Least expensive way to create rails/rods? at DVinfo.net

David Delaney · November 11th, 2007, 12:25 PM

I was wondering if most people are putting together their own rails or just buying them?
I wonder if the sum of parts is more expensive then the ready-made ones...

Daniel Lipats · November 11th, 2007, 01:17 PM

You could put together a set of support rods for as little as ~$25 but its going to depend on the tools you have and your experience with them. If you need to buy tools its probably going to be more expensive.

Its really pretty simple, you can learn a lot from studying others designs or commercial products. All of the materials including aluminum rods can be found at Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, ect... I prefer to use aluminum but I have seen others use wood.

David Delaney · November 11th, 2007, 07:20 PM

Under $25, sound great to me. I see quite a few people buying the camera stage from b&h or the like, does this factor into your $25.00?

David Chia · November 12th, 2007, 04:57 AM

Just remember to get the standard 15mm rods so that you can use the standard gears out there, like a matte box or follow focus unit

Matteo Pozzi · November 12th, 2007, 08:29 AM

did you know what is the standard distance between the two 15mm rods!?

David Chia · November 12th, 2007, 08:39 AM

centre to centre is 60cm

Ben Winter · November 12th, 2007, 10:02 AM

6cm, or 60mm he means.

David Chia · November 12th, 2007, 10:04 AM

sorry you are right 60mm or 6cm... hee hee

Must be really tired looking at the computer screen . Can't even spot my mistake I've made..

Matteo Pozzi · November 12th, 2007, 10:21 AM

many thanks

Deke Kincaid · November 13th, 2007, 02:45 AM

Most metal or machine shops will let you order lengths of aluminum tube at most thickness and widths.

John Yamamoto · November 14th, 2007, 04:14 AM

many old enlargers are collecting dust, as paper and chemical are so$$ and everyone moves to digital

i bought an eastern european enlarger for 100$, great feature is tilting on lens bd.

JY

David W. Jones · November 14th, 2007, 08:21 AM

The least expensive way would be to lash your camera to a couple of small tree limbs.

Why not save your money and get a real base plate and rail system that will not embarrass you on a shoot.

Once you get a universal set, you will be able to use them on any camera you might upgrade to in the future. And they will be compatible with all the other goodies that you will want to get for your camera, like a matte box and follow focus.

David Delaney · November 14th, 2007, 02:29 PM

Can you suggest a quick release plate that might do the trick that won't break the bank?

Igor Babic · November 14th, 2007, 03:24 PM

Go to Cavision site. There you will find all you need.(BHphoto sells their stuff too) Try also Cinevate and Redrock. This guy is copycat but last resort. He ship very, very fast.
http://www.thecinecity.com/home.php?cat=269

David Chia · November 15th, 2007, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Delaney

Can you suggest a quick release plate that might do the trick that won't break the bank?

Quick relaese plate from Manfrotto. The universal one. You can use it with most of the manfrotto camera plates on it too.

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductD...&ci_sku=462045

November 11th, 2007, 12:25 PM	#1
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	Least expensive way to create rails/rods? I was wondering if most people are putting together their own rails or just buying them? I wonder if the sum of parts is more expensive then the ready-made ones...

November 12th, 2007, 10:02 AM	#7
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	6cm, or 60mm he means. __________________ BenWinter.com

November 14th, 2007, 04:14 AM	#11
John Yamamoto Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 94	rip it from old enlargers many old enlargers are collecting dust, as paper and chemical are so$$ and everyone moves to digital i bought an eastern european enlarger for 100$, great feature is tilting on lens bd. JY

November 11th, 2007, 01:17 PM	#2
Daniel Lipats Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 260	You could put together a set of support rods for as little as ~$25 but its going to depend on the tools you have and your experience with them. If you need to buy tools its probably going to be more expensive. Its really pretty simple, you can learn a lot from studying others designs or commercial products. All of the materials including aluminum rods can be found at Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, ect... I prefer to use aluminum but I have seen others use wood.

November 11th, 2007, 07:20 PM	#3
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	Under $25, sound great to me. I see quite a few people buying the camera stage from b&h or the like, does this factor into your $25.00?

November 12th, 2007, 04:57 AM	#4
David Chia Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	Just remember to get the standard 15mm rods so that you can use the standard gears out there, like a matte box or follow focus unit

November 12th, 2007, 08:29 AM	#5
Matteo Pozzi Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Milan, Italy Posts: 169	did you know what is the standard distance between the two 15mm rods!?

November 12th, 2007, 08:39 AM	#6
David Chia Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	centre to centre is 60cm

November 12th, 2007, 10:04 AM	#8
David Chia Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 427	sorry you are right 60mm or 6cm... hee hee Must be really tired looking at the computer screen . Can't even spot my mistake I've made..

November 12th, 2007, 10:21 AM	#9
Matteo Pozzi Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Milan, Italy Posts: 169	many thanks

November 13th, 2007, 02:45 AM	#10
Deke Kincaid Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 26	Most metal or machine shops will let you order lengths of aluminum tube at most thickness and widths.

November 14th, 2007, 08:21 AM	#12
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	The least expensive way would be to lash your camera to a couple of small tree limbs. Why not save your money and get a real base plate and rail system that will not embarrass you on a shoot. Once you get a universal set, you will be able to use them on any camera you might upgrade to in the future. And they will be compatible with all the other goodies that you will want to get for your camera, like a matte box and follow focus.

November 14th, 2007, 02:29 PM	#13
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	Can you suggest a quick release plate that might do the trick that won't break the bank?

November 14th, 2007, 03:24 PM	#14
Igor Babic Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 171	Go to Cavision site. There you will find all you need.(BHphoto sells their stuff too) Try also Cinevate and Redrock. This guy is copycat but last resort. He ship very, very fast. http://www.thecinecity.com/home.php?cat=269