connecting pvc tracking at DVinfo.net

Nathan Quattrini · January 6th, 2008, 03:29 PM

Whats the best way to connect lengths together. I saw one tutrial with some kind of solid pvc inside the hollow one...but couldn`t find it at any hardware store :\

Paul Cascio · January 6th, 2008, 07:06 PM

I'm curious too.

James Stone · January 7th, 2008, 10:40 AM

I link several 10' sections using one foot pieces of 1 1/4" pvc. I cut out a 1/2-3/4" chunk down the middle so that the walls will flex in a bit. I then just inserted it in.

The other piece slides on no problem and I lightly sanded the joint to remove any burs. I also cut my pieces off center. One piece is 12' the other 8' so the seams don't match.

Hope this helps.

~James

Nathan Quattrini · January 8th, 2008, 11:50 AM

hmm interesting way to go about it. How thick is the track versus the inner piece?

James Stone · January 8th, 2008, 12:14 PM

"How thick is the track versus the inner piece?" I'm running 1 1/2" schedule 40 pvc and the inserts are 1 1/4" schedule 40. If I doesn't rain tomorrow I'll head over and take a picture of it for you.

~James

Nathan Quattrini · January 8th, 2008, 12:46 PM

ah gotcha, so the inner piece is 1/4" smaller but still fit snug ...I'`d love to see a few pictures to make sure if I try it I get it right. Thanks a bunch

Cole McDonald · January 8th, 2008, 03:23 PM

In order to get our track pieces to mate snuggly, we took our internal pieces and cut down the end (think tinkertoys) to about the center of the length, then did the same from the other end rotated 90 degrees from the previous cut. This makes it so towards the center of the length, the PVC gets slightly thicker and holds more firmly.

Paul Mailath · January 9th, 2008, 04:10 AM

I'm about to make up some lengths in a similar way and reading these posts makes me think of toy train tracks - see attachment

each join is offset and has an alternating male / female connector.

When using the PVC piping on a tile floor I felt the floor and so I'm going to mount the PVC pipes on 2x1 pine to give some extra rigidity.

Mike Teutsch · January 9th, 2008, 06:44 AM

I use 3/4 schedule 40 PVC for track. I took 1/2" PVC and turned it down slightly on a lathe and cit into about 1 1/2" lengths. Then the 1/2" stuff fits with a slight interference into the inside on the 3/4 and the two sections match up perfectly.

I have about 22 sections that are 4 feet long, thus I have about 44 feet of usable track. The reason I cut the sections four foot long is that they store and transport easily and it is easier to keep them stored flat. If your sections are long and you are not able to store them laying straight, they will start to hold the shape the they are stored at. I have a box that is about 4' by 6"x6" and it holds all of the sections and keeps them straight too. Easy to transport and store that way.

Mike

James Stone · January 9th, 2008, 11:13 AM

Ok here's some pics. I took them last night before the rain started. They've been sitting on the side of the house for a while so they're a tad dirty. I also made up a set of stop braces to keep the tracks in line and also to keep the dolly from sliding of itself.

I made them out of aluminum diamond plate because we had a ton extra at work. The 1 1/2 abs test plugs slide into to the track and "lock" in place when you tighten them. I cut a notch in the middle so that the yoke brace will slide through.

Gordon Fuller · March 18th, 2008, 08:53 PM

when i made mine i took the 1 inch pvc pipe from lowes and i bought a 1 inch wooden dowel from lowes as well. the wooden dowel fits perfectly into the pipe. i then cut the pipe at a 6 inch length and screwed one end into the pipe and the dowel. on the other side of the pvc pipe i took some metal pins with a loop type lock and drilled a hole in the side of the pvc pipe and the wooden dowel and pushed the pin into the track and locked it in so that it would not move. if you have any more questions let me know?
hopefully i'm not too late responding to the post.

Nathan Quattrini · March 18th, 2008, 09:09 PM

I`m a bit confused by your explanation, do you have any pictures?

Bill Pryor · September 14th, 2008, 06:30 PM

http://www.longvalleyequip.com/dolly.php

I've used these before and they're great. Worth the money, although if you're handy with tools, you could make your own. Scroll down a few items to the set of connectors for $99.

Silas Barker · January 26th, 2015, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Fuller

when i made mine i took the 1 inch pvc pipe from lowes and i bought a 1 inch wooden dowel from lowes as well. the wooden dowel fits perfectly into the pipe. i then cut the pipe at a 6 inch length and screwed one end into the pipe and the dowel. on the other side of the pvc pipe i took some metal pins with a loop type lock and drilled a hole in the side of the pvc pipe and the wooden dowel and pushed the pin into the track and locked it in so that it would not move. if you have any more questions let me know?
hopefully i'm not too late responding to the post.

