Wooden jib

Pettersen

Pettersen

Well-known member
Well, this may sound ridicolous, but I am thinking about building a wooden jib. Is this a good idea? Or should I build i in steal or aluminum (or whatever metal I can use), despite the extra cost for buying metal instead of wood?
 
I wouldnt put my camera off the end of a wooden Jib, unless its very sturdy but a very sturdy wood one would be very heavy.
 
Wood will work, but you'll need to do a bit of engineering. For example, a 10ft 2x4 is pretty heavy, and will flex a fair bit. Cut half of it into 1/4 inch strips and glue it together with carbon fibre ribbon between each, and you have a very strong piece. Aluminum is of course easier, and really, not terribly expensive.
 
Aluminum would be easier to work with and cheaper. Then end result will be lighter, more functional, and nobody will laugh at you. :)
 
My first jib was built of wood. 2 - 12ft 2X4's that I bolted together for strength and rigidity and then cut in half so it would fit in my car. I hinged it. I could set it up myself but it took a long time and it was pretty heavy. I had a full -sized broadcast camera out on the end. To support it I used a very heavy duty Arriflex 35mm film camera tripod. Also, I never used this rig in public so as to avoid the laughter factor. I made a film about the desert, so I only used it for scenic and beauty shots. It worked great but for my next film I broke down and bought an EXFX Jib. Much easier to set up and use. Plus it looks pretty professional

Chris Pyle
Wildland Films
 
Heck, just give it an antique treatment, and tell everyone it once belonged to D.W. Griffith. They won't laugh anymore. :)
 
What dimentions should those aluminum pipes be then? How long do you recomend me to make it? I really don't want to spend much more than 100-120$.
 
I use a jib I made out of a 10' 2x4. Nobody's laughed yet, but I'm prepared to whack them with it if they do.
Whatever you end up using though, make sure it fits in your car first, and doesn't press up against the windshield, cuz one time I uh... huh huh.....

Jib parts: $50
New windshield: $400
Whacking skeptics: Priceless
 
Well, eh. I don't really have a car. I'm fifteen. :undecided


Perhaps I should create a wheel mecanism, making me able to roll the jib wherever I want it. If not, I could always call some pals of mine, and we'll carry the whole thing.

2x4, you mean inches, don't you?
 
The problem with 2x4s is they are never really straight...and if they are, they won't stay that way forever.

Then again, it's not that big a deal replacing it when the time comes.
 
Well, my tripod is a little fragile. I really don't think it can stand a 10' board. Can I build my own thing for holding the arm?
 
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