DIY BOOM POLE by The Frugal Film Maker?

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Nobody cares what it takes to make a product. Especially on a DIY thread.

You have to wonder how much business K-Tek has with the Sales Manager clogging up a DIY thread pushing product.
 
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I'm not trying to push a product, and sorry if it came off that way. What I'm trying to get across is that in manufacturing no matter what it is, there is a process and a cost to it, and it's not as easy as people think.

In terms of our sales, we do quite well, and have very happy customers all over the world. Rather than bash a product, I would encourage potential customers to compare our products to other similar products and make their purchasing decision from there. I don't need to push anything.
 
Paul F said:
Nobody cares what it takes to make a product. Especially on a DIY thread.
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Most nonsensical quote of the day!

To DIY you usually want to know, oh I don't know, how to DIY. That K-tec dude is just saying that yes you can attach a mic to a broom for really cheap, but to make a real boom pole takes materials, tools, talent and time. How much of your time is worth 200.00? At some point it's not worth it. You guys are jumping on a guy who is not trying to sell you something. He's giving you another perspective, though it seems you're douching out on him for no reason. Everybody just chill out and maybe have an open mind. At some point, if you love making films, you will want a real boom pole.

P.S. Any movie shot on an iPhone will definitely look like a movie shot on an iPhone. Content is king though. If it's a good story with good acting and editing it could be watchable. But would you pay 8 bucks to go see it?
 
Chadfish said:
Most nonsensical quote of the day!
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Actually I agree with what you are trying to say Chad but what the quote was trying to say was "Quit plugging your company"

Even when he was apologizing for plugging his company, he was plugging his company.

The OP was asking about a DIY boom pole.
 
Oh I'm aware that you can put a big lens on an iPhone. But do you think shallow DOF makes a camera ready for prime time? It's a 5mp camera with a single cmos sensor that has limited dymamic range, and displays jello for days. Just sayin'... Bokeh or not, iPhone footage looks like iPhone footage. Hey I love my iphone! It's just not a good tool to use for work that's taken seriously. My Fugi XP 20 does "Full HD" as does my GoPro. Somehow they just don't look too good compared to my EX1.
 
Peternap said:
Even when he was apologizing for plugging his company, he was plugging his company.
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I see his signature has the name of the company he works for, but I read the whole thread, and didn't catch a part where he plugged his company. He seemed to be saying that it takes a lot of work to make a true boom pole. Now, "boom pole" can mean a radio shack mic taped to a broom handle, or something more involved that retracts. "DIY" can be something simple or something awesome that takes more work. Many DIY enthusiasts go the extra mile, and in the case of a boom pole, there is a point where you may as well just buy one because they can be had for cheap. That's all he was saying. If he was trying to push someone to buy a boom pole from K-Tec, I'd like to see the link.
 
I made 3 different painters pole booms and they worked to some degree - cost me about 150 bucks altogether.

But actually I was more than happy, when I found a 100 bucks boom from RODE, that does a great job.
Much less handling noise, 4 sections, small footprint for transport.
I wish I would have done my homework earlier. I was always under the impression, that a decent boom sets you back at least $350.

Frank
 
Well...lets see, where were we?
Oh yeah, the wife spent the hundred bucks for a cheap boom pole that was anodized (that's important) so you really need to make one for $25.00 ot less.

Use JB Weld regular. It's a little stronger than the kwick.
Should work fine until you feel the need to get a store bought one.
 
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Peternap said:
Well...lets see, where were we?
Oh yeah, the wife spent the hundred bucks for a cheap boom pole that was anodized (that's important) so you really need to make one for $25.00 ot less.

Use JB Weld regular. It's a little stronger than the kwick.
Should work fine until you feel the need to get a store bought one.
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Actually the Wife gets permanent loan demos for $100+ monopods... (equally as DIY-able or spend a bit for a reasonable quality item(*)...) but then decids to spend the money saved on something else she wants...

(*She got a really crappy one a while back, but I saw a DIY clip on how to make the monopod 'shorter' so it would 1) fit in the suitcase better, 2) better suited for using the body as a stabilizer and not have to plant or even 'extend' the pole at all to get a shot that was 'pretty stable'... this works well in those nasty galleries that won't let you put down even a monopod on their floor, for fear that you will take a better shot of an artwork, if they let you shoot art in the first place..., than what you can get in the museum gift shop...).

But I digress...
 
See that is the problem. You probably can't buy all those parts. So yes you can make the same pole but you may have to buy (and learn how to use) some very expensive machinery. Or buy a large quantity of some parts. That's why I said it's not "practically" possible.

I made a decent boom pole from a painters pole because I need a long one for one low budget film. But I have a lathe and a milling machine. It probably wasn't a bargain time wise but I like making things so...

But it's not as light as a "real" boom pole and it doesn't fold up as small. It's not "as good" as a K-Tek pole.

Thee is a BIG difference between "make" and "make a better". Just about anyone with time can "make" a guitar but VERY few can "make a better" guitar than they can easily buy. And the tools needed are more than the savings even if all you produce is a door stop.

sludge_roach said:
Are people not making that pole that you buy? Very well many people are not crafty enough or even want to try, but it is like I said, completely possible to make a pole better than ones you can buy... Just as it is possible to make a guitar, microphone, or a kitchen table. If someone else can do it why can't I?

