View Full Version : Cheap curved track?
Home made roller blade wheel dolly.
Straight PVC track.
All should be good right?
Now all I can think about is shots with curved track.
Anyone got an idea for making cheap curved track?
thanks.
-rook
danslak
08-19-2005, 07:22 AM
Curved track is next to impossible without a good tube bender (about $300 bucks on the cheap end). But you also don't need to spend a fortune on "Cinema" track either. Check industrial supply houses. They have curved track for hanging doors, product transfer, and all sorts of stuff. Also, keep in mind that your wheel assembly has to be able to rotate!
Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com
Jay Rodriguez
08-19-2005, 07:22 AM
been looking for this for a while and everything is a product for purchase and it's not cheap
the only thing that i did find was a guy who bent pvc using heat
Thanks guys.
I'm starting to realize that the most cost effective thing to do is rent the track.
Renting sucks.
Thanks again,
-rook
Renting is a hassle, but it's nice to have solid equipment that will impress the clients.
As for curved track, I think another problem is the inside track has to be a tighter turn than the outside track.
-j
KingVidiot
08-28-2005, 01:55 PM
I have a travel dolly system that I built for straight and curved track. Everything breaks down to 3 ft (straight) and 4 ft (curved) sections. I bend my curved track as needed (shallow or deep) based on the subject matter using the "bow" principle. My end caps are attached by small ropes that I cinch-up as necessary and clamp at the desired length. This removes the need for multiple types of custom curved track parts. The curved PVC is 3/4" which flexes well, while my straight track is 1.25 " for strength over long runs.
The skateboard wheel assembly can pivot and lock as needed. The whole package breaks down and goes into a hockey bag. Total cost of track and dolly parts was about $70. Total build time was about 7 hours.
I hear what you're saying.
Very smart.
I'd love to check out a photo of the set up if you have one.
Has it been a hastle to get matching curves?
-rook
Jay Rodriguez
08-29-2005, 05:07 AM
hey kingVidot, can you explain the curved track a bit more? Also do you have any pics of it?
GenJerDan
08-29-2005, 05:39 AM
If you tie a cord from one end of a piece of track to the other, then pull it tight, the track will bend...just like a bow from a bow & arrow.
Adjusting the tension of the cord will change the arc of the bend.
Dan
Jay Rodriguez
08-29-2005, 01:39 PM
ahhhhh got it.... Hmm, time for another creative DIY...... heheheheeeeeeeeeeee
limehouse
08-29-2005, 08:36 PM
Damn, KingVidiot, that's a sweet idea. Thanks, and allow me to throw in one more request for pictures.
HybridCreations
09-02-2005, 05:12 PM
Hey guys,
What do you think about garden hose as a curved track solution? Now before I get laughed out of here, I was looking at Flex-track (http://www.porta-jib.com/flex-trak.htm) and was thinking of a DIY alternative. Seems like it might be a little small/thin but it might be rigid enough to work on a DIY dolly that's wheels were designed to ride on something smaller than PVC like the Flex-track. I'd like to see what you guys think.
-Ryan
danslak
09-03-2005, 07:22 AM
Hey guys,
What do you think about garden hose as a curved track solution? Now before I get laughed out of here, I was looking at Flex-track (http://www.porta-jib.com/flex-trak.htm) and was thinking of a DIY alternative. Seems like it might be a little small/thin but it might be rigid enough to work on a DIY dolly that's wheels were designed to ride on something smaller than PVC like the Flex-track. I'd like to see what you guys think.
-Ryan
Been there. Tried every alternative I could find for this. Couldn't get anything to work. Save yourself a big headache! Run away!
Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com
patrickj
09-10-2005, 03:53 PM
I have a travel dolly system that I built for straight and curved track. Everything breaks down to 3 ft (straight) and 4 ft (curved) sections. I bend my curved track as needed (shallow or deep) based on the subject matter using the "bow" principle. My end caps are attached by small ropes that I cinch-up as necessary and clamp at the desired length. This removes the need for multiple types of custom curved track parts. The curved PVC is 3/4" which flexes well, while my straight track is 1.25 " for strength over long runs.
