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Old April 3rd, 2012, 05:32 PM   #1
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PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Does anyone have a parts list and where to get everything for making an inexpensive pvc pipe dolly with roller skate wheels? I ve seen videos and such, but need a parts list to get the right size stuff,
Thanks!

P.S. Looking for a non table top dolly - something I can throw a tripod on

Last edited by Silas Barker; April 3rd, 2012 at 06:06 PM.
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Old April 3rd, 2012, 06:46 PM   #2
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Hi Silas

Consider aluminium rather!! It's way stiffer and lighter. My DIY dolly has been used my hundreds of people and is even tough enough to sit on!! Just a square frame made from aluminium angle so you have a triangular box section which is very stiff and very light...the 45 degree sides allow the skateboard wheels to run on any diameter pipe too!!

Chris
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Old April 3rd, 2012, 08:08 PM   #3
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

I am looking for really cheap and I already have PVC, 1", but I'll take a look at the aluminium ones if you have some part lists and plans for it. Thanks!
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Old April 3rd, 2012, 11:32 PM   #4
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

I second Chris' suggestion. I have used PVC, Aluminium and steel, with Al being the best compromise for strength-weight-price.

Here's a list from the top of my head (it's been 4 years+):
1. 8 skateboard (I didn't use roller skate because they weren't big enough, among other reasons) wheels - the best quality you can find. + washers if you need them
2. Two one inch rectangular wooden boards (you will need to estimate the tripod base size and enough space for a person to stand). These are sandwiched and bolted together and can handle the weight of two people easily.
3. 90 degree V channel aluminium sections
4. Bolts, nuts and washers for everything. You'll need a drill to punch holes, and drill bits for wood and metal.
5. A couple of steel rods if you need a handle - what I did was drill a couple of additional bolts on the board so that the dolly grip could easily slide it while sitting alongside.

I've used this dolly on rough ground (about 15 feet) and interiors with aluminium rods. I've tried both curtain rods (with grooves) and smooth rods, not much difference in results.
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Old April 4th, 2012, 12:45 AM   #5
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

or...

buy these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/604842-REG/Ikan_FDD_TW_FDD_TW_Track_Wheel_Set.html
Thats for 4 wheel sets, ready to go. Total of 16 wheels, just drill a hole and thread the bolt.

You can rig them onto old floor dollies, onto a board, whatever. By the time I priced out the parts and labor, I decided these made much more sense than DIY, so i bought 2 sets and use them for various things. dollies, overhead rigs, impromptu "sliders" etc. very useful little guys.

The bearings were slightly different on the two sets (ordered a year apart), but both have performed without any issues.

My 2c anyways.

-a
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Old April 4th, 2012, 08:54 AM   #6
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Have you seen YouTube user "thefrugalfilmmaker"?

He includes a descriptive parts list at 2:00 into the video.

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Old April 4th, 2012, 12:38 PM   #7
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Dean View Post
or...

buy these: Ikan FDD-TW Track Wheel Set FDD-TW B&H Photo Video

Thats for 4 wheel sets, ready to go. Total of 16 wheels, just drill a hole and thread the bolt.

You can rig them onto old floor dollies, onto a board, whatever. By the time I priced out the parts and labor, I decided these made much more sense than DIY, so i bought 2 sets and use them for various things. dollies, overhead rigs, impromptu "sliders" etc. very useful little guys.

The bearings were slightly different on the two sets (ordered a year apart), but both have performed without any issues.

My 2c anyways.

-a

That looks great Andrew - will those wheels run on 1" pvc pipe?
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Old April 4th, 2012, 12:39 PM   #8
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Hooper View Post
Have you seen YouTube user "thefrugalfilmmaker"?

He includes a descriptive parts list at 2:00 into the video.

Make a PVC Table Dolly for Under $20 - YouTube
Thats a cool table top dolly, but I am looking for a sturdy tripod to throw my tripod on - and hopefully some wheels and a sheet of plywood on them will work on pvc pipe with a tripod siting on the top!
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Old April 4th, 2012, 04:24 PM   #9
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Sooo... wouldn't this track dolly from the same Frugal Filmmaker be more relevant to the OP? But, maybe I'm still misunderstanding...

