Tomiger RoPort
04-04-2008, 11:31 PM
I recently made my DIY dolly a little bit smaller (cut the platform down to about 30in x 30in) and the shots I've done since have been HORRIBLE (super shaky). It's weird because the shots I have done when the dolly was larger turned out great. I have concluded it could be
1.) the lack of weight (I used to ride on it, but due to frustration of transporting it around in my 2 door car, I made it smaller, therefore I can't ride on it myself). But today I had a friend stand on the dolly while I pushed and it still came out like garbage. The weight may have not been distributed equally though.
2.) The track. I am running on 1inch pvc (most convenient for me at the moment) but tomorrow I hope to get some 1.5in pvc. Also, the connections between the sections aren't nicely flush, so I am going to work on that. But again, when the dolly was larger, I never had a problem.
3.) and the purpose of this thread, the wheels. It is probably the least likely factor, but I am curious: I use 16 inline wheels (8 pairs) and I am wondering, how tight do you guys have them on your dolly? Relatively loose, so they can spin effortlessly or sort of stiff? The problem I have if I loosen them is that the wheels becomes wobbly (due to the way I have spaced the wheels), which I would think would cause more shakiness of the shot. I have them relatively stiff because of that.
So to summarize, I made my dolly smaller (basically went from a riding dolly to a non-riding dolly) and now the shots are extremely shaky and not smooth. I am going to experiment with the track and weight tomorrow, but for the wheels, how do you guys ride: loose or sort of stiff (I'm not talking completely tight, but not able to just spin like a skateboard wheel or something.) Also, if anyone else has any other ideas of why I am having problems, I am open to suggestions. Thanks.
1.) the lack of weight (I used to ride on it, but due to frustration of transporting it around in my 2 door car, I made it smaller, therefore I can't ride on it myself). But today I had a friend stand on the dolly while I pushed and it still came out like garbage. The weight may have not been distributed equally though.
2.) The track. I am running on 1inch pvc (most convenient for me at the moment) but tomorrow I hope to get some 1.5in pvc. Also, the connections between the sections aren't nicely flush, so I am going to work on that. But again, when the dolly was larger, I never had a problem.
3.) and the purpose of this thread, the wheels. It is probably the least likely factor, but I am curious: I use 16 inline wheels (8 pairs) and I am wondering, how tight do you guys have them on your dolly? Relatively loose, so they can spin effortlessly or sort of stiff? The problem I have if I loosen them is that the wheels becomes wobbly (due to the way I have spaced the wheels), which I would think would cause more shakiness of the shot. I have them relatively stiff because of that.
So to summarize, I made my dolly smaller (basically went from a riding dolly to a non-riding dolly) and now the shots are extremely shaky and not smooth. I am going to experiment with the track and weight tomorrow, but for the wheels, how do you guys ride: loose or sort of stiff (I'm not talking completely tight, but not able to just spin like a skateboard wheel or something.) Also, if anyone else has any other ideas of why I am having problems, I am open to suggestions. Thanks.