Another DIY: PVC dolly

mik

mik

Active member
Hi to all, i'm Michele from Italy. From some months i read this forum (even if i don't own a Dvx100, but i plan to buy one, or maybe a Dvc60). I have tried may ways to do a low budget dolly, and finally i have done this:

Here an image of the dolly and tripod/camera (my small sony handycam)

http://freefilehosting.net/bin/?id=rdj8kanc

Here a close up of the PVC dolly:

http://freefilehosting.net/bin/?id=rdj8kard

This dolly is made similar to the one on the Guerrilla Filmmaking forum (so the basis are not mine gray matter), the difference is that they have used 4 cm PVC tubes, but i've find only 2,5 cm tubes and T-joint pieces.
Wheels are stolen from my rollerblade (but now i need to buy new wheel if i'll go skating again).
The dolly is stable enough, can run on PVC tubes track, but also without tracks if the surface is plain enough and without gaps.
At the maximum zoom there is a bit of shaking, but i think is caused by my cheap tripod. With a better (and more heavy) one, the shaking probably disappear.

The price (considering that i've buy many PVC tubes and many many other things not used in this version) will be not over 15 euro.

It will be best made by aluminum tubes, and not PVC ones, but for now, i've not find the right pieces.
 
Hi there,

Seems to be a clever design. but I'm thinkin' it's a tad light. Won't it help to 1. Lock down the tripod, and then create a little platform that fits into the bottom frame for some sand bags or something to add some weight for stability?

Thanks,
Derrick
 
ProMax makes a dolly system similar in design. I own it, and I have had no problems with it. Although I do have a heavier tripod and camera. If the weight distribution is fine, I see no need for sandbags other than to keep the dolly from moving to fast. Maybe a small piece of PVC pipe sticking up from the center of the dolly that you could put free weights on?

Anyway nice job. The design is solid. You could probably make a few bucks selling it, or DIY intsructions on ebay, a website or something. Hmmm...maybe even enough to get you that DVX100 :)
 
I don't think that i'll gain too much enough to buy a dvx100.... i don't think i'll gain something..... :laugh:

About the dolly, is not too solid (after all is 2,5 cm PVC tubes...), but enough for now and for my camcorder. I'll rebuild one with aluminium if i'll find, this now is more a functional prototype. Or, maybe in carbon fiber will be light and strong enough (my brother work with carbon fiber things...)

Here is the original Guerrilla Filmmaking project
http://nigel101.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=LowBudget&action=display&thread=1115371948
 
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