HOW to drill the gopro3 case for the mic adapter?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Cagerontwowheels

Wannabie Member
So I found a usb-3.5mm mic adapter locally in stock.
Before I fully figured out what happened, I was out the store, and 25€ poorer.
Now... I cant use it untill I do two things:

1) Drill a hole in the side of my gopro housing
2) buy another gopro housing to keep the underwater waterproof capabilities.

I'd prefer the drill option, as I vlog in the rain (cue Frank Sinatra: "I'm vlooooooging in the rain... vloooooging in the rain... what a wonderfull feeling, I'm vlooooooging in the rain....).

Thing is... HOW to do it? I am pretty unskilled (but I can learn). and I got not many tools.
Only thing I got is a big ass drill thingy (one of these, corded and all), with various drill bits:
Black-and-Decker-DR650.png


I use it to open holes in wall to hang stuff (with a 50% success rate, meaning half the stuff falls to the ground within 3 months, screw, that plastic spacer and all). It has stone drill bits (for the concrete/plaster/brick walls), and some other drill bits wich I think are for wood or somethin.

Can I use this? Should I get a more tool-savvy friend to do it?

The final idea is to have as small hole as possible, then seal it best I can against rain using... something. Tack, a rubber gasket, tape, something. Ill figure it out.
 
Use a Dremel or other rotary tool to cut the hole. Use Sugru to build the edges back up to create some water resistance in case you get caught in the rain.


Sent from mobile device, forgive the janky grammar and spelling.
 
I drilled my own case...drilled the hole a little too big. Simple fix, just put blu-tak around the outside to make it water tight. Thus no water will get it.

tacky but simple solution.
 
I DID IT!

And if I can do it, anyone can.

I used the above drill, with a wood drill bit -3mm, I think (its just a simpe, helical drill, not the "arrow" shaped brick/mortar one).
First, I put some masking tape over the spot.
Then I put the camera inside the case
Then, paint the masking tape on the place where Ill need the hole.
Then remove camera, remove back door, remove hinge

Put striped-down case on a table (lens side up), and press it down firmly with your (gloved) hand.
Then slowly start drilling. As soon as you got a hole that prevents the drill from sliding around, go slightly faster. Youll be pushing though in a couple seconds!

TIP: Drill TWO wholes. The USB port is much bigger than you'd expect. Drill one on each end.

Then take a small file (I used a diamond file I have from some modeling) to the case, and expand the hole till the usb thingy goes through.

TOP TIP: When its almost done, its easier to strip the USB PLUG of plastic than to keep filing it down. The gopro adaptor has lots of extra plastic, remove it (VERY)carefully with an exacto knife.

Sugru is incoming, to make it rain-proof.
New case is already at home, for the underwater shots.


Results: Excellent quality, very good sound processing.
My external recorder was better though - not only in removing wind noise, as with removing the sound impact from the letters "P" and "S". But this is 90% quality with 5% of the trouble. More than worth it. And I can now charge the gopro withought taking it off the case.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kSPFAsKFk[/youtube]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Winners Video

Website Supported by Ipswich SEO
Back
Top