slow crawl with a dolly at DVinfo.net

Bryan Aycock · June 3rd, 2006, 10:18 AM

I heard many mention trying to acheive a slow crawl with a dolly, and some people talked about hooking up some sort of slow turing motor to do this smoothly. Well, I have an idea and want to hear what you all think. What if you mounted a fishing reel (just the reel) to a 2 foot long 1"X6" board, stood on each end of it with the reel between your feet, and literally reeled the dolly towards you. With some heavy fishing line and a low gear ratio reel, you could keep the speed consistant. What do you all think?

Marcus Marchesseault · June 3rd, 2006, 05:27 PM

That sounds like a reel great idea!

Dean Sensui · June 3rd, 2006, 05:39 PM

Fishing reels usually have a rather fast retrieve: They're geared that way to get the line in quickly. Some have two speed settings to deal with heavy loads (something we all wish for) or for a fast retrieve in case the fish makes a run toward the boat.

If you want to use a motor, there are geared low-speed motors that run film processors, etc, which might be available at surplus outlets. There was a place here in Honolulu that sold stuff like that but they went out of business.

Or you might want to create a simple hand-cranked, spool-type device. Use a long handle with a small spool and you'll get a slow retrieve.

Bryan Aycock · June 3rd, 2006, 09:54 PM

Yeah after I posted this, I played with some of my fishing reels, and they are kind of fast at the retrieve. That's when, like you said, I realized some type of big handle/little spool type device would work best. I just figured it would be a lot cheaper than a motor, and its speed could be variable as well.

Greg Boston · June 3rd, 2006, 10:46 PM

How about a boat trailer winch. They have a nice thick strap, and a low gear ratio. Just need to hold or remove the ratchet mechanism.

Just something to think about.

-gb-

Jon Fairhurst · June 4th, 2006, 12:50 AM

Or a garage door opener. You can even operate it with a remote control. :)

Phil Bloom · May 8th, 2008, 04:55 PM

reviving this as I want to do this so i can do timelapse dolly shots...

Chris Li · May 8th, 2008, 06:16 PM

something like this ?

http://www.trevswork.com/mo/

Mark Wisniowski · May 11th, 2008, 09:32 PM

You can use a motor from a rotating disco ball. You can find them here: http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/12254

5 rpm and runs between 6-12 V DC, (very easy to keep it portable). You can attach a larger pulley wheel to the motor to collect the string attached to your dolly.

Chris Soucy · May 11th, 2008, 11:31 PM

And with a bit of luck, even free!

A surplus/ trashed battery powered drill. See 'em turfed out every day (usually 'cos the NiCad's have died).

The motors/ gearboxes have more grunt than you