Least expensive way to create rails/rods?

David Delaney · November 15th, 2007, 06:15 AM

That is getting above the $25.00 dollar mark! :)
I am going to try and find a used quick release plate and go from there. I can't believe how expensive the rods are though...that seems crazy!

David Chia · November 15th, 2007, 08:30 AM

Question, How much are you worth an hour? With the time spend looking around for parts and building it. I think it is better off you buying a used rod system .

Igor Babic · November 15th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Those stuff are expencive because most of them are cnc machined, and belive me this is expencive. Rods are special story. 15mm rods are very rare in any material (pipes for heating from cupper are not of our interest). Aluminum 15mm rods if you found them at home depot are usualy with 1mm sides and this is good for about 10-15cm length with very light setup. Most common are Alu bars, but this is very heavy (smaller lengths you can drill with press drill, so you will then have rods). Inox is also very rare in 15mm, and carbon fiberglass are most rare and most expencive. So all those has to be machined from bars that are 16mm or bigger diameter, and this is expencive (and 15mm carbonfiber has to be made on order. Only one company in Australia have them as standard stock, but shipping them to rest of the world in small sizes are also expencive). They are all made in very small quantities so this make them cost even more. Manfrotto stuff, like small and big sliding plate are very cheap, actualy compared to what other companies making. I have two of those and this is exellent product.

Samuel Hinterlang · November 20th, 2007, 03:22 AM

I made a set of rods after my own personal disgust over the price of what is really just pipe. I mean, come on, it's pipe.

I got a length of 5/8" threaded rod and the nuts that fit them and rigged up a lathe of sorts in front of my grinding wheel, fixed the nuts in place and just fed it through. I know a grinding wheel isn't something everyone has on hand, but it made a nice solution for me. I rounded the ends and have some heavy rods that can have nuts on, so it seemed a bit more flexible than just straight pipe. After a nice polish, I would never feel embarrassed about using them on a shoot. Not that great for putting up on my jib (had to go buy another weight), but I can handle the weight on my shoulder and the tripod hasn't complained.

If you have a lathe at your disposal, I bet wood would be just fine for just a matte box, but beyond that, it'll probably flex.

November 15th, 2007, 08:30 AM	#17
David Chia Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	Question, How much are you worth an hour? With the time spend looking around for parts and building it. I think it is better off you buying a used rod system . __________________ Website: http://www.Motiononcanvas.com Camera Operator/ Video Editor in Singapore. https://new.cinematographer.org.au/m...713/david-chia

November 15th, 2007, 06:15 AM	#16
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	That is getting above the $25.00 dollar mark! :) I am going to try and find a used quick release plate and go from there. I can't believe how expensive the rods are though...that seems crazy!

November 15th, 2007, 10:00 AM	#18
Igor Babic Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 171	Those stuff are expencive because most of them are cnc machined, and belive me this is expencive. Rods are special story. 15mm rods are very rare in any material (pipes for heating from cupper are not of our interest). Aluminum 15mm rods if you found them at home depot are usualy with 1mm sides and this is good for about 10-15cm length with very light setup. Most common are Alu bars, but this is very heavy (smaller lengths you can drill with press drill, so you will then have rods). Inox is also very rare in 15mm, and carbon fiberglass are most rare and most expencive. So all those has to be machined from bars that are 16mm or bigger diameter, and this is expencive (and 15mm carbonfiber has to be made on order. Only one company in Australia have them as standard stock, but shipping them to rest of the world in small sizes are also expencive). They are all made in very small quantities so this make them cost even more. Manfrotto stuff, like small and big sliding plate are very cheap, actualy compared to what other companies making. I have two of those and this is exellent product.

November 20th, 2007, 03:22 AM	#19
Samuel Hinterlang Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Posts: 79	I made a set of rods after my own personal disgust over the price of what is really just pipe. I mean, come on, it's pipe. I got a length of 5/8" threaded rod and the nuts that fit them and rigged up a lathe of sorts in front of my grinding wheel, fixed the nuts in place and just fed it through. I know a grinding wheel isn't something everyone has on hand, but it made a nice solution for me. I rounded the ends and have some heavy rods that can have nuts on, so it seemed a bit more flexible than just straight pipe. After a nice polish, I would never feel embarrassed about using them on a shoot. Not that great for putting up on my jib (had to go buy another weight), but I can handle the weight on my shoulder and the tripod hasn't complained. If you have a lathe at your disposal, I bet wood would be just fine for just a matte box, but beyond that, it'll probably flex.