Like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor, I like more power. (Grunt, grunt.) And like it always turned out for Tim, more power isn't necessarily a good thing.
In a recent blog post I wrote ...
The Ulanzi MagSafe tripod mount (5) is magnetic on one side and connects to the magnet on the bottom of the kitchen timer (4). I wish both magnets were stronger, but the grip seems to be strong enough to hold the time lapse/hyperlapse camera rig securely. Source Credit: Sky Lapse 360 © 2025, a blog post by Walter Sanford.
Imagine my delight when I discovered a video on YouTube that shows how to make an inexpensive magnetic tripod mount for GoPro action cameras. The homemade mount uses a 65 lb. magnet -- now that's a much stronger magnet than the Ulanzi MagSafe tripod mount! All of the parts are currently available from Home Depot, although I'm guessing you can find the same items from other hardware vendors.
Everything was delivered within a few days after I placed my order. It took only a few minutes to assemble the mount. I inverted the mount shown in the YouTube video so that I could connect it to a tripod (rather than a GoPro camera mount) and attach the magnet side with the weaker magnet on the bottom of the kitchen timer.
The following photo shows the modified rig. From top to bottom the assembly includes a black 1/4"-20 (female) to 1/4"-20 (female) adapter/coupler, 65 lb. magnet (magnet side down), and kitchen timer (magnet side up). Not shown: a 1/4"-20 x 1/2" combo round head stainless steel machine screw; and several stainless steel flat washers.
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| Magnetic mount modified for use with kitchen timer panorama rig. |
The next photo shows a side view of the modified magnet mount. From top to bottom the assembly includes the kitchen timer (magnet side down), 65 lb. magnet (magnet side up), and a black 1/4"-20 (female) to 1/4"-20 (female) adapter/coupler. My GoPro HERO4 Black action camera connects to the top of the kitchen timer using a combination suction cup/ball head.
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| Magnetic mount (side view). |
So good so far, right? Oh no! When I tested the new mount, I discovered the 65 lb. magnet is so strong it caused the metal kitchen timer to stop rotating unexpectedly, and the bell doesn't ring when time is up. The latter is no big deal, but the former is a deal-breaker for creating panoramic time lapse videos.
I disassembled my version of the magnetic mount and reverted to the design shown in the video. The experiment wasn't a total bust -- I still ended up with a strong magnetic mount for my GoPro action camera.
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| Homemade magnetic mount for GoPro action cameras. |
Tech Tips
A paper insert inside the clear plastic package for the 65 lb. magnet says the center hole is 0.275" in diameter. That's slightly larger than 1/4" (0.25"), and is therefore large enough to work with 1/4"-20 screws like the ones featured on many tripod mounts.
The same information insert says the product is "magnetic on one side only." The silver side of the product is significantly less magnetic than the opposite side where the magnet is located, but it is slightly magnetic due to the strength of the 65 lb. magnet. Just FYI, in case that's a consideration.
Related Resources
Copyright © 2025 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
