DIY IndieSlider...

So I finally taped all the holes last night, and really the only thing I can tell people is you WILL NEED the oil for the ends if you are doing the end caps.

Other than that, it was easy. Eye-balled the hole in the carriage which worked out great.

I went to Lowes and the tap and drill were from Kobalt for like $7 and I had to buy the piece to rotate the tap separately. GET THE BIG ONE truest me. It was on sale for like $8

I came up with another solution for legs using angle iron, but haven't finished putting it together yet. Going to shoot some footage next weekend with it and will post some. Man, it works great!!!
 
Nice build groveChuck!

grimepoch...yes cutting oil helps, but it's not impossible without it. It's all in the technique.
Take your time, 1/2 turn in, back it out...repeat...and make sure to clean the cuttings out of the tap every now & again. That 'piece to rotate the tap' is called a "Tap Wrench" or "T Handle".

I know you now agree with the hundreds of others that have built one... this is one of the easiest DIY projects out there! You'll get a lot of mileage out of it. I'd love to see you get a pair of the ZazaSlider feet for it, you wouldn't be disappointed!
 
ryan brown said:
Just a heads up, Igus sent me a confirmation shipping email this morning. They said it was going to be 6 weeks, but they must have restocked early, because it's only been 3 days since I placed my order.
Click to expand...

I received a shipment confirmation from them as well today. I can't wait till it arrives so I can start using it. Seeing everyone's results in this thread is making me jealous lol.

Zaza, I might order a pair of feet too. Probably won't be for a month or two but they look great and very functional!
 
Blackmouf said:
I received a shipment confirmation from them as well today. I can't wait till it arrives so I can start using it. Seeing everyone's results in this thread is making me jealous lol.

Zaza, I might order a pair of feet too. Probably won't be for a month or two but they look great and very functional!
Click to expand...

When ever you're ready my friend! :happy:
 
Yeah, the first end hole I did without oil, it is possible, but takes A LOT longer. With the oil. it's much faster and keeps from getting metal stuck in the threads (which happened on the first hole). Not a big deal.

And I totally agree, it's amazing. I've done about 5 test shots that I had planned out so now I'm getting some people lined up to do a lot more of them.

We are going to try some complicated shots with my follow focus. I tested them briefly and they are certainly possible. I'll be sharing these after we film them as more advanced uses of the slider. Also doing a lot of measuring from the slider and angles not parallel to the subject where we use REAL shallow focus, but rotate the head as we are moving to keep a start and end point in focus, which results in an AMAZING shot.

The slider is so smooth. Most of the only issue is me learning the best spots to move the slider from. I am using the Velban head but I am going to switch to the 501DV from Manfrotto. It's a bit bigger and I think that extra size will help. I've also contemplated putting handles on the slide, like a square loop that runs out then up that would be a little nicer and independent of the head. This would require two hands, but make sliding and turning easier for those situations where I am doing both.

I love your legs (haha, that sounds wrong), I just don't have the extra money for them at the moment since the tripod and head I am picking up is a bit pricey. They are on my radar though!

I also want to experiment with a second track and tie the two together. I will bevel the ends that come together a little bit and if I can get a nice enough piece to tie the two together, it should work well!!!
 
Having two heads, one on the slider and putting the slider on top of a head does two things:
It gives you the "cool options" for shots Zaza mentioned- like tilting the rail for angled shots.

Plus, it allows you to put a quick release plate on the bottom of the rail, so you can get the slider on and off your tripod easily and quickly if you want to get a ground or table shot.

Here's my just-finished slider on the tripod, on the floor, and on a table.






Sachtler quick release plate on bottom of rail................ Shooting on a glass table with Filmtools 4" riser removed................ Upside down feet looking at vinyl bumper
 
LOL! ... how many times are you going to post all those pictures? LOL!! :happy:

BUT... you don't need a head to use a QR system on a tripod. The QR assembly will easily attach
directly to a tripod (just like the head does). Like this....
picture.php
 
how far can you slide to each side without the tripod tilting or slider tipping? and i was thinking by having it on a tripod head, you do like a shot that combines zooming and tracking or use it similar to a jib. my concern would be would a quick release of a 503/501 head be able to hold the slider enough?
 
mo sizzle said:
how far can you slide to each side without the tripod tilting or slider tipping? and i was thinking by having it on a tripod head, you do like a shot that combines zooming and tracking or use it similar to a jib. my concern would be would a quick release of a 503/501 head be able to hold the slider enough?
Click to expand...

You can slide right to the end...here's a picture from my first build test. Add a few sandbags...and
no worries at all.
picture.php


Yes... it will hold, just make sure the plate is attached to the rail securely!
(an extra screw might be a good idea)
 
Za, I will doing a lot of sliding this Wednesday and Thursday at THE STRIP CLUB!!! So glad we have a STRIP CLUB scene for the film I'm working on. Did I mention it was a STRIP CLUB Za?
 
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