DIY Flexible track Dolly

**vnguyen** · 2008 July 6th, 14:52

How is the red pressure hose treating you? Does it keep the camera smooth?

**Cinemacuteo** · 2008 July 6th, 15:00

Yes but is too heavy, I think that you can buy a 3/4 Black pressure hose, and will give you the same result but it will be, lighter and easier to transport.

**bassman** · 2008 September 9th, 00:27

I finally finished retro-fitting my Davis and Sanford dolly with skateboard wheels. It's not quite finished yet but I am on my way. Thanks to everyone on this thread for giving me inspiration to try this.

Cheers!

**Cinemacuteo** · 2008 September 9th, 09:47

Wao, now I want to make one like yours.

**bassman** · 2008 September 9th, 21:56

Thanks man!! I did make one more quick modification. I put caps on each end of the hose/track and a installed a tire valve. I inflate the hose with several pounds of pressure to make it more rigid. It's working great.

Cheers!

**zephyrnoid** · 2008 September 9th, 22:06

Hey! did you get that idea from my DVinfo.net post? Clever guy!!!

Originally Posted by bassman

Thanks man!! I did make one more quick modification. I put caps on each end of the hose/track and a installed a tire valve. I inflate the hose with several pounds of pressure to make it more rigid. It's working great.

Cheers!

**bassman** · 2008 September 9th, 22:24

Originally Posted by zephyrnoid

Hey! did you get that idea from my DVinfo.net post? Clever guy!!!

I think somewhere in this thread someone mentioned putting caps on the end and inflating the hose. Not sure who it was but it works!!

**zcream** · 2008 October 5th, 07:04

Hi Bassman. If you stagger the 4 wheels, it is better for turning corners.
http://www.jorenclark.com/images/dolly/IMAG0016-01.jpg
I'm going to try this too.. I want a looooongg circle to film 2 dancers.

**bassman** · 2008 October 10th, 01:09

Originally Posted by zcream

Hi Bassman. If you stagger the 4 wheels, it is better for turning corners.
http://www.jorenclark.com/images/dolly/IMAG0016-01.jpg
I'm going to try this too.. I want a looooongg circle to film 2 dancers.

I think we are on the same page. It's hard to tell from the above photos that I staggered the wheels as well. Not so much by design but as the angle bracket wasn't big enough to put the bolts directly across from each other

Here is a picture of the underside of the truck.

Cheers!

Bassman

**zcream** · 2008 October 10th, 01:27

Are you ozzie Bassman ? I'm from Sydney.

**bassman** · 2008 October 10th, 07:34

Originally Posted by zcream

Are you ozzie Bassman ? I'm from Sydney.

Originally from Canada now living in the mid west of the USA.

**-Rogue5-** · 2008 October 11th, 14:58

So how did that hose work? Also, how big is it? 1.5"? I'm not so much worried about the weight simply because it'd be one solid peice of tubing so I wouldn't need to worry about joints (which is currently my biggest issue with a PVC pipe based system.)

I was actually thinking of getting garage door rails and mount it to a 10ft 2x4 to make a really solid track, but I'd have to worry about the seams again (and with a solid track there would be no turning.)

-Rogue5-

**HarryChristy** · 2008 October 13th, 01:29

Do you have any footage with it?

**zcream** · 2009 January 11th, 08:00

Hi! I got the D&S W3 dolly shipped to my brother in Boston. Problem is that the USPS standard box is only 12x12x7 inches. Does anyone know if the D&S dolly can be taken apart for shipping in a smaller box ?
I think the default is 24x7 inches for shipping. So I'd gues the legs are 24 inches each. Can the W3 users see if the legs can be taken apart further ?
Thanks!

**zcream** · 2009 August 5th, 20:51

Is the hose used called Steam - Wire Reinforced Hose with working pressure 270 psi ?
Also called STEEL STEAM
Am having trouble finding it in a hardware store in Australia so I had to check an industrial supply store..They have way too much to choose from and there are no samples. I have to order 20 meters before I get any..And no refunds of course..

**zcream** · 2009 August 5th, 20:53

Or is it this one ?
HSLWH - WELDING HOSE – SINGLE LINE -RED
USED WITH WELDING AND CUTTING EQUIPMENT IN WORKSHOPS, CONSTRUCTION SITES, ETC. OXYGEN/ACETYLENE WELDING AS1335. RED - ACETYLENE TEMPERATURE RANGE: -30?c TO 85?c

**zcream** · 2009 August 16th, 21:47

Also, are we talking about 1-inch inside or outside diameter ? Can someone confirm what the Inside diameter is - if we are talking of an outside diameter of 25mm / 1-inch ?
And someone please reply..

**The Crowing** · 2009 August 16th, 22:19

this thread is awesome! im going to start building mine as soon as i get my better tripod and have something to work with. i love the air pressure feature!

**bassman** · 2009 August 16th, 22:19

Originally Posted by zcream

Also, are we talking about 1-inch inside or outside diameter ? Can someone confirm what the Inside diameter is - if we are talking of an outside diameter of 25mm / 1-inch ?
And someone please reply..

I believe the hose I am using is a 5/8" OD rubber water hose. It was the easiest to get my hands on but I think a larger hose would just as well.

Cheers!

**zcream** · 2009 August 17th, 06:46

Hi bassman. That may be too thin..I saw some of these in the air tools section. However, if you have a bumpy surface, it leaves too little a space between the tires and the bumps..
I found a 1-inch rubber hose at 20 meters for 150 AUD, might go for that one..

**bassman** · 2009 August 18th, 08:56

Originally Posted by zcream

Hi bassman. That may be too thin..I saw some of these in the air tools section. However, if you have a bumpy surface, it leaves too little a space between the tires and the bumps..
I found a 1-inch rubber hose at 20 meters for 150 AUD, might go for that one..

The bigger the hose the better in my book when it comes to stability. Let us know how that hose works out.

Cheers!

**The Crowing** · 2009 August 20th, 00:21

is there any certain way the wheels have to be mounted? or does the size of the angled metal determine that? also, i was wondering, if you have lets just say 20 feet of hose. if you start rolling down it how do you keep the hose from rolling all over the place. would it be a good idea to brace them on the ends?

**bassman** · 2009 August 20th, 23:08

Originally Posted by The Crowing

is there any certain way the wheels have to be mounted? or does the size of the angled metal determine that? also, i was wondering, if you have lets just say 20 feet of hose. if you start rolling down it how do you keep the hose from rolling all over the place. would it be a good idea to brace them on the ends?

I staggered my wheels slightly on the angled aluminum. I thought it might make it easier with curves in the track but I can't confirm that. I found that the hose does not move very much if you are on a flat surface and the curves in the track are fairly gentle. That said, I haven't needed to brace the track (yet).

I hope that helps.

Bassman

**car3o** · 2009 August 21st, 01:49

no footage?

**The Crowing** · 2009 August 25th, 18:20

footy would be lovely

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