Can't reach those ceilings without a ladder?

[Rick A. Harrington]

While using my infrared camera I come across a lot of suspect areas high on a wall or on the ceiling and I'm 5' 10" and cannot reach the area to test the suspicious spot without a ladder and this is very time comsuming.

I've enclosed some pictuers of what I came up with to help out.

In the painting section there is a 2 foot extension from Wooster and I've added a threaded heavy putty knife.

Add some velcro and there you have it. The velcro on the front of the moisture meter allows for invasive and non-invasive use and extend your reach to over 10 feet.

This is also helpful in the attic to reach into the low areas.

Hope this helps some other vertically challenged inspectors.

[bdoles2]

Dang...cool. I'll be at the HD in the morning to get that.

Reminds me of my extension for taking aerial shots with my camera. I've put together a 24' extension pole with a tripod head attached to the top. Mount my camera and use the remote shutter release. Works great.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Very clever idea. I did something similar a couple years ago and still use it today. If anyone can use these ideas it saves a lot of time and wear and tear on the inspector. I bought my telescoping aluminum pole ($4) at a Big Lots garden section, drilled out the rivet holding the tool end on, bought a pinch clamp (Big Lots again). I went to Radio Shack and bought an extension cord for the pin cord (about $7). I can hold the moisture meter in one hand, put the pins on the suspect area using the extension pole. Born out of a lazy streak, I hate moving a ladder around the house and bumping into walls and things. Everything is extremely lightweight. Collapsed down it fits under the back seat of the truck out of the way.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Couple more photos. One area I find this extemely useful is inside skylight shafts. There are almost some stains there and this can get right to them without me trying to stuff my butt up into the skylight while tettering on a ladder.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Clever ideas all, thanks for sharing.

[Linas I. Dapkus]

You guys should patent your ideas and join the vendors here on the MB.

[Erby Crofutt]

Specto-Scope has been around for years & years.

http://www.nachi.org/spectoscope.htm

When I first read Rick's first comment I thought he was just whining.

Instead he's here sharing with the rest of us.
Way to go Rick.

[David A. Andersen]

I did the same, with an air velometer to check air flow at hvac supply air registers.

Don't need it now with the IR Cam.

Great ideas guys. Now I have something to do with my pole assy. !

[Rick A. Harrington]

Brian,

Can you give us a bit more info on the "Camera on a pole" trick?

Your camera has a remote shutter button?

Thanks,
Rick

[Brian E. Kelly]

Different Brian, but here goes. Many cameras have a shutter release remote control.
Shutter Remote

Originally Posted by rharrington

Brian,

Can you give us a bit more info on the "Camera on a pole" trick?

Your camera has a remote shutter button?

Thanks,
Rick

[rcooke]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hummingbird-Shooter/

introHummingbird Shooter
Late this summer, hummingbirds finally began visiting the feeder we'd put up on our back porch. I wanted to try and get some digital shots of them, but couldn't stand there with a camera "in range"--they'd never come.

I needed a remote cable release so I could set the camera up on a tripod, aim it at the hummingbird feeder, and release the shutter from a distance away. Problem is, my camera, like most digital snapshooters, isn't equipped for remote shutter release.

Although an earlier instructible had a great hack for opening up the camera and tapping into its electronics, I didn't want to permanently modify my camera, and wasn't sure I would be able to do the surgery without damaging something.

So after some thought, I designed this simple fixture using low-tech parts readily available for $10 or less that allows you to leave your camera intact, but still allows you to "sneak" up on wildlife, have camera on elevated position, and other remote-shutter release situations.


...Cookie

[Michael Larson]

I don't know Roy.
I usually don't inspect for the presence for hummingbirds myself.

[rcooke]

Originally Posted by mlarson

I don't know Roy.
I usually don't inspect for the presence for hummingbirds myself.

The reason they humm is because they do not know the words.

...Cookie

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

My way is much easier. If I don't see any issues in the attic, I say: "There is a moisture stain on the ceiling that should be explained or explored further."

[bdoles2]

Originally Posted by rcooke

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hummingbird-Shooter/

introHummingbird Shooter
Late this summer, hummingbirds finally began visiting the feeder we'd put up on our back porch. I wanted to try and get some digital shots of them, but couldn't stand there with a camera "in range"--they'd never come.

I needed a remote cable release so I could set the camera up on a tripod, aim it at the hummingbird feeder, and release the shutter from a distance away. Problem is, my camera, like most digital snapshooters, isn't equipped for remote shutter release.

Although an earlier instructible had a great hack for opening up the camera and tapping into its electronics, I didn't want to permanently modify my camera, and wasn't sure I would be able to do the surgery without damaging something.

So after some thought, I designed this simple fixture using low-tech parts readily available for $10 or less that allows you to leave your camera intact, but still allows you to "sneak" up on wildlife, have camera on elevated position, and other remote-shutter release situations.


...Cookie

So Roy, what's the low tech part.(nevermind I finally got smart enough to click the link ) As an avid photographer I'd like to be able to set my point and shoot up for remote. My 40D has the remote, but sometimes it's just too bulky.

Those hummers are hard to get good shots of. I did get a good shot many years ago with digital, but it was when quality kind of sucked.


Here are some of my recent photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/16922750@N00/show/