my attempt to build a Follow Focus

Sorry it took so long Puck, but here is the DIY slider I used. There are two picture of the pieces apart and one together. The hardest part was creating the slot in the piece of aluminum, but only took about 1 hour.

slide1.jpg

slide2.jpg

slide3.jpg
 
Hey puck, how smooth does the fishing pole thing run? I've got a few that im ready to use if need be

btw can someone hand me a link to a cheap right angle drive(i don't know how cheap, but good, they get), and how to buy it? i'm like on these sites trying to figure out how to order them
 
the new one actually turns rather smoothly. i;ve had no problems with the device itself. It's just mounting it that's always the hard part. the flash bracket really helps with that part and once it's on there snugly you can always JB-Weld it on to make sure it stays put.
 
Yeah, I am finding the same thing - mounting is a pain. Finding a level spot and also something that is secure (thicker plastic) is difficult, but doable.
 
well alright, seems ill be going the fishing pole way...

are you gonna snag all the tutorial spread about and put it into one, along with a parts list? if you need any help, i'm here, i just want to know how to order the gears and where to get them from
 
I'm trying to get an alternate source for a better more comfortable knob as well as a good way to mount it, then I was thinking of just doing a PDF of the entire process. Just wish I had a better way to mount it to the flash bracket than using a screw and JB-Weld...
 
alright, well i guess i meant the right angle drive gear... but i may be scrounging around to find one in my mess of parts
 
oh okay then. if you're in the states you're gonna be a little out of luck with finding one cheaply. I'm finding them for as little as $90! Only $90! wow! what a price! (end sarcasm). At that price, you might as well save and buy yourself a one of these bad boys from indifocus. It's all made for you and seriously speaking: cheap as hell (in comparison of course)
http://indifocus.com/products_indifocuspro.htm

Now to upgrade the look of my FFF. It works rather smoothly and I'm going to finally get to post some footage as well as new pictures in about a week once I get my new parts in (hope these work cuz I'm building a selection of parts that my wife is getting suspicious of).

If these work, then we'll finally have a completed part list for the elusive DIY Fisherman Follow Focus (FFF).
 
Puck, I found a Fish reel with rod for around $20.00 CDN. Now it is more expensive than the Durango at $4.00, but it has flat edges around all the sides of the reel. I didn't pick one up yet, but I am going to try and find it online and show you. It will hopefully go a long way to helping out.
 
What kind is it? The biggest drawback that I've found so for from using the fishing reels is the fact that the side gear is so HUGE. If your more expensive model has a smaller side gear allowing for a more streamlined and compact design, that would be perfection...

On another note: Chuck, did you or anyone else get pricing for the Right Angle Gears from torquetrans.com? I was gonna call on monday, but I'm dying to know, so if anyone has made the call, please share...
 
The torque trans gears are 100 bucks. I looked into those last year and they're local, but at that price I'd just buy and Indie Focus and be done with it.
 
Yeah, going that high of a price, might as well just bite the bullet and buy an affordable unit.. and there are some out there. I think our goal here with the DIY follow focus is to build a good solid unit for under $100 that ALSO looks like a professional model... ANd I still think it can be done.... it just getting all of those pieces together...
 
I will bring my digital camera in and take a picture of it next time I am at the store - it is $20.00 and I don't know if it will work yet, so I don't want to fork over the dough just yet. I agree about the size of the right angle gear - but as others have said, the right angle gear is only cheap in the UK (I think they go for about $25.00 pounds or something). But with shipping and exchange, it gets to be pricey.
 
so i took a trip to mcmaster carr.. nothing like I expected. It was just this HUGE warehouse with a little desk up front and a book. if you wanted anything you had to pick up the phone and call a number and they'd locate it and bring it out to you in about 30 minutes. Kinda hard to have a hands on experience like that, plus online you can take your time and they deliver so quickly, plus they have a GREAT return policy, so it's practically the same thing....

anyway, got some new parts in and now its back to the build. i'll let you guys know how it turns out...
 
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