The Search for the right wheel
 

I'm putting together plans to build a dolly system and wish to incorporate our current jib into the mix. Our jib has a heavy duty stand with casters on it, but the wheels are too thin to use on a track. I was thinking that if we changed the wheels to something like what professional dolly trucks use, the wider wheels with center grooves, the entire jib assembly could be set on the track for dolly shots then removed and relocated with ease.

The problem I'm having is finding the wheels I'm looking for. I was wondering if anyone here knew where I could find wheels like that outside of purchasing a dolly truck.

If you are homebuilding, then you might allready be aware of teh most comon solution for home-built dolly wheels: Skateboard wheels. - OR as i personally use, Rollerblade wheels.
These are easy to find in most places as are bearings that are allready made to fit.
I prefer rollerblade wheels because they are marginally larger and softer, therefor smoother and quieter.

- Mikko.

Yeah, that would work, but that means we would have to either:
A. Buy a new tripod that supports the weight of our jib to mount on the dolly base.
B. Manually change the casters on our current base to the skateboard/rollerblade wheel casters and back again.
C. Have a fabricated base with the skateboard/rollerblade wheels created that can bolt on to our jib base.

A & B involve to much of a cost to even consider. B would work, but no one here is going to go for the increased production time it would take to manually change out the casters on our jib base during a shoot (including me).

I need wheels that can be attached to the jib base and left on their, but be suitable for dollying on a track or on a floor.

Do "C". You don't have to bolt them to a new fabricated base though. Simply make slots in the base that your current wheels will fit into, and sandbag the legs.

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com