Cheap Fiberglass Cam Rails

M

MagicCat

Well-known member
HI All

I went to my local Goodwill store over the weekend and found a whole ton of used Carbon Fiber Ski Poles for about a buck each. I happened to have a measuring tape nearby and found they are almost precisely 5/8ths inch in diameter. (I need to cut them to be certain, but they sure are close!)

They would make great Rails for Camera systems. Grabbing them in my fists with about 18 inches spread between my hands, (a real idiot test admittedly) there seems to be almost no flex, even as I try to bend them over my knee. (Further lengths do have flex)

As I thought about it, you could easily insert another fiber rod inside if they prove to be too flexible. Some five minute epoxy squirted inside prior to doing this should take up any slack. (some of those Fiberglass Driveway markers or tent rods available at your local Sporting goods store, will most likely work to stiffen them up a bit)

Now, they are painted with various Manufacturers names printed on them. But that is easily remedied. I also have several old Tube Cameras and plan to use the shoulder pads off them for shoulder mounts. Rail blocks are available from Cinevate and others out there for around 30 bucks.

I have used these in the past to make light duty Light stands. Pulling the parts from some old Bogen stands that got munched, they worked great for low-boy or desktop stands. Im also working on a light stand that would be able to have adjustable heights using three poles per stage in a triangular configuration. (similar to how a tripod expands, but with one more pole) These are so readily available up north here in Ohio, I have been buying them up at the thrift stores as quick as I can find them. Usually for a dollar or two each.

The aluminum ones will not work. They are tapered and not one diameter from end to end. (though they make great tent stakes)

Anyway, I hope this is food for thought or provides some inspiration to the DIY persons out there.

MagicCat
 
JohnMC said:
This would probably be better placed in the DIY forum.

John
Click to expand...

Thank you John. Your probably right. I did not intend to go into the stuff about the light stands at the onset of the letter, I just thougth I would give other usages with a brief description. However, your right, that does belong there.

Sometimes, when simple projects like the rails get posted only in the DIY forum, they get missed by folks who are not into, or dont think they can do DIY projects. This rail suggestion is simple enough for just about anyone to create with nothing more than a hack saw or even a Ginsu knife. (make use that lifetime warranty!) That is why I posted it here and not the DIY forum. It was a borderline topic IMHO, therefore It was somewhat of a conscious mis-posting, if you will.


MagicCat
 
i have worked as a ski mechanic for 12 years and while the fiberglass poles may make great rails i will warn against it splintering and causing shards of fiberglass to embed in your hands and fingers and also fiberglass dust may emit from the rails as well. i would highly suggest wrapping the rails with something to avoid contact with skin.especially with the vintage gear thats usually found at the goodwill.
 
syncman said:
Am I missing something here? he did place it in DIY.

No wonder there are Wars......................
Click to expand...

Yes, you missed the part where it was posted somewhere else and then the Mods moved it to where it needed to be...DIY.
:)

Yeah, no wonder there are wars...
:thumbsup:
 
Not to get this thread off track, but the spelling thing is one thing, but placing posts in the right forum keeps the place organized. There are years of posts on here now, which is a great wealth of advice, tips, and experience for people to be able to look through and learn - but if things aren't where they should be, its much more difficult to sort through them.
Nevermind that having a post in the right forum is the easiest way to get the response that you're looking for as well.
Not a huge deal - people post stuff in the wrong forum all the time, and then the mods move it where it should go.
Sometimes they might miss them - and sometimes people point it out in an effort to "help."

Spelling - well, that's something else.
I've corrected my fair share of spelling mistakes - and I've also made my fair share.

Regardless - back to the topic at hand - Fiberglass cam rails.
 
Hi all

Boy, I sure did not mean to rub the cat the wrong way here?!. I should note there were no Ill intentions towards anybody in my response. My attempt to thank this person was genuine, Don't read into it too much.

IMHO, Objections are good, corrections are welcomed, if something angers me, its time to log off and change focus. This forum is a virtual online university and I respect and value it deeply. I would never do something to get myself a detention or expulsion :-) Wars were the furthest thing from my mind.

Anyway, I Just wanted to share a some glee in cheap solutions, as well as open it up for discussion and any objective points like Matt S. described.

Matt: I had been concerned about the splintering and you bring up a very very good point. Thank you. I found that when I seal the ends up with a little Epoxy, it keeps them from unwinding. As a pair of rails, I guess if they were to splinter or break from abuse, you will have much bigger problems than a 2 buck rail job, no?

I also share your concern about splintering in another light. The outer coating will wear off from sliding cam mounts ETC back and fourth, hence starting the process of coming apart. That is something I did not think of until you pointed it out. But again, as cheap as they are, I say, make a couple spares and throw the worn one's to the wayside. One pole makes one pair!

BTW, all 6 pairs I have found to date, are like new.


MagicCat
 
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