40. These things range in build quality, so just be aware that you might be getting a plastic piece of crap whose threading will wear out after a handful of uses.
This build is great for those who find themselves in a pinch while on a shoot. You can wrap this thing around pretty much anything; you can also try using longer Gear Ties if you're more interested wrapping the legs around stuff to mount your camera. I'm not sure how much weight it'd be able to support as a tabletop tripod, so if you're trying to shoot on something heavier than a GoPro, like a mirrorless camera or something, you might have to add a few Gear Ties to the build to bolster the legs. Honestly, I would test that out on a safe, soft surface before taking it out, just in case the whole thing caves in on itself and you're left with a damaged camera.
Source: DIYCameraGuy