Would you be able to post some photos or email me some photos?

Thanks!

Silas Barker · January 26th, 2015, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Stone

"How thick is the track versus the inner piece?" I'm running 1 1/2" schedule 40 pvc and the inserts are 1 1/4" schedule 40. If I doesn't rain tomorrow I'll head over and take a picture of it for you.

~James

I am having trouble bending the 1.25" to fit inside --- do you just force it and then the 2nd pipe will connect over the connector as well?

January 6th, 2008, 03:29 PM	#1
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	connecting pvc tracking Whats the best way to connect lengths together. I saw one tutrial with some kind of solid pvc inside the hollow one...but couldn`t find it at any hardware store :\ __________________ Cinematography Site

January 6th, 2008, 07:06 PM	#2
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	I'm curious too. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

January 8th, 2008, 11:50 AM	#4
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	hmm interesting way to go about it. How thick is the track versus the inner piece? __________________ Cinematography Site

January 8th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#6
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	ah gotcha, so the inner piece is 1/4" smaller but still fit snug ...I'`d love to see a few pictures to make sure if I try it I get it right. Thanks a bunch __________________ Cinematography Site

January 8th, 2008, 03:23 PM	#7
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	In order to get our track pieces to mate snuggly, we took our internal pieces and cut down the end (think tinkertoys) to about the center of the length, then did the same from the other end rotated 90 degrees from the previous cut. This makes it so towards the center of the length, the PVC gets slightly thicker and holds more firmly. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

January 7th, 2008, 10:40 AM	#3
James Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 40	I link several 10' sections using one foot pieces of 1 1/4" pvc. I cut out a 1/2-3/4" chunk down the middle so that the walls will flex in a bit. I then just inserted it in. The other piece slides on no problem and I lightly sanded the joint to remove any burs. I also cut my pieces off center. One piece is 12' the other 8' so the seams don't match. Hope this helps. ~James

January 8th, 2008, 12:14 PM	#5
James Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 40	"How thick is the track versus the inner piece?" I'm running 1 1/2" schedule 40 pvc and the inserts are 1 1/4" schedule 40. If I doesn't rain tomorrow I'll head over and take a picture of it for you. ~James

January 9th, 2008, 04:10 AM	#8
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	I'm about to make up some lengths in a similar way and reading these posts makes me think of toy train tracks - see attachment each join is offset and has an alternating male / female connector. When using the PVC piping on a tile floor I felt the floor and so I'm going to mount the PVC pipes on 2x1 pine to give some extra rigidity. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

January 9th, 2008, 06:44 AM	#9
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	I use 3/4 schedule 40 PVC for track. I took 1/2" PVC and turned it down slightly on a lathe and cit into about 1 1/2" lengths. Then the 1/2" stuff fits with a slight interference into the inside on the 3/4 and the two sections match up perfectly. I have about 22 sections that are 4 feet long, thus I have about 44 feet of usable track. The reason I cut the sections four foot long is that they store and transport easily and it is easier to keep them stored flat. If your sections are long and you are not able to store them laying straight, they will start to hold the shape the they are stored at. I have a box that is about 4' by 6"x6" and it holds all of the sections and keeps them straight too. Easy to transport and store that way. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

January 9th, 2008, 11:13 AM	#10
James Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 40	Ok here's some pics. I took them last night before the rain started. They've been sitting on the side of the house for a while so they're a tad dirty. I also made up a set of stop braces to keep the tracks in line and also to keep the dolly from sliding of itself. I made them out of aluminum diamond plate because we had a ton extra at work. The 1 1/2 abs test plugs slide into to the track and "lock" in place when you tighten them. I cut a notch in the middle so that the yoke brace will slide through. Attached Thumbnails

March 18th, 2008, 08:53 PM	#11
Gordon Fuller Tourist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1	still looking to connect pvc for track when i made mine i took the 1 inch pvc pipe from lowes and i bought a 1 inch wooden dowel from lowes as well. the wooden dowel fits perfectly into the pipe. i then cut the pipe at a 6 inch length and screwed one end into the pipe and the dowel. on the other side of the pvc pipe i took some metal pins with a loop type lock and drilled a hole in the side of the pvc pipe and the wooden dowel and pushed the pin into the track and locked it in so that it would not move. if you have any more questions let me know? hopefully i'm not too late responding to the post.

March 18th, 2008, 09:09 PM	#12
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	I`m a bit confused by your explanation, do you have any pictures? __________________ Cinematography Site

September 14th, 2008, 06:30 PM	#13
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	http://www.longvalleyequip.com/dolly.php I've used these before and they're great. Worth the money, although if you're handy with tools, you could make your own. Scroll down a few items to the set of connectors for $99.