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How to Make a Motorcycle Helmet Camera

You love motorcycling, and you want to capture video from the road while you ride? It's easy! You need a "Helmet Cam." There's no need to spend big bucks to have a great helmet cam mount. Let's get started.

Things You'll Need

A plastic motorcycle helmet - that you don't mind altering.
A digital camera with video mode, or a SMALL video camera. Needs a strap.
A "Web-cam" tri-pod. Get it at wal-mart. ($5-10)
Epoxy or similar powerful adhesive.
A square of coarse sand-paper

Instructions

- 1
  
  Take the webcam tripod and snap off the legs. Next, sand (or grind) the bottom of the base (top piece) until it is smooth and flat. Set it aside.
- 2
  
  Find the top and center point of the helmet- the place you want to afix the camera. Place the webcam tripod piece on the top of the helmet and trace a circle around it with a grease pencil or marker. Take the coarse sandpaper and sand off the glossy finish on the top of the helmet. This will provide a good place for the camera mount to adhere to.
- 3
  Prepare the epoxy or other glue compound (make sure it is rated for plastics) and secure the tripod base to the sanded spot on the helmet's top. Allow to cure thoroughly.
- 4
  After curing for at least 24 hrs, you are ready to ride! The webcam tripod base has the standard mounting screw that fits any digital or other camera. IMPORTANT: after mounting the camera, loop the helmet's chin strap through the camera's strap so that if the mount breaks while riding, you won't drop the camera!
- 5
  This cheap and easy to make helmet cam will work much better than expensive 'bike mount' cams because your body will absorb all of the vibrations of the bike, giving you smooth, clear video. Also, the camera will always be pointing where you are looking - which is usually where the interesting stuff is. Check my link below for youtube videos made using this kind of mount.

Photography