The title sounds a bit like an arts and crafts project, doesn’t it? Well, today we’re going to make a bean bag stand for Nest Cam or DropCam Pro. A photo of the completed bean bag stand for Nest Cam or DropCam Pro accompanies this article.
With all of the alternative mounts available for a Nest Cam or DropCam Pro, why make a bean bag stand? Good question. This particular project came to be out of a unique monitoring requirement. I needed to temporarily locate a camera on a window ledge and give it some lift. More lift than the stand included with the Nest Cam or DropCam.
As I go through the instruction on how to make a bean bag stand for Nest Cam or DropCam, be aware the instructions are the same for either model. After all, a DropCam is nothing more than a generation old Nest Cam. Remember, Nest purchased DropCam a few years back. They have since kept most of the outer shell but updated the lens and software of the DropCam Pro to make a Nest Cam. This mount will work with the Nest Cam Indoor model, not the Nest Cam Outdoor as that is a totally different form factor.
So here are the parts that you will need to make a bean bag stand for Nest Cam or DropCam Pro:
Bracketron Nav-Mat Friction Dash Pad – this is the bean bag portion used for the base. Often used to turn a GPS suction cup mount into one for the dash, these work well for our project. The bean bag base weighs in at about two pounds. A heavy duty part that I have used for miscellaneous things over the years.
Nest Cam & Dropcam Pro Outdoor Gooseneck Mounting Arm – A nifty and inexpensive addition for a Nest Cam or DropCam Pro. This part lifts the camera 7.5 inches off the base. These are normally sold for outdoor use but can be used inside too.
3M VHB Tape 5952, 1″ Diameter Circles – You only need one, but this is the smallest package I could find. The VHB type is very important. VHB is an acronym for Very High Bond. You might be tempted to use a more inexpensive type but don’t do it. VHB is among the strongest bonds that I know of. The shape of the tape doesn’t matter. I recommend the 1″ circle because it fits the base of the gooseneck arm the best. If you have a roll of 3M VHB, cut off a one inch strip and it will work fine.
Now to put the three parts together.
First prepare the Bracketron Nav-Mat. That’s easy. Remove the Nav-May from the package and put it on a flat surface. Remove the clear plastic covering over the middle part. Next, place the 3M adhesive tape right in the middle of the Nav-Mat plastic disk. Don’t remove the upper protective coating just yet.
Next, it’s time for the gooseneck mounting arm. The Nest Cam or DropCam must be removed from the included stand. There are two small tabs located on the camera. Press them in and push the camera from the included stand. More detailed removal instructions can be found in our article called How to Remove a DropCam or Nest Cam from the Stand.
I really like the gooseneck mounting arm. It’s heavy dity and made of metal. Unscrew the clear lens. Now, insert the included micro USB cable into the camera, line it up with the custom cutout on the mount and screw the lens back on.
Next press the round base of the gooseneck mounting arm onto the Nav-Mat bean bag base. Do not bend the gooseneck yet. Just let it sit for 24 hours. This will give the 3M VHB tape time to set properly. Put it in a corner and don’t touch it for a day.
After a day, the bond has strengthened and you just made a bean bag stand for Nest Cam or DropCam. Bend the gooseneck to the needed angle and pop the bean bag wherever it’s needed. The camera can be easily removed and inserted so when you want it back in the stock stand it’s no problem.
All of these articles are written by someone (me) that figured out how to do this stuff the hard way. I have owned and tested dozens of cameras. Manufacturer support varies. There are a few good companies that provide timely answers when you have questions. There are several that sell you the camera and seem to have little interest in post sales support (which leads me to finding out stuff the hard way).
