Has anyone tried these Chinese 15mm carbon fiber rods?

[Imamacuser]

Has anyone tried these Chinese 15mm carbon fiber rods with their rig? I know the tolerances aren't always precise with cheap Chinese products, so I'm wondering if anyone has used these with their rig.

They come in matt and gloss finish, I'd prefer matt, but the gloss one has a thicker wall. Speaking of wall thickness, how thick should the wall be?

I'm considering modding my steadycam sled with 18" carbon fiber rods down the road.

 

[jpham]

stay with the standard 15mm and 19mm (OD) carbon fiber rod
you're using non standard (18mm)- and stuff like rod clamp, etc will be expensive

 

[Greg_E]

18 inch long, not 18mm diameter.

 

[Imamacuser]

stay with the standard 15mm and 19mm (OD) carbon fiber rod
you're using non standard (18mm)- and stuff like rod clamp, etc will be expensive

I don't see how your reply corresponds with what I said in my post. The rods I linked can be ordered with a 15mm OD. When I mentioned possibly modding my steadycam with 18" rods, I was referring to length, not diameter (the " symbol = inches, 18" = 45cm).

 

[Phil Rhodes]

I looked at this stuff. The only issue I can see is that "real" carbon fibre mattebox rods tend to have a matte ground finish, whereas these are gloss. I'm not sure if that means that nick and dings will make it difficult to slide things along, but you could probably have a go at it with some wet-and-dry to coarsen the surface.

It's certainly a hell of a lot cheaper than movie industry stuff, and probably rather similar under it all.

 

[puredrifting]

I don't have the Chinese CF rods but I have several sets of cheap Chinese Aluminum Small Rig, Fotgay and other brand you have never heard of rods and have been using them for years with no problems. if they get too dinged up or gouged, recycle them and buy a new set, they cost almost nothing on Amazon.