Mono-Cane

Not long ago, I went to the Philadelphia Zoo with my family. Walking has been a problem for me lately due to a very painful knee and I thought that, perhaps, if I used my monopod as a hiking stick it might make it easier for me to get around. I have a 3 Legged Thing monopod (Bob Model) that’s listed as having a 30 lb. weight bearing capacity and it comes with a foam grip and wrist strap. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The monopod had the strength that I needed, but the wrist strap is too short to be comfortable when you flex your wrist to “plant” the walking stick as you ambulate. It also quickly became apparent that, while walking on paved level ground, using it as a walking stick didn’t alleviate the pressure on my knee as I had hoped. What I really needed was a cane, but carrying a cane, my camera and a monopod for my camera was going to be a hassle – juggling three things with only two hands.

That got me to thinking that there must be a way to convert a monopod into a cane, leaving the monopod readily available to mount my camera on when I need it. Then I had a Rube Goldberg moment. I had a Manfrotto 234RC monopod head with quick release mounted on my monopod, and I had an extra mounting plate lying around. I thought, “what if I could mount a cane handle of some sort to the mounting plate? Then I could snap the handle on and off the monopod at will and quickly convert it from a cane to a monopod and back.”

By the time I left the zoo, I had formulated a plan in my head. When I got home I started looking for an inexpensive cane handle I could use, but I came up empty. Then I thought about what I could use as a cane handle and it dawned on me that a gear shift knob would work. The thread on the ends of gear shift sticks are different sizes car by car, but manufacturers of specialty replacement knobs include several different size nylon threaded insert adapters with their products to make them a “universal” product. I found an old school 8 Ball gear shift knob and I also found metal 1/4” to 3/8” screw adapters for monopod and tripod ball heads. Using the nylon adapter that came with the gear shift knob that was too small for the metal screw adapter (none of them were the right size), I first glued it into the gear shift 8 Ball and further secured it using the set screws that came with the shift knob. Then, using a tap, I created a 3/8” thread in the adapter (after the glue had set).  I then screwed the metal 1/4” to 3/8” screw adapter on the 1/4" screw of the quick release plate and then screwed the quick release plate snugly into the nylon adapter in the gear shift knob. All that was left was to snap the quick release plate onto the monopod and adjust the length of the monopod to use as a cane.  Please see photos, below.

Now, when I go urban hiking with my camera, I have a cane that converts to a monopod with the flick of a quick release lever. I love Rube Goldberg.

Here is the finished product, standing on a Benro ST1 Hydraulic Universal Three feet Support Stand. I don't use the Benro while the monopod is in "cane Mode", but I find it helpful in steadying the monopod while shooting.

                Metal ¼” to 3/8” screw

                adapter.

Underside of gear shift with threaded nylon insert fastened in place, and monopod quick release plate with metal 1/4” to 3/8” screw adapter attached.

Finished quick release cane head assembly.