Author Topic: Homemade wall-mounted boom arm (Read 70920 times)

secutanudu · « **on:** February 22, 2015, 11:47 AM »

So I made this homemade boom-arm today out of some 1.25" EMT and a few other plumbing parts. I do 90%+ of my hand-held power tool use at my bench, and since the Festool CT-Mini vac can't hold a boom arm, I decided to make my own. Cost me $35.

It pivots just like the festool arm and I can swing it against the wall when I'm not using it. I still need to cap the end (definitely) and paint it (maybe).

Just thought I'd share.

For those interested, the parts were:
1 - 10' length of 1.25" EMT conduit (cut down to about 4 feet)
1 - 1.25" EMT elbow
1 - 1.25" EMT screw coupling
1 - 1" Galvinized flange
1 - 1" Galvinized street elbow
1 - 1" x 4" Galvinized pipe nipple

Wuffles · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2015, 12:03 PM »

Fantastic work. I admit when I read plumbing parts I had visions of plastic pipe and it being a disaster.

Anyone know what that pipe is called in the UK?

secutanudu · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2015, 12:03 PM »

Thanks! The actual pipe is EMT electrical conduit, not plumbing pipe.

Wuffles · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2015, 12:05 PM »

My bad, I focussed on the words "plumbing parts".

socaljohn · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2015, 04:49 PM »

I love that design! Very simple/very efficient.

secutanudu · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2015, 05:09 PM »

Thanks, John!

NERemodeling · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2015, 12:01 AM »

Nice solution!!
looks like you got yourself a nice warm shop with all that spray foam! isnt that stuff amazing

JBag09 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2015, 08:59 AM »

Great job! Looks like that will work perfectly. I had considered doing the same thing awhile back.

secutanudu · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2015, 09:03 AM »

Love the spray foam!

Greg Powers · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2015, 02:34 PM »

simple but very effective design. And you saved a ton of money.

fdeloncker · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2015, 10:11 PM »

Looking good. I have wanted a boom arm for a while now, but havent convinced myself yet. It is a lot of money for a simple arm, but great accessory.

BigCountry73 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2015, 03:23 AM »

I was getting ready to purchase the Festool boom arm until I saw this post. Do you need to use an additional length of hose for it to function properly?

Thanks,

Keith

secutanudu · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2015, 04:29 PM »

Nope, but I also have a separator on top of the vacuum that makes the hose in with much higher up off the ground, eliminating any possibility that it isn't long enough.

Cheese · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2015, 04:57 PM »

Very clever...and simple. That's the beauty of it.

jacko9 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2015, 04:57 PM »

Nice solution.

Thunderchyld · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2015, 05:25 PM »

I like it. I'll probably wind up making one for myself. I think I'm going to make one addition to the design and use A T instead of the 90 degree fitting so that I can run either an air hose or an extension cord through it. Probably want to do some sort of liner as well, to prevent abrasion, possibly PEX tubing. I'll have to play around with some sizing, see exactly what works best.

Hawkeye1434 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2015, 10:31 PM »

Awesome job this is going to work perfect in my shop

mdelrossi · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2015, 07:29 PM »

Nice and simple.
I would put a plastic or foam cap on the end of the pipe

secutanudu · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2015, 07:55 PM »

I keep meaning to put a cap on it, but it hasn't been a problem yet. I doubt it will be.

franklin pug · « **Reply #19 on:** October 04, 2015, 08:15 PM »

Just wanted to say thanks for this awesome idea. I did exactly as you suggested, and cost me about 60 bucks CDN - here is how mine looks:

secutanudu · « **Reply #20 on:** November 01, 2017, 09:18 AM »

Ok, 2 years too late - glad to see someone used the design, looks great!

travisj · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2019, 03:11 PM »

I finally got around to doing this myself. The simplicity is brilliant and it works like a charm.

travisj · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2019, 03:13 PM »

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

secutanudu · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2019, 03:14 PM »

Awesome!

JimH2 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2019, 12:25 PM »

Quote from: secutanudu on January 31, 2019, 03:14 PM

Awesome!

Once you go boom you can't go back.

johnesher · « **Reply #25 on:** February 16, 2022, 08:00 PM »

I took inspiration from this post and finished (at least for now) my version of this arm. I found that I needed an additional flange with a tee fitting installed where the author had his street elbow. Without it when I moved the arm to the left side it loosened the street elbow from the flange and it dropped to the ground.

srs77 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 16, 2022, 09:47 PM »

This is brilliant! Great job!

Packard · « **Reply #27 on:** February 17, 2022, 08:37 AM »

I have this Manfrotto/Bogen boom arm from my old photo studio. I had not thought to use it for this purpose. It is probably too expensive to justify its purchase (now $190.00), but Amazon has several knockoffs for about $115.00.

Very sturdy and fully articulate up/down, side/side.

And here is one of the knock-offs. The originals are made in Italy. These are probably made in China.

Eiffel · « **Reply #28 on:** February 25, 2022, 08:12 PM »

I've been using this Manfrotto Boom arm with great success. It is quite sturdy and one can add some lighting and plugs at the end of it, in addition to the usual vacuum hose. Highly recommended.

