Using Fishing Reel to Control Dolly/Crane Movement??

[notharrylume]

I've been thinking about using a reel and crank to move a dolly or crane in a controlled manner much like a geared head uses pan and tilt cranks to move the head in a contolled manner.

The theory is probably much simpler than the practice, and already I've imagined that issues of mounting the reel as well as providing a counter force are to be reckoned with.

Has anyone here experience in building such devices, or, for that matter, thinking that the whole idea is a waste of time?

Thanks as always. (And I have seen the video of the Roumanian girl Cleopatra, but was thinking of something a bit more serious!!)

 

[MagicCat]

I made a Focus puller out of a 10 dollar Reel. I can tell you with some bit of hands on experience, they are not designed to take a ton of weight or pressure. Fishing rods flex, so does the line,... Cranes and dolly's don't. You may find a reel in where the gearing will take some amount of abuse or pressure, but, the frame/structure it is contained within, will not. If you do this, stick to the reels with real bearings in them, not the cheap ones with bronze or metal bushings.