Porta-Jib Flextrak at DVinfo.net

Noah Posnick · May 14th, 2004, 04:47 PM

I was looking at solutions to curved track and this seems perfect. Only it's 400 dollars for some rubber. I'm sure there's some rubber manufacturer that sells the same thing for much less, question is where? I'm not sure where to look so I'm here asking. Is there a cheaper alternative to the Flextrak and where would I get it?

James Emory · May 14th, 2004, 07:43 PM

I spoke to those folks a while back and they said that their track was made of a special mix of components to give it certain properties for its features. They also said they spent alot of time and money in R&D getting it to behave the way it does when rolled and in cold weather. So, you may not find something else too similar if theirs is in fact that unique with its properties.

David Mesloh · May 16th, 2004, 01:29 PM

I hate to burst Lomandy's bubble but their secret formula track is available from McMaster Carr. The cost to have this hose custom made would be cost prohibitive considering the limited market. It is basically a smooth cased fuel hose of the type used to transfer fuel oil. It stays very flexible in cold or hot weather. I believe the catalog number is
56315K13 for the 1 1/2" diameter hose. It is around $4.05 per foot if bought in 50-ft or more lengths. You can look it up at www.mcmaster.com and type in the catalog number in the search line.

BTW, This company is the God of parts for building your own equipment or finding hard to locate fastners or materials. Their service is great and I highly recommend them.

If anyone has any questions about materials or fabricating your own equipment let me know. I'm always willing to chime in.

David

Noah Posnick · May 16th, 2004, 01:40 PM

Thanks so much David.

James Emory · May 17th, 2004, 07:19 PM

I didn't think that their track was hollow like a hose. Theirs looks solid. I'm just going by what they said about it taking a while to come up with the right formula to have those properties. I wouldn't be surprised if they did have a secret distributor/supplier though. I'm glad to find about that maker of hard to find custom parts as well.

David Mesloh · May 17th, 2004, 11:39 PM

James,

I seek to remember a plug? that goes into each end of the hose to keep it from crushing near the ends or to connect more than one hose together.

As far as "secret" formulas go, Most companies that purchase off the shelf products and then use them for applications that they wern't originally designed for will tell you it is a secret process that took lots of R & D.

I did practical effects in feature film for 20 years and I don't think we ever used anything like it was intended. Well... maybe fire hose to put out the fires we started. But otherwise..............

Regards,

David

James Emory · May 19th, 2004, 06:12 PM

I hear you and agree with you. It's all about marketing and protecting their interests. It is frustrating how you can go to Wal-Mart and see a product. Then a few days later you're in K-Mart and you see the same damn thing but in different packaging and maybe a little cheaper or a little more expensive and in little bitty print on the back it says made for whoever by such and such company. It makes you feel like a sheep or head of cattle. Baaaah.....moooo.

Steven Wills · May 20th, 2004, 07:36 AM

This is really good news to know!

I was thinking about the same thing and wondered about where to get this hose.

Thanks SO much for the info!

David Mesloh · May 21st, 2004, 04:56 PM

Just for the record, if anyone ever needs info on where to find weird, out of the ordinary, stuff or how to build almost anything, I can send shop drawings to you or point you in thhe right direction.

David Mesloh
Builder and designer of weird stuff and cool things
408-202-2214

Kent Dammand · June 2nd, 2004, 05:44 PM

David Mesloh

Hi David

I emailed you about your posting to help folks....we'll I might wanna try some self made stuff, can you help?

Charles Papert · June 3rd, 2004, 12:28 AM

I own a set of Flextrak, and I can tell you that it is a solid diameter tubing with no plug at the end.

Noah Posnick · June 3rd, 2004, 07:17 AM

Charles, do you think you could measure (in mm) how thick the walls of the tube are?

James Emory · June 3rd, 2004, 10:35 AM

Thanks Charles. I really thought it had to be solid too. There is just too much weight at each wheel on the dolly that would pinch or collapse a hollow hose as the dolly travels. I plugged that part number above in on that site and apparently that was discontinued and the pictures that are shown for it or its replacement show a hose that is spiral wrapped creating ribs for reinforement. Not a smooth ride.

Charles Papert · June 3rd, 2004, 10:53 AM

Mmmm...

The product literature describes the track thus:

1.5 inch 85 durometer rubber

And again, it's solid, so it doesn't have walls. I guess I shouldn't refer to it as a tube.

David Mesloh · June 4th, 2004, 11:09 PM

OK.... now that Charles has completly debunked my theory, causing me to curl up in the fetal position in the corner of this thread...... I shall be vindicated. Acme Rubber, Inc. out of Arizona supplies solid rubber extrusions in various diameters, durometers, and materials. I am now thinking that this track is a silicone cord, 1.5" in diameter with an 85 shore. Their web site (www.acmerubber.com) shows a silicone cord with a 70 shore. I'll do more research so I can redeem my credibility.

Game on!!!

David

May 14th, 2004, 04:47 PM	#1
Noah Posnick Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 64	Porta-Jib Flextrak I was looking at solutions to curved track and this seems perfect. Only it's 400 dollars for some rubber. I'm sure there's some rubber manufacturer that sells the same thing for much less, question is where? I'm not sure where to look so I'm here asking. Is there a cheaper alternative to the Flextrak and where would I get it? __________________ Noah Posnick http://www.posnick.com

May 14th, 2004, 07:43 PM	#2
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Flex Track I spoke to those folks a while back and they said that their track was made of a special mix of components to give it certain properties for its features. They also said they spent alot of time and money in R&D getting it to behave the way it does when rolled and in cold weather. So, you may not find something else too similar if theirs is in fact that unique with its properties.

May 16th, 2004, 01:29 PM	#3
David Mesloh Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	Rubber Track I hate to burst Lomandy's bubble but their secret formula track is available from McMaster Carr. The cost to have this hose custom made would be cost prohibitive considering the limited market. It is basically a smooth cased fuel hose of the type used to transfer fuel oil. It stays very flexible in cold or hot weather. I believe the catalog number is 56315K13 for the 1 1/2" diameter hose. It is around $4.05 per foot if bought in 50-ft or more lengths. You can look it up at www.mcmaster.com and type in the catalog number in the search line. BTW, This company is the God of parts for building your own equipment or finding hard to locate fastners or materials. Their service is great and I highly recommend them. If anyone has any questions about materials or fabricating your own equipment let me know. I'm always willing to chime in. David

May 16th, 2004, 01:40 PM	#4
Noah Posnick Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 64	Thanks so much David. __________________ Noah Posnick http://www.posnick.com

May 17th, 2004, 07:19 PM	#5
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Solid or hollow? I didn't think that their track was hollow like a hose. Theirs looks solid. I'm just going by what they said about it taking a while to come up with the right formula to have those properties. I wouldn't be surprised if they did have a secret distributor/supplier though. I'm glad to find about that maker of hard to find custom parts as well.

May 17th, 2004, 11:39 PM	#6
David Mesloh Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	track James, I seek to remember a plug? that goes into each end of the hose to keep it from crushing near the ends or to connect more than one hose together. As far as "secret" formulas go, Most companies that purchase off the shelf products and then use them for applications that they wern't originally designed for will tell you it is a secret process that took lots of R & D. I did practical effects in feature film for 20 years and I don't think we ever used anything like it was intended. Well... maybe fire hose to put out the fires we started. But otherwise.............. Regards, David

May 19th, 2004, 06:12 PM	#7
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Baaah.....Moooo I hear you and agree with you. It's all about marketing and protecting their interests. It is frustrating how you can go to Wal-Mart and see a product. Then a few days later you're in K-Mart and you see the same damn thing but in different packaging and maybe a little cheaper or a little more expensive and in little bitty print on the back it says made for whoever by such and such company. It makes you feel like a sheep or head of cattle. Baaaah.....moooo.

May 20th, 2004, 07:36 AM	#8
Steven Wills Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 57	This is really good news to know! I was thinking about the same thing and wondered about where to get this hose. Thanks SO much for the info! __________________ Steve Wills Jib Op http://www.kyvideoservices.com

May 21st, 2004, 04:56 PM	#9
David Mesloh Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	Weird stuff Just for the record, if anyone ever needs info on where to find weird, out of the ordinary, stuff or how to build almost anything, I can send shop drawings to you or point you in thhe right direction. David Mesloh Builder and designer of weird stuff and cool things 408-202-2214

June 2nd, 2004, 05:44 PM	#10
Kent Dammand Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 80	David Mesloh Hi David I emailed you about your posting to help folks....we'll I might wanna try some self made stuff, can you help?

June 3rd, 2004, 12:28 AM	#11
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I own a set of Flextrak, and I can tell you that it is a solid diameter tubing with no plug at the end. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

June 3rd, 2004, 07:17 AM	#12
Noah Posnick Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 64	Charles, do you think you could measure (in mm) how thick the walls of the tube are? __________________ Noah Posnick http://www.posnick.com

June 3rd, 2004, 10:35 AM	#13
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Flex Track Thanks Charles. I really thought it had to be solid too. There is just too much weight at each wheel on the dolly that would pinch or collapse a hollow hose as the dolly travels. I plugged that part number above in on that site and apparently that was discontinued and the pictures that are shown for it or its replacement show a hose that is spiral wrapped creating ribs for reinforement. Not a smooth ride.

June 3rd, 2004, 10:53 AM	#14
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Mmmm... The product literature describes the track thus: 1.5 inch 85 durometer rubber And again, it's solid, so it doesn't have walls. I guess I shouldn't refer to it as a tube. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

June 4th, 2004, 11:09 PM	#15
David Mesloh Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	track info OK.... now that Charles has completly debunked my theory, causing me to curl up in the fetal position in the corner of this thread...... I shall be vindicated. Acme Rubber, Inc. out of Arizona supplies solid rubber extrusions in various diameters, durometers, and materials. I am now thinking that this track is a silicone cord, 1.5" in diameter with an 85 shore. Their web site (www.acmerubber.com) shows a silicone cord with a 70 shore. I'll do more research so I can redeem my credibility. Game on!!! David