My DIY Should Mount

J

jamesstone

Member
Hello folks,

A couple of years ago, I made a should mount that was made of metal pipe. It worked okay but it was a tad heavy. So on the insistence of my co worker, I decided to take the plunge and build a new one out of aluminum.

The whole thing cost about $90.00 US. Here's what I used and where I got them.

1 piece @ $16.34/piece
Aluminum 6061-T6 Bare
Drawn Tube
0.625" x 0.125" x 0.375"
Cut to: 24"

1 piece @ $20.99/piece
Aluminum 6061-T6
Seamless Tube
0.875" x 0.125" x 0.625"
Cut to: 36"

total with shipping about $41.00

(6) Aluminum split shaft collars from Mcmasters & Carr = $32.00

4' of 3/8" Aluminum rod from Orchard supply hardware = $7.00

3 qtsf of foam padding from OSH = $3.50

1 can of Duplicolor MetalCast Blue "Anodized" spray paint = $7.00

1 can of Black Plasticoat from OSH = $7.00

(4) Aluminum electrical lugs to use as mounting brackets = free from work.

I was able to save money from by getting the aluminum sheets from work and cutting them down to size there. I also had my friend weld the pieces together at work. If I were to do it again, I would get a drill press and drill/tap the pieces together instead of welding them.

So after three weeks of using company time to put it together here's what I came up with. It took a lot of polishing to get the shine.

I just finished it last night, so I haven't had a chance to field test it yet. Let me know what you guys think.

James

smfront.jpg


shoulder-mount-upper-back.jpg


Shoulder-mount-undercarriage.jpg


shoulder-mount-mount.jpg




shoulder-mount-lower-back.jpg
 
Last edited:
yeah I know, but short of powder coating it, paint doesn't like to stick to it. So I just left it alone and I don't like the look of dull aluminum away.
 
They are pretty close. The space between the two main tubes is about 3 1/2". I find it comfortable tucking my elbows in using my my forearms as a brace. Maybe in v.2 I'll bend the arms out 15 degrees or so.
 
jamesstone said:
yeah I know, but short of powder coating it, paint doesn't like to stick to it. So I just left it alone and I don't like the look of dull aluminum away.
Click to expand...

jamesstone,

Perhaps if you use an etching primer like zinc chromate you will have better luck with your paint sticking. A company called Illinois Bronze use to make a spray primer that would stick to most any metal even galvanized steel. I know this to be true caused I used it on some G.S. on my house in so. Oregon that was at 5,000 foot and was subjected to lots of rain and snow and the paint never peeled or flaked in seven years.
Don't know if the product is still out there but boy it sure worked well. You can also get anodising that is fairly flat.

cheers,

Chuck
 
After some more people critiqued the mount, I've decided to make some changes to it.

The first thing I'm going to do is strip it down and powder coat the everything matte black except the shaft collars, which I'll make either red or blue.

Then I'll cut down the main tubes almost on half, this tightened up the unit more, and I flared out the handle arms roughly 15 degrees. I'll post new pics when I get them.

~James
 
Ok here goes version 2. I bought myself a Craftsman powder coating gun and re-finished it. I also had to trim some off the shoulder piece to make it fit in the toaster oven. I also but a bend in the handles so that they flare out a bit. My friend is field testing it today on a shoot so I'm sure V 2.1a is right around the corner. Oh and the nut in the top is just keeping the mounting screw there so I don't loose it.

Let me know what you guys think.
Black-cam-support.jpg

Black-cam-support-2.jpg
 
That looks great.

I'm going to google craftsman powder coating gun right now...
 
That's the same website, I saw that made me want to go out and get it. I'm looking over ebay for some translucent red and blue powder to give it that anodized look.

James
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top