I can't vouch for the Chinese copies though.

Bob D. · « **Reply #29 on:** February 25, 2022, 11:51 PM »

B&H has one for ~$140.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1220973-REG/impact_lsa_wmb7hd_7_hd_wall_mount.html

Packard · « **Reply #30 on:** February 26, 2022, 08:57 AM »

I forgot to mention that the Manfrotto wall boom extends to almost twice the length shown and it comes with a series of clips to organize a heavy duty electric cord.

You would probably need Velcro to secure the vac hose though.

heidtwd · « **Reply #31 on:** February 26, 2022, 09:18 AM »

I just installed my take on the boom using an assembly intended for a truck dock light I got at Amazon. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B093L3CHQ6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

I like that is has a 60 in. reach, is pre-wired and is very sturdy.

The yellow color causes me to duck when I walk by, but maybe I'll get used to it eventually.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ]

heidtwd · « **Reply #32 on:** February 26, 2022, 09:19 AM »

Sorry, I fumbled the attachment!

Crazyraceguy · « **Reply #33 on:** February 26, 2022, 05:49 PM »

I like that idea. The power tap could really be handy.

TinyShop · « **Reply #34 on:** February 26, 2022, 08:22 PM »

@heidtwd - I'm not exaggerating when I say that, in terms of cost and ease, this is by far the best workaround regarding a boom arm that I've ever seen. Well done! 🙂

krudawg · « **Reply #35 on:** March 15, 2022, 10:52 PM »

Quote from: franklin pug on October 04, 2015, 08:15 PM

Just wanted to say thanks for this awesome idea. I did exactly as you suggested, and cost me about 60 bucks CDN - here is how mine looks:

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

Where did you get that long Festool Hose?

Crazyraceguy · « **Reply #36 on:** March 16, 2022, 05:29 PM »

Quote from: krudawg on March 15, 2022, 10:52 PM

Quote from: franklin pug on October 04, 2015, 08:15 PM
Just wanted to say thanks for this awesome idea. I did exactly as you suggested, and cost me about 60 bucks CDN - here is how mine looks:

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)
Where did you get that long Festool Hose?

Hoses are available separately in several sizes. The 36mm version comes in at least 3 lengths. 3.5m, 5m, and 7m.

krudawg · « **Reply #37 on:** March 16, 2022, 10:20 PM »

Quote from: Crazyraceguy on March 16, 2022, 05:29 PM

Quote from: krudawg on March 15, 2022, 10:52 PM
Quote from: franklin pug on October 04, 2015, 08:15 PM
Just wanted to say thanks for this awesome idea. I did exactly as you suggested, and cost me about 60 bucks CDN - here is how mine looks:

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)
Where did you get that long Festool Hose?

Hoses are available separately in several sizes. The 36mm version comes in at least 3 lengths. 3.5m, 5m, and 7m.

Are couplers available to connect hoses without cutting the hose?

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #38 on:** March 16, 2022, 10:43 PM »

Quote from: krudawg on March 16, 2022, 10:20 PM

Are couplers available to connect hoses without cutting the hose?

It is my understanding that with the newer hoses, either the 27 or 36 end will attach inside to the end that connects to your DC. Both my 27 and 36 work this way.

speartongue · « **Reply #39 on:** March 25, 2023, 11:25 AM »

Quote from: johnesher on February 16, 2022, 08:00 PM

I took inspiration from this post and finished (at least for now) my version of this arm. I found that I needed an additional flange with a tee fitting installed where the author had his street elbow. Without it when I moved the arm to the left side it loosened the street elbow from the flange and it dropped to the ground.

hey John this is pretty sweet! Thanks for the inspiration. Have you considered adding another tee flange at the bottom instead of an elbow, and pass electrical and air hoses in the conduit?

also, lets say one would be interested to take this design one step further, and add an additional arm to this setup, how would you suggest going about that, so that it folds and doesnt sag?

JimH2 · « **Reply #40 on:** April 16, 2023, 11:45 AM »

I'm doubling down and saying that both of these solutions are incredible. Given the price I cannot think of anyway to do it better without going custom.

ChuckS · « **Reply #41 on:** April 16, 2023, 12:54 PM »

I've got a Wall Mounting Boom Arm for Photography Studio Video Strobe Lights, etc., but haven't installed and tried it. Loading capacity should be 7 lbs or so. I hope it can support a CT hose and maybe a power cord too.

Some DIYer has used something similar for a camera:

Chainring · « **Reply #42 on:** April 16, 2023, 06:38 PM »

BTW, that photography focused boom arm Bob D. (RIP) posted above is on sale at B&H.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1220973-REG/impact_lsa_wmb7hd_7_hd_wall_mount.html

ChuckS · « **Reply #43 on:** April 16, 2023, 06:49 PM »

Great price with a 12 lb loading. I got mine at a slightly lower price on Amazon, but the loading could be less.

gruz · « **Reply #44 on:** April 18, 2023, 06:36 AM »

They’re having a sale- currently $65
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1220973-REG/impact_lsa_wmb7hd_7_hd_wall_mount.html

ChuckS · « **Reply #45 on:** April 18, 2023, 12:10 PM »

Someone made a wooden adjustable arm: