aluminum plate for small dolly - how much weight can she hold?

[starcentral]

I am thinking of using my DYI wheels from my DYI doorway dolly and building a DYI "dana dolly".

Anyone here an expert enough to say if a 3/8" aluminum plate measuring around 12 x 18 inches would flex at all with 10-20 pounds on the center, and wheels on the corner?

I think 3/8" would be ok for the most part, but wondering if anyone has played around with something like this.

Cheers,

 

[Paul F]

It's not going anywhere.

I put two blocks under some 2" x 3/8" bar stock; 18 inch gap between them. The deflection with 10lbs concentrated on the center was about .03"

 

[starcentral]

Thanks Paul, that's what I figured but had no scrap aluminum to test.


For pipe track support I was thinking to just use a small piece of pipe then with 90 degree elbows on each side, and putting one of these on each end of the tracks to keep the space. Then, I found these guys which would allow me to mount the end pieces (probably even a center support) to a c-stand.

I have a few of these lying around, and they are heavy duty even though they look puny in the photo:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824418-REG/Impact_ca_105_TVMP_Yoke_to_Baby.html

 

[morgan_moore]

3/8 = 9mm that is pretty thick

Im not sure of your design but ive used 1/4*2and a1/2 bar for my T shaped Dolly

Placing sticks on the top the load is at the side anyway.

As for track PVC works well just laid on the floor

If you want track that works on non flat surface (eg ploughed field) you of course need to have proper track that you can jack to level, a different game..

S

 

[starcentral]

The overall design is something like this:

The original Dana dolly is 1/2" aluminum with some areas milled out to make it lighter. I think 3/8" will work for light use.

I already have track, rail ties, and shims to work out any level track on the ground but the idea of the Dana dolly is track up off the ground and no need for tripod. Throw on a $100 hi-hat from Kessler and your on your way.