Any of you guys paint your diy dolly's pvc pipes?

S

stateofmind

Member
From white to black (or any other color)? If so, does it effect the smoothness when the camera is in motion?

I am looking to build my own and am already thinking of ways to make it look professional so I can take it out on jobs.

I know ABS pipes are black, but not sure if they come in the size I'd need.
 
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black pipes should come in most any size...1.5", 1.75", and 2" are mostly preferred. mine are the 2" pipe. but to paint them?...they'll eventually chip, unless you use engine paint, or appliance paint. those are better in hot weather as well as being more durable physically, but may involve fine sanding to get a super-smooth surface.
 
Yeah if you really want black pipe then go with ABS.

To elaborate on what Chris mentioned already, paint doesn't bond well to plastics, so paint is going to start peeling immediately. Krylon makes some paints specifically for plastic, but they're still going to get bounced around to transport the PVC, so the paint is still going to chip and peel.
 
Not worth the time or money, it will chip off !


You can also try grey, sold in pluming/electrical department.
 
Speaking from the spud gun world, where we mke stuff from plastic pipe all the time, Krylon Fusion spray is the paint of choice. Ifmthe pipes bend, it will crack off more, but it should stay on pretty well.
 
youll be in for a world of pain if you paint them. Leaving tiny paint chips on eveyr location you shoot on, will quickly get you blacklisted all over town.

Nothing could be more UN-professional.
 
abs pipes it is.

Now, what do you guys do to make the platform more appealing? This isn't really a "How to" question, because there are so many different ways to paint/stain/cover it... but more of something that I think would be fun to know.
 
i bought a nice set of "handles" for mine that i attached after covering mine with a nice tight piece of dark commercial carpeting. they are essentially drawer pulls i bought for $4 at home depot that i mounted on the left and right side of my platform to use as carrying handles, but since i got the satin chrome ones, they look pro :-) sorry...that's kind of "diy".
 
jonE5 said:
youll be in for a world of pain if you paint them. Leaving tiny paint chips on every location you shoot on...
Click to expand...

Yup... DON'T do it! The strength of a simple smooth polymer PVC pipe is it is soft and smooth. Any variation in the surface will minimize the smooth factor and will add a bumpiness to your roll. PVC is poly vinyl chloride. The chlorine, bonded to carbon in the polymer chain making it, will shed paint with each flexing of the pipe.

I think the white reflectivity is of no consequence as it is under the shot and will not bounce light into the lens.
 
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