The VERY poor man's skater dolly
 

Here's my attempt at the skater dolly. I was inspired by Rudy Meier's version. It cost about $25 bucks total.

Hardware
3 Rollerblade wheels (Sport's Authority $9)
3 Casters with removable nuts ($3 each)
3 butterfly nuts, screws, and washers (size 1/4)
1 piece of wood (check out scrap wood section-$1)

Tools
Jigsaw
Drill and 1/4 Size bit

Wow, thats awesome Bao!

Do you have any footage you could show?

Very cool. thanks for the idea!
~Gabriel

This is a nice solution, simple and elegant. Whaqt are you using as a floor surface for this and how does it break down for transport?

Test Footage
 

Here's some footage. I forgot to mention the casters are RIGID. Thanks and enjoy. Bao

http://web.mac.com/bao.q.nguyen/iWeb...ly%20Test.html

modification
 

Bao,

I liked this idea a lot (because I have to build stuff on the cheap) and decided to make one. I chose to go with my own design so I can use it with my tripod. I haven't drilled the slots for my tripods feet yet, but you can see the pencil marks (1 1/2 inch circles) where they will soon be. I need to get a flat tip drill bit first. I will drill the holes about 1/2 way through just so I can have something to hold my tripod in place.

I made a slight modification by cutting some grooves in the plywood and adding another bolt on the castor to use as a scale indicator. I designed a scale in Photoshop, printed it out and laminated it using sticky back laminate. Then I stuck them on like decals and now I can set the desired angle I want.

I realize it's not a precision scale but at least I can recreate my angles to some degree of accuracy. :)

I have played around with it and it works beautifully!

Great design! I'm probably going to do the same thing if I make another one. And yes, a little bigger to stick my tripod legs on.

Unfortunately, this one is just a little to small (for the tripod) and a little to big (for counter top situations).

It works "ok" for either I guess, but it would be idea to have two if you plan to do a lot of skater dolly work.

Anyway, thanks for the great suggestion. I am really enjoying this little dolly! :)