My DIY PVC Jib

[zeroblank]

OK so I made the PVC dolly, fig rig, and shoulder mount, so I decided that PVC is a really great material to build stuff with! So I went back to Lowes today and decided to give a shot at a Job. The plan was all in my head and nothing was really planned out before hand but it came out pretty good for a first try. Here are some pics of what I got and I plan to continue to improve this rig!


http://www.zeroblank.net/photos/jib1.jpg

http://www.zeroblank.net/photos/jib2.jpg

[ryvac]

first time I ever saw a pvc jib.
hope is holds the weight of the camera...

[zeroblank]

hope is holds the weight of the camera...

Yeah me too!!! lol!

I think it will the pipes aren't too long and I'm working with an HMC-150 which is pretty light.

I haven't mounted the camera just yet. I'm looking to pick up a few of these for the jib, shoulder mount, and fig rig.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/554151.jpg

[sek0910]

not sure I understand which end the camera will be on, and where the counterbalancing weights will go...

doesn't the tubing to the right of the upright stand have to protrude much further out in order to properly balance the camera (that I assume is mounted on the end resting on the stool)?

By the way, what is that attachment you show in your last post?

[DM_rider]

You're going to need to buy longer pvc or move it back from the pivot point. You need to counterbalance it or else it wont do you any good. From the pivot point, you should have at least 2 feet of PVC in the back that you can hang weight from. You'll probably also need a stronger stand.

If you notice, you'll see weights on the back of the crane to balance it. Without the weight your jib wont function properly.
http://www.brendontwins.co.uk/assets/images/crane.jpg

[Ted Ramasola]

PVC is NOT a good choice for this project. Your better off with aluminum square tubing. Aluminum is stronger and not brittle like PVC, aluminum is much lighter than pvc.

I hope your not using that light stand to hold up this jib when its done.

I use pvc for my track dolly and green screen frame.

I also made an aluminum jib. It started out holding my DVX, but I later modified it to float a fully rigged HD200 with rail rods, 35mm adapter, plus battery and firestore. The height the camera goes up from the ground is 13 feet.

at first i started using a small but sturdy ball head for my camera, later i changed to a manfrotto still photography head.

Note that you need a head that has 3 axis movement for these jibs as compared to a 2 axis video head for tripod.

Hope that helps,

Ted

[zeroblank]

As i said earlier I did not have any plans or anything This all came out of my head and I had most of the parts and spent about 10 bucks on the connectors. I do plan to add to it and get the weights on it. I would like to use a metal but The budget was an issue and this was made purely out of boredom. I'm also kind of new to "DIY" and after having much success with the dolly I decided to give it a shot. I think If I can get this working properly I will have more confidence and a better plan when It comes time to build with a metal as you all suggested. I really don't intend to actually use this too much. Maybe just to pully off short shots since the motion of it does seem to properly work but the operation, at this point, is completly manual.

If anyone has any more tips for me it would be greatly apreciated. Also is there a particulat ratio as to how I want the longer pipe? For exapmle, if it goes out 5 feet in the front how long should it come out in the back? And how much weight will give me a "zero Greavity" effect with it? (if that makes send to anyone)

[InkaholicMike]

Zero,

Everything on the right side of the pivot point must weigh the same as everything on the left side of the pivot for it to acheive "Balance". So in the case of my jib (Alum square tubing) I have 16 feet on the camera end and 4 feet on the counterweight end. so I have a 4 to 1 ratio.

That means for all my equipment on the right side (Camera, tubing and cables hood pan/tilt head, everything) it weighs 15 pounds so if you multiply that times the ratio factor of 4, you get 60 pounds as the weight of the left side of your jib arm. Apply 60 pounds of counterbalance weight to the left side and you will acheive static balance.

I am not an expert, but the crane I built in my garage is very smooth and lifts the camera about 20 feet in the air (when factoring in the pivot post) and now I have built it to ride on the 100' of PVC track we built for it. Very very smooth and it costs less than $400 for all materials! Good Luck!

[Steffo]

it will need a lot of rebuilding and adjusting for working properly, I geus. But, it do likes like a fun idé. Hope it works out for you.

[sek0910]

I built an 8' crane out of 1" square aluminum (two sections running parallel) and used a 1" round as the top parallel guide rod. It was mounted on the tripod 6 feet from the front end needed about 23 pounds of weights (for my Canon XHA1).

Then I found for most of my work, a 4 foot crane took care of most of the vertical height I needed, and I only required about 7 lbs of weight in the back (plus it was much easier to haul around).

I was able to use the same brackets/platform that attached to the tripod and held the camera, so I can always switch from one length to the other, if needed.

[armisiano]

A couple years back I tried to make a jib out of PVC to hold a little handheld Sony Handicam. NOT A GOOD IDEA. Things will go wrong. Please don't do this.

P.S. If you pull it off feel free to share, but really, really, don't do this.

[sek0910]

one suggestion if you do go with PVC---put screws or bolts through all the connective joints. Don't rely on a tight fitting or cement/glue to hold the unit together.

[AwakenedFilms]

I'm thinking metal might be a better choice to hoist $4000 ten feet off the ground.


J

[cheezweezl]

even if the pvc supports your cam and counterweights, it is way too flexible to pull off good jib shots. too bouncy. even my steel glidecam jib gets bouncy when weighted to it's limits.

nice DIY spirit but cut your losses and start from scratch with something more solid.

[armisiano]

My design was not only PVC, but also had metal (I think copper) rails running through, and still at I think 8' it was a bit too flexible. Again, this was with an old little Sony Handycam.

[zeroblank]

Thanks all, I just really didn't want to spend the money on something I know nothing about! The PVC jib is my model. So far its only cost me about 20 bucks and I'm getting the function of it working well. I did mount my cam to it once and almost had a heart attack!!! I really didn't trust it once I saw the flex. Anyway You have all been very helpful and I'll let you know once I buy some metal and do this thing right.

[jeremiahjw]

I saw someone who made a PVC rig, and used crutches for the tripod. It had a handle at the end where you could rotate the camera up, down, left, right, and diagonally.

[sek0910]

how did the guy work the camera without his crutches?

[jeremiahjw]

LOL, here are some pics of the rig.

http://picasaweb.google.com/nbluedorn/20090106SAICFFAcademy#5291343479655554962 (guy in grey jacket is the one who made the rig)

http://picasaweb.google.com/nbluedorn/20090106SAICFFAcademy#5291343389866899778

http://picasaweb.google.com/nbluedorn/20090106SAICFFAcademy#5291342293361241858

http://picasaweb.google.com/nbluedorn/20090107SAICFFAcademy#5289141005826247106