As an example... I could purchase every piece that goes into making a K-tek pole, and put it together. Now I added cable clips, velcro, custom paint, whatever... And now I have a better pole. DIY wins.
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sludge_roach said:
Park Chan-wook shot an amazing movie entirely on the i-phone 4.

Cheers.
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Give me a break. You can make an "amazing" movie with anything. What is your point? We guy was arguing (rather ridiculously) that he could make anything - he actually mentioned space flight!

You can make a fine amateur boom-pole with out a lot of $, but it is not of the same quality as a professional boom pole. If your not working in a professional environment then that is fine, if you are it's not.

An iPhone movie, no mater who makes it, will look like Sh8 on a big screen. Actually it probably looks really bad on a big screen TV. It may be an amazing amateur project but you can not then say you can make... say Avitar on an iPhone. Apples and Oranges. Nobody said he couldn't make a pole. People were taking exception to his silly claim that anybody could build a professional pole at home on their own.
 
Paul F said:
Nobody cares what it takes to make a product. Especially on a DIY thread.

You have to wonder how much business K-Tek has with the Sales Manager clogging up a DIY thread pushing product.
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Actually I would think that is exactly what A DIY thread would want. That is the function your trying to imitate so knowing what goes into it is quite helpful in figuring out how to mimic it with OTC parts.

Dave is not "pushing product". The poster made a rather silly assertion and Dave was responding. If he really wants to make it at home that is the kind of info he needs. And it was the poster who said he could make a K-Tek pole.

The thing is you CAN make a pole that is good enough for many things. It won't be a pole you could bring on a professional set and keep your job, but that doesn't really mater to the OP. But it is also important to realize the differences between what you can easily make your self and what the trade offs are.

Part of the reason these threads turn contentious is that there is a wide spectrum of users on this list and folks forget that. If you say you can do X as good as a professional company you will get responses you may not like. Part of that is it's insulting to the professionals (yes this list has professionals on it, not just no budget filmmakers). But part is that those claims are just not correct. And on a list where some folks are heading into professional work one can not just let misinformation stand.

There isn't just one answer. A professional working in a professional environment can not show up with a painters pole. You cannot PRACTICALLY duplicate a professional pole at home. For the pros on this list and the would be pros that is important to understand. For the rest go and make that pole out of whatever. You can get results that are good enough for what you are doing.

And that is not an insult. "Good enough for what you are doing" is what we all aim at. The most expensive pole made is not perfect for everyone. That's why there are a number of professional pole makers in business. Everyone buys / makes their equipment based on "good enough for what you are doing".

The bar changes based on "what you are doing".

It's just as wrong to assume everyone's needs will be met by a low bar solution as it is to assume everyone needs a high bar solution.
 
sludge_roach said:
If you have the resources and desire you can surely go through with building your very own professional pole.
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And this is the heart of the issue. You had said earlier that you could get the same parts K-Tek uses to make a pole and make a better one. I told you that you couldn't because we make our own parts. They aren't off the shelf. That is the point where you seemed to get all offended. If you have the resources to start up a machine shop, and the engineering know-how, I say go for it. I actually agree with what you are saying right there in what I pulled from your quote. What people need to understand is that getting the money to get the resources to get the machine shop up and running could be difficult, but not impossible.

I also think Noiz makes some excellent points. In reality what we need for a gig is what will be good enough for a gig. What is "good enough" will be defined by the job and the client. I've done sound design jobs where I could get away with "mixing" in my apartment (note: I do not, and never did, consider myself a re-recording mixer. I just did it when the budget was too low), and mixing in my apartment was good enough for the job. I've done sound design jobs where my pro tools sessions were taken to a professional mix stage and mixed by a real re-recording mixer. That mix stage has way more tools, and not to mention proper acoustics, to mix a project well, and the level of the project demanded that high quality. It's like that for everything from production to post, in terms of gear.
 
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Boom poles look simple but the reality is they are not. It takes a lot of engineering knowhow to make one that is lightweight, stiff, and doesn't make noise when it flexes
 
davefisk said:
It's like that for everything from production to post, in terms of gear.
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I completely agree with you. I think there was a big misunderstanding on both parts. My fault in some ways for my unorthodox way of explaining myself and for that I am sorry.

When I said anyone could get the same parts K-Tek uses I meant the raw material used to make the parts that needed to be put together. I am not saying either that K-Tek makes poor quality poles at all.

I hope I've cleared this up. I just broke my foot and have been cranky the last few days.

Cheers,

Roach
 
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sludge_roach said:
When I said anyone could get the same parts K-Tek uses I meant the raw material used to make the parts that needed to be put together. I am not saying either that K-Tek makes poor quality poles at all.

I hope I've cleared this up. I just broke my foot and have been cranky the last few days. I have no hard feelings toward anyone.

Cheers,

Roach
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In that case, you are correct. If you have the means, you can get the raw materials and equipment to make boom poles, or anything else, for that matter.

Dude, sorry to hear about your broken foot. I hope you aren't a drummer. I'm a drummer and that would really bum me out. Of course, just having a broken foot would bum me out too.
 
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