Trolley Dolly (Camera Slider) - YouTube\

Deborah
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Old April 4th, 2012, 05:26 PM   #10
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deborah Gallegos View Post
Sooo... wouldn't this track dolly from the same Frugal Filmmaker be more relevant to the OP? But, maybe I'm still misunderstanding...
Trolley Dolly (Camera Slider) - YouTube\
Deborah
No, he's looking for a traditional dolly that supports the camera on a full size tripod, monitor, and possibly operator. It's a big rig that can support about 200lbs. It's not something you can put in a backpack or carry with 1 hand.
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Old April 4th, 2012, 09:00 PM   #11
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Thats right, it needs to carry my tripod on it and a heavy camera possibly too as well as DSLRs.

I am really interested to know if the wheels Andrew was talking about would go on 1" pvc pipe?

(Ikan FDD-TW Track Wheel Set FDD-TW B&H Photo Video)
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Old April 6th, 2012, 02:25 AM   #12
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Its a tad heavy, and wouldn't fit in a backback, but i *can* carry my board dolly with one hand. The thinner the wood, the more you'll need some other support frame, but a 30mm MDF board is a decent balance between weight and strength. Inset the wheels 3-4 inches from the edges (ideally, make the dolly 6-8 inches wider than your tracks) and she's quite good for the operator + sticks/camera. I'm a big guy, and i ride mine just fine. If in doubt, span the wood you are considering using between two bricks (or whatever else is at the hardware store) and stand on the board. If it flexes, its probably too weak. (or the dolly too wide/long)

Ideally, you'd want something like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/497588-REG/Matthews_377702_377702_24_39_Adjustable_Bazooka.html
with one of these on top: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/188706-REG/Cartoni_D470_D470_Bazooka_Basket_with.html
That lets you adjust the height of the camera without mucking around with the legs of a tripod. It means your dolly can be MUCH smaller and lighter and more portable while still maintaining all its functionality.

As to running on 1" pipe, i'll have to check on that tomorrow. It would be right at the lower limits. The wheels will definitely run on 1" pipe if it were on risers, but i'll have to make sure that 1" pipe by itself would give enough clearance to keep the skate wheels from touching the ground. I think it would work, but i'll have to double check before I say for sure.

cheers!
-a
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Old April 6th, 2012, 12:06 PM   #13
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Thanks Andrew!

Ideally this thing will run on 1" pvc pipe but maybe larger pipe would work too. I would like to get those wheels from BH but want to make sure it will run on pvc pipe because thats what will work best for I think.

Thanks!
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Old April 10th, 2012, 01:36 PM   #14
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

This looks pretty awesome with curved tracks:

Long Valley Equipment | products

I am thinking of getting the wheels from BH and then attaching to a sheet of plywood and probably buying the curved 1,5" track from the company and getting my own straight track for the straight. And then the wooden dowels for attaching the track pieces together sounds like a great idea!

ALSO -
Parts list from Digital Juice
http://cloudfront.public.digitaljuic...1-DIYDolly.pdf
Wheels from BH
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/604842-REG/Ikan_FDD_TW_FDD_TW_Track_Wheel_Set.html
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Old April 11th, 2012, 05:06 PM   #15
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Re: PVC Pipe Dolly Parts?

Heya Silas.

Sorry for the delay. Its been a nutty week.

Yes, it will run on 1" track, but you don't get a whole lot of clearance. Here are some photos. I didn't have a 1" pipe, but this one is slightly smaller and worked, but you can see it doesn't have much clearance. Given that, a 1" should work fine. the 42mm pipe seems the sweet spot to me. The wheels ride on their center and there is enough clearance to not trip over shag carpet. For grass, you'd want even bigger pipe. You can run on almost any size upward. 5" sewer pipe is good for grassy bits.

Hope that helped or something! Cheers!

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachme...1&d=1334185124
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