Dolly move on a budget-tripod dolly+track recommendation

^

home depot $10 each for 10 feet of electrical conduit, connect them.. 90 degree angled lightweight aluminum, skate board wheels, screws.. plywood...

Super smooth and cheapest thing you can build ever.
 
Wheel chair, little red wagon or garden cart/wagon on smooth surface or some plywood. Or, hand hold and process through Smoothcam, iStabelize, etc.
 
Is there a reason why you don't want to rent a dolly? You live in one of the busiest production cities in the world with significant rental infrastructure. For $45 you can have an actual, purpose-built professional dolly with 16' of track for the weekend. It will work the first time, it will be easy to use, and it will give you results on par with what you see in Hollywood movies.

Or you can spend a few days doing research, drop a couple hundred bucks at the Home Depot, and spend a day or two building and tweaking only to end up with a piece of gear that may or may not (depending on your craftsmanship) do what you want it to do.

DIY is a great way to go for many things, but dollies are so cheap to rent that I just don't think it's worth that much of your time and energy to save $40. Most of the PVC/Skateboard wheel dollies I've come across tend to suck hard anyway.
 
stefancolson said:
Is there a reason why you don't want to rent a dolly? You live in one of the busiest production cities in the world with significant rental infrastructure. For $45 you can have an actual, purpose-built professional dolly with 16' of track for the weekend. It will work the first time, it will be easy to use, and it will give you results on par with what you see in Hollywood movies.
Click to expand...

Just curious, what dolly system can you rent for $45 a day? Is it a sled and real track? I have a Long Valley Dolly and 24' of Matthews track. I'm thinking, very seriously of buying the Premiere Studios PD-1, as it's portable and has an arm, which really works to do what a Fischer or Chapman can do. Has anyone had experience with it? I can't find them around me. I'm in NY. I'd love to rent one for a day to try it out.
 
David W. Jones said:
Plywood, angle iron, skateboard wheels, PVC pipe, I made my own over a weekend.
Click to expand...
I agree. Did it earlier last year:
1234475_10151941313382526_1149277516_n.jpg
With 1" galvanized pipes, it runs smoothly on it. I've used it in my last short UNEXPECTED and the moves where looking great.

The most expensive parts were the skate wheels I've bought *(due to Canadian shipping):
1184772_10151934947037526_327088780_n.jpg
 
Renting makes sense if you are not going to be needing an item very often. Purchasing makes sense if you need it often, are busy and can not afford to give up the time, or your DIY skills are lacking. Building makes sense if you want to save the coin and you have the available time. I built both a doorway style dolly and mini skater style dolly putting a weekend into each back when I had available time to do so. I rarely use my track and dolly now as most of the commercials I work on do not need shots of that length, as most are only 2 or 3 seconds long. If I need a longer move I will more often than not use my Dana Dolly, as I can carry 10' lengths of schedule 80 speed rail in my Sprinter van.
 
hscully said:
Just curious, what dolly system can you rent for $45 a day? Is it a sled and real track? I have a Long Valley Dolly and 24' of Matthews track. I'm thinking, very seriously of buying the Premiere Studios PD-1, as it's portable and has an arm, which really works to do what a Fischer or Chapman can do. Has anyone had experience with it? I can't find them around me. I'm in NY. I'd love to rent one for a day to try it out.
Click to expand...

You're definitely not going to get something that does what a Fischer/Chapman does for that price. $45 will get you a simple doorway dolly with trough wheels and a few 8' at most places I've been in LA.

A friend of mine bought a PD-1 last year and has had nothing but positive things to say about it. I haven't had the chance to use it myself, but I've heard nothing but praise.
 
The OP stated, "I need to make a short (15ft) straight line dolly move on a limited budget?" Not, "How do I build a dolly w/track that will compete with a Chapman or Fisher". Get out the red wagon or shoot from a car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top