Trial and Error: 2012

After buying the GoPro Hero 2 and some of the accessories I found that I never had enough bolts, always short by one bolt and had to rob from another accessory to make my set up work the way I wanted. I found some good alternatives at ACE Hardware that worked really well.

I was able to create a long bolt for $2.20, and the short bolt for $1.40 (USD). All that was needed was thumb screws, and some aluminum spacers.

Parts list for Long Bolt (Option 1): $2.40 (USD)
1 - 2" 10-32 Thumb screw ($1.10)
1 - 1" 10-32 aluminum spacer ($.75)
1 - 5/16 10-32 aluminum spacer ($.55)

Parts list for Long Bolt (Option 2): $2.95 (USD)
1 - 2" 10-32 Thumb screw ($1.10)
1 - 3/4" 10-32 aluminum spacer ($.75)
2 - 5/16 10-32 aluminum spacer ($.55)

Parts list for Short Bolt: $1.40 (USD)
1 - 1" 10-32 Thumb screw ($.85)
1 - 5/16 10-32 aluminum spacer ($.55)

Amazingly enough the spacing matches exactly to what the GoPro bolts do and fit into existing nut caps. On the long bolt options if you lose the cap nut the 5/16 spacer will fit in the same (nut hole?) hole without damaging plastic in order to keep filming. I did find an alternative to the GoPro nut which doesn't look good but works, I used a 1/2" 10-32 hex nut pictured at the very bottom, I like it because I can hold onto it when tightening or using gloves in the cold.

I have used these bolts with my GoPro rigs and found them to work out very well. One word of caution is when using the aluminum spacers in salt water, be sure to rinse really well with fresh water and let them dry vertically so all the water escapes, otherwise they will corrode. Better yet take them apart to dry if you can.

Below are photos of the finished product/comparison:
I showed the aluminum spacers screwed out so you could see how I assembled them. Be sure to screw all the way tight and check against your GoPro housing to make sure proper fit.