Dolly Track Question

Pittsburgh0205

Pittsburgh0205

Active member
Im looking to build a dolly that I can disassemble so that it will fit in my car, and I was thinking about cutting the pvc track down to 4ft. What would be the best way to connect the pvc pieces together.
 
what is a PVC? what does is look like?
Click to expand...



33059p.jpg
 
Oh, I see.....thanks for the photo.
but
I've still don't get the part how you connect it??
...so if you glue a smaller PVC inside it and connect it will it stay in place?
it's not really going to be locked tight , right?
 
Use 1.5" pvc for your track and buy 1.25" pvc for your connectors. Using a jigsaw cut a slot... approx 1/4-1/2" wide... down the entire length of the 1.25" pvc... then cut that pipe into 1' sections... that's ONE FOOT sections. The easiest way to do this is with a miter saw, but the precision of this isn't that crucial... BUT, if you want your track to be precise then you'll want to use a miter saw for that anyway. So just use the same saw that you use on the 1.5" to cut down the slotted 1.25".

The 1.25" sections (one pipe will net you 10 connectors... PLENTY)... they will compress down to close the slot so that you can slip them into the 1.5" tubes... I marked all my connectors with a sharpie at the half-way, or 6" point... so stick them half way in one tube and push/twist the next tube on. If you want these connectors to really work smooth on install/uninstall then use a file/grinder/sander and knock off the sharp edges on the connectors. (down the slot and at the ends)

This works perfect... and as far as I know I came up with it... and you may want to note that this only works with 1.5" pvc combined with 1.25" for the connectors. The tolerances are just right.

No sweat and you'll be done with everything in an hour.
 
So does this mean the PVC's are connected to each other by it's tightness/friction from the 1.25 PVC?
kind of like lego's?
 
Yes, you cut the slot out of the 1.25" pvc so that you have a relief space for compression. It doesn't take a he-man to compress down the connectors, you just squeeze with one or two hands at the end as you slip it into the 1.5" pvc. It will compress down so that the 3/8" slot is only about 1/8" and it will force equal pressure all around on the 1.5" pvc "rail"... works great. Now just do it and you'll understand. This is by far the simplest and most effective way to make modular pvc dolly track.
 
Actually, running the splice sections over a tablesaw is safer and more precise than using a jigsaw. First, using a mitre saw, cut the tubing down to a safe, workable length - say between 4 and 6' at most. Not cutting each individual 12" section will keep the pipe from rotating as it crosses over the blade - tablesaws (and circular saws in general) want to cut straight lines.

Bring two fences together to just wider than 1.25 inches, equidistant from the blade below. Use your push stick to send the tubing over the blade, which only needs to be about 3/16" above the table surface.

Always wear your safety glasses.

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I'm telling you, from experience... that you want the joining pipes to be 1 foot each. Trust me on this if you don't want your dolly to bump over each joint. However you want to cut the slot is up to you... I used a Bosch jigsaw and cut the blade off with a grinder disk so that at max extension it still wouldn't touch the opposite inside of the 1.25" tube... the table saw probably would be faster and more precise.
 
I've just went to home depot today and saw the 1.5" PVC and it was a lot bigger then I thought....
Now I was thinking of a much smaller dolly to make but now I'm not sure if I want that much of a big equipment to carry around.......
I personally think the 2/3'' pvc is a good size for me.....(for only the camera to load)

so why are you using the 1.5" pvc?
can you actually get on the dolly? will it hold your weight without braking the pvc?
 
Nice solution for connecting PVC! Wow, did I spend lots of time at the hardware store trying to mix/match pipe and connectors . . . At the same time, unless the user has tools . . .
 
wow, I find it very interesting the mark ups in the low scall film industry, like glide shot, the prices they sell the dollies that cost maybe 20 bucks 1 to 2 hours to build.

I guess we should be greatfull to all the kids who like high end skate boards, and roller blades, thats why the wheels at skates.com are dso cheap, they are stock wheels removed after some skater upgraded his new board with the pricy wheels. its win win, they get the high end, shates.com, makes a few extra bucks off the old wheels with out screwing us, and we get nice wheels with nice bearings for cheap.

I have to say if you need a dolly, and you have enough ability to drill a hole, put in a bult and tighten the nut down, you can make your own dolly that works just as well as the ones on glide shot for much less.
 
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