Homebrew Trailcameras

[bow4elk]

Would love to see pics of the template process if anyone is camera happy.

[Bones]

You will see pictures, and you will get a template in the mail.
Bones

[bow4elk]

Wow - bill me...serioulsy.  Your help and encouragement isn't "free" in my book.  Teaching us to "fish" will feed us for years to come.  At the very least PM me your address so I can send you some of my homemade '08 deer jerky.  (And let me know your spice/heat threshold).  Thanks Bones!

[Bones]

This week-end, I am going to make templates out of 1/4" plywood. This will fit perfectly in the lid. The plywood will have seven 1/16" holes drilled in it. All you have to do is drill the seven holes in the case lid.  I drill my cases with my cordless drill. You hold the lid firmly on a block of wood, and the 1/16" hole serves as a starter point for the tip of a paddle bit. You will drill three half inch holes for the flash and af illuminator, a 1 1/4" hole for the camera lens, 2- 1/4" holes for the aluminum angle, and a 1" hole for for the PIR lens. Then you use the Dremel to clean up and connect the three holes for the flash.
  Next, you bolt the angle in the lid and install the camera. Power up the camera to check the fit. Now you are ready to glue the case extension in place. After the glue sets up in a few minutes, you glue the lenses in place. You will drill 2 1/4" holes for the eyebolts, and a 3/4" hole for the external switch. After the lens are installed, it is time for the first coat of BondoGlass. With the template, and having the angles, lens and PVC fittings already made, this will go pretty fast.. All you should have to do when you get home, is finish the painting and sealing on the case.
Bones

[Ridgeratt]

Bones after reading your post. It looks like you are splitting the reducer to get standoffs for the PIR and the lens extension. When I count the hole in the template that means the control board is mounted to the back of the case. I have picked up both a 1 inch and a 1 1/4 exact size hole saw which should help in the case prep.I'm still guessing as to the placement of the single strength glass to keep this some what water tight. Looks like I'm reading again.

[Bones]

Ridgeratt. The control board is in the main case. That is why we ordered boards with front mounted controls. The pictures I posted at the beginning of this thread were of a camera I built for a friend in Colorado. That board had back mounted controls and it was under the camera. That is the way he wanted his camera, but I did not like it at all. It was very hard to plug in the power cable and the camera cable. There was barely enough room to get your fingers on the thumb screw, and the board had to be an inch below the thumb screw to be able to get to it. When the board is in the main case, the camera moves away from the board when you open the case. This is the way all of my cameras are, but my cameras are in 1060 cases. This is the first time I have done it that way in the small 1040 case. I had to figure out how to make it work. I have it figured out now, and I really like it.
  I will post pics of that camera tonight. It is the nicest camera I have built.
  The single strength glass in plenty, and ALL of the goop seals are reinforced by BondoGlass. None of the goop is exposed to the weather. Bondo Glass is a combination of Bondo and fiberglass. This stuff is used to patch boats. These cameras do not leak, and there are no shadows. The flash lens is on the outside of the case. The BondoGlass covers all the edges and the seam between the extension and the glass.
Bones

[gramps]

You guys are gonna like this.  The case work takes 90% of the time.  The camera work doesn't take much time at all.

[bigdave]

Guys,

I just wanted to condense some of the info from this thread concerning what we need to have for the Cam building day. I thought I would post it here so others might benefit. It is scheduled for 8:00am, Saturday, Jan. 24th at my home. I will PM all guys on the list with my address and directions this weekend. By the way, I'm looking forward to learning your names!!

Currently on the list for attendance:
Bones
Bigdave+2
Ridgeratt
Grizzly95 +2
Bearbait
Gramps
Machias
Baseballstud20
Olsy
Whacker1


What you need if you want to build: (Feel free to come just to learn even if you don't have all the stuff)

I quote Bones here:

All anyone needs to bring besides the camera and the order from Yeti is "
2-  i/4"x 3/4" bolts and nuts
1- 1/4" x 1/2" thumb screw with one nut
4- 6x32 screws 1 1/4" long

I will have bondo, paint, tools, soldering iron, drill bits, tools.

Regarding the Pelican case, black, #1040....Ridgeratt has some extras you might PM him
Velcro strap for securing Battery........Bearbait??

Machias will bring tables
Grizzly95 has some chairs, you might bring one if you have one
Ridgeratt has supplied us with some MOOSE for the chili!!!
Bearbait, did you say you had some 2wire connectors from radio shack to share?

Let me know if I missed you on the list or if I missed a component or if I missed anything else.
Happy building west-side guys!!
 
 

[Machias]

"Ridgeratt has supplied us with some MOOSE for the chili!!!"  Yea baby!!!!! 

If you need anything else, please let me know.

Bones and Gramps, please drive safe fellas!

[Grizzly95]

It is scheduled for 8:00am

No beauty sleep that weekend

[Grizzly95]

How many chairs we might be needing? How's the parking area bigdave, now that the snow has melted I'm sure it's not too bad.

[bigdave]

We'll have to get a little creative with the parking but we can fit everyone nearby.

[Grizzly95]

If the weather turns and you need some help clearing parking areas let me know, I can usually get a skid steer from work.

[whacker1]

Looking forward to it - 8:00 a.m. it is.

Do we need to bring anything to go along with the Chili?  Possibly beer?  I would be happy to bring a box or two of beer, but I didn't want to step anyone's toes either.

Regards,

Neil

[Ridgeratt]

Bones after re-reading this post once again. I saw an item I missed from your parts list that was where you stated the power connector from the switch to the yeti board. Not sure if I was the only one that missed this. But being the "enemy of good" I will come up with a solution.