Recently bulit dolly needs a Monopod

Madaspy

Madaspy

Active member
Ok, i just built my dolly using Neil Rowe's Cine Dolly wheels. But my real question is this: i am looking for a mountable monopod that i can put an affordable but decent head on it, such as the Bogen 501.

You ask, what in the world is this guy talking about right? Well i am looking for a monopod that i can bolt down to the platform, but still be able to raise and lower it inbetween shots.

I would think that the monopod would have to have a fairly thick inorder to support it.

I am looking at this solution because i am having trouble making my tripod stable on the dolly, plus the less tripod the easier it is to reframe the shot.

I will say my dolly is only 24" wide, due to my lack power tools. So that is another reason i am looking to this solution

Here is an image of what i am trying to find, well at least just the main support shaft and not the jib arm.
tripod.jpg


If you guys have any suggestions let me know. Thanks
 
Does not look too hard to make out of some steel tubing and a tripod mounting plate. I would have no idea how to get the center tube to rise and lower though, sounds like you would need something hydraulic.

Cool idea though....
 
I had the same problem initially as well, my tripod was all over the place. My solution was to use a ratchet strap and and a "D" ring to tie it down. Twelve dollars and problem solved.
DollySled.jpg


100_0216.jpg


If you still want to go with the monopod idea, may I suggest the O'connor Hydroped. It is quite an overkill and still has to be fastened down somehow, but it is a hydraulic monopod.
 
I wouldn't put too much $ into that idea just yet... the reason pro tripods don't use a center column is for stability... ever notice how any high-end pod has no center column? It's just the legs ending at the top of the pod and that's as high as they go... it's because a weight on the end of a single pole is inherrently unstable. I use monopods, but it's only to improve handholding and I also HOLD the pod just under the cam... for a dolly I think you better experiment with something cheap before you commit $ to this... I'll be surprised if you can dolly and not have small, but annoying "swaying" in the footage.
 
MattinSTL said:
I wouldn't put too much $ into that idea just yet... the reason pro tripods don't use a center column is for stability... ever notice how any high-end pod has no center column? It's just the legs ending at the top of the pod and that's as high as they go... it's because a weight on the end of a single pole is inherrently unstable. I use monopods, but it's only to improve handholding and I also HOLD the pod just under the cam... for a dolly I think you better experiment with something cheap before you commit $ to this... I'll be surprised if you can dolly and not have small, but annoying "swaying" in the footage.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about the sway my self. i figured that if you had something wich a large circumference then that should eliminate the sway.

I also like the idea that Chainsmoker brought up. With hydraulic, i would be able to boom my shots up and down. BTW, chainsmoker can you post a pic of so of your idea for other who may be considering a hydraulic solution.

Any other ideas guys.
 
Assuming your deck is aluminum or steel, you can limit flex by bolting a tube/flange combination to your deck. Obviously the larger diameter your tubing is, the less flex you'll have, with a weight hit.

Extending (on the cheap) is just a matter of a bolt through the base "pedestal" tube that locks it's telescoping counterpart. Telejacks, like this, may be a good DIY starting point.

You can also purchase threaded steel flanges, and corresponding threaded pipe in sizes well beyond your needs.
 
MattinSTL said:
I wouldn't put too much $ into that idea just yet... the reason pro tripods don't use a center column is for stability... ever notice how any high-end pod has no center column?
Click to expand...

But "real" dollies use a single pole (or articulated arm).

So...how about heading to Home Depot and buying two tubular table legs, sized to slide one into the other. One flange to bolt to the dolly, the other to used to mount a tripod head.

Then you just need something to stop the sliding/telescoping at the height you want. The simplest method being drill a series of holes through both tubes and sliding a rod through them.
 
..another solution aside from ratcheting down the tripod from the center would be to add sandbags or some other form of tie down or weight to the tripod legs.

that said.. and then set aside, a center column support would be really nice to have. almost needless to say, its in the design bin.
 
There's nothing wrong with giving it a try... I've worked with dollies that have a single center support... of course if you could actually buy one, which you can't (lease only) it would cost more then your house.

Maybe it will work great? What do I know... if you rig some kind of substantial "pole" then it may be stable. On the fisher dollies it's probably at least 4" in diameter, maybe more, and it goes into a dolly that's built like a forklift... when you asked about monopods (and going by your cad file) I assumed your intention was to use a pole with 1.5" or less diameter... and in that case I don't think you'd get good results.

I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud... I try stuff that doesn't work ALL the time! I'm working on totally experimental stuff right now! I would just hate to see you get some kind of a honking $$$ monopod system only to find out that it doesn't work... I'd be way more apt to start with 6" pvc or something super substantial for a pedestal... but feel free to experiment... it would be great if a monopod of some sort would get the job done.
 
MattinSTL said:
I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud...
Click to expand...

Yeah, that definitely wouldn't be stable enough. :)

Fer sure a monopod would most likely be too flimsy. I'd find something a lot thick/stiffer. (We've got steel tubes, about 4" thick here in the build-your-own-furniture section. Looks like the center column of a cafe table. That'd probably do.)
 
these monpods are called bazookas (spelling?) where I live, used eg on panther dollys.
the DIY problem would be mounting it to the dolly, the ones I have used weight a ton and use heavy iron screw´n snatch mounts.
If they wouldn´t the whole set-up swang like a palm in a storm. Even so, with the attached jib arm it can get shaky...
I also would suggest using a fixed tripod with a lightweight jib or short crane on it.
Tripod I guess you´ll have, jib crane DIY instructions you´ll find in this section or do a google search...
 
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