The skateboard wheel assembly can pivot and lock as needed. The whole package breaks down and goes into a hockey bag. Total cost of track and dolly parts was about $70. Total build time was about 7 hours.
Just saw this post.. yeah, that's the same thing I do. I run some nylon cord (or something that doesn't stretch significantly) through PVC and tie it off. I made about 2 dozen simple pine ties(?) - imagine rail road track ties - that I use as well to keep the two lengths of curved track aligned and in place (once it's curved, it wants to move all over the place moreso than straight pvc).
patrickj
09-10-2005, 03:59 PM
Been there. Tried every alternative I could find for this. Couldn't get anything to work. Save yourself a big headache! Run away!
Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com
If you get something w/ the right texture on the plastic AND you make some spreaders like shown in the Flextrack link (I made pine ties - my last post) it might work. the main problem is just keeping things even - fixed w/ some spreaders (haven't tried it, but that's the only hurdle I can imagine).
Icarus2005
09-10-2005, 05:11 PM
If you tie a cord from one end of a piece of track to the other, then pull it tight, the track will bend...just like a bow from a bow & arrow.
Adjusting the tension of the cord will change the arc of the bend.
Dan
FOr a single curve that may work, but I;d like to see it applied to create a 360.
my money is on renting it from a rental house, simply because it's so rare that I need that, and it's not very costly to rent, under 100 bucks.
KingVidiot
10-17-2005, 06:33 PM
With some long internal pegs, you could connect two (actually 4) semi-circles to create a circular concentric track. That way it would still be mobile and break down easily.
Just think of all the cool stuff you used to make with boring, but flexible, straight Hot Wheels tracks.
Logan LeBlanc
10-17-2005, 07:30 PM
Why don't you attach chain, wire, or rope to each end of the PVC, creating a "bow," you know, like a bow and arrow. That seems to be the easiest way I can think of. After dabbling with it ,you could even mark the rope in different places, indicating what amount of "curve" you would need for the shot.
Logan LeBlanc
10-17-2005, 07:30 PM
oops... didn't see the top paragraph.
Dennis Wood
10-18-2005, 09:44 AM
Dan, I was thinking of reinforced hydraulic hose, or a high quality air hose. With the air hose I would potentially pressurize it in place for rigidity. Did you try either..or am I barking up a the wrong tree here?
patrickj
10-18-2005, 04:11 PM
Pressurizing the hose would make it much more difficult to keep a curve.
Dennis Wood
10-18-2005, 04:21 PM
As long as the ends are somewhat secure, it won't change curves...unlike high pressure water, air is much more compressible...therefore has far less straightening motive. My shop airhose doesn't move around much when charged up...it just gets stiff. Being that I have 100 ft of it...I'm going to give it a whirl.
mullah
12-18-2007, 06:27 PM
heloo just want let you guys i found a site some time ago since i needed to buy a track and i found a site that sell track and dolly very cheap i bought one it is the best love it I compared the price with the losmandy mouch cheaper
check it out
http://www.trackdolly.com/index.html?lmd=39434.005914
Jason Miller
12-19-2007, 01:39 AM
Ive worked wigth the flex track dolly, its nice, but the track is rubber, and its not possible to make the same exact camera movement over and over again.
jake_carpenter
12-19-2007, 05:24 PM
FWIW, I've had luck bending PVC using heated sand (http://www.jerryriggers.com/?p=14). I wasn't making a track, but the same principle applies. As long as you use good forms, it should be pretty reproducible. My buddy and I did a write up on the project on here (http://www.jerryriggers.com) . It's not too tough, and with the price of PVC, you can afford a lot of practice.
PAKTAZH
02-20-2008, 11:13 PM
Guys if u need curve or straight track dolly that cost 8000 doller in store but u can buy it for 1500 take a look and go to
Trackdolly.com
arquitommy
04-19-2008, 12:28 AM
or less if you go to a hardware store and do some research.
Check this out: DIY Flexible track Dolly (http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=9867)
http://www.cinemacuteo.com/images/Red-hose.jpg
I went to the hardware store and got this red pressure hose is an inch thick, which is the same thickness the of pressure PVC pipe.
I bought 42 feet red pressure hose for $ 53 dollars, you can bought it cheaper in the United States, also bought this U aluminium profile.