new super cheap skater dolly

thekreative

thekreative

Veteran
Last year I build a really cheap skater dolly using skateboard stuff:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=106514&highlight=skater+dolly

But I've been thinking about how to make one more like the P+S but really cheap and easy. Last night I found the parts and today I made it.

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It is based on a 2" ABS adapter and some treaded rod with 3 skateboard wheels.
The trick is once its all together you trim off the extra ABS on the bottom to just leave enough to hold the treads together. Minimal tools and 3 hours of work..... super smooth.

next I'll print out some 360 degree guides.

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I think I spent $19 for everything including the wheels that I got on Ebay at 10 sets for $40 to make my minidolly.
 
Now I'm trying to think of how to make a cheap super low camera mount rocker like the P+S...... any ideas? The head I'm using I've fished out of the garbage a few time (really crap).
 
Alright.3x 2" ABS adapter ($3 each), 1x 5/16" rod ($2.50) , 6x 5/16 nuts ($.26 each), 6x washers ($.02) a piece of wood or fiberboard (found it a work) 3x skateboard wheels with bearings. All the stuff other than the wheels are from HomeDepot. The wheels and bearings are from ebay ($1.50 each including bearings)

cheers
 
Well that's a new take on this, pretty nice I must say! Some questions:

- Where do you get fiberboard like that? And is it stiff so that if you put your weight on it, it will not bend?

- Would in-line roller wheels work better since they have less touching the floor?

- Would it make sense to cut away the excess fiber, leaving you with a skater shape of the other skater dollys out there? That way, the non-wheel corners would less likely get caught on something.

- Do your wheel angles work out? Is it much the same angles as the P+S skater?
 
- the fiber board is from a desk tray that I got from my office on the way to the trash
- roller blade wheels are too large to work with the ABS in the size that I found. There my be a larger size that will work but everything at my HomeDepot was a lot larger
- I like the rectangle shape ,but I'll make one more like theP+S soon
- the angles all work out, just point the axels at the subject

I'll get soom footage up soon ..... its like all skaters ,smooth curves
 
Thanks! Looks awesome. One more thing- how did you go about spacing the wheels appropriately? Did they need an exact measurement somehow?
 
Not really. I measured so that the 2 front were in the exact same spot and the back one is dead center, but having only 3 wheels I think you could have them spaced any way. As long as the center is balanced it should work.
 
I didn't draw out anything. I had the piece of fiberboard. I measure from the front corners to the centre at the back edge to set the front holes and set them back a bit to leave enough fiberboard on the edges. The back wheel I just but in the centre and in 1/2" or something fron the edge. No real science, but I've been using it all weekend and its wicked. As always it need some extra weight so I'll get a curved sandbag for the middle or some lead on either side.
 
Hey Charles,

I just posted it up at HBS but added:

" The ABS threads high enough to have the rod go through them. This allows for the threads to be locked and the whole assembly to rotate."
 
Abs

Abs

Hey frank

The adapter is the 2" treaded coupling made of ABS. So really some cheap piece of plumbing.

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They call it a slip joint on the website I found the picture on
 
Did some shots today outside to try it on a wider setup. It needs some extra weight and time to level, as always. I tried to get 10 shots setup in 30 min so it's a little rushed. I've got a product shoot next week and that's what it's made for. That said its a hell of a lot easier to deal with than a true dolly setup. You can move everything at once with one guy. Camera and skater in one hand and 2 appleboxes and a board in the other

http://www.vimeo.com/2290124
 
That's an awesome look you have in the camera, what are your settings? Or are you applying that color in post? Sweet demo reel too.

Regarding the dolly, all of those shots seem to be straight movements. Do you have any with the dolly going in a radius style?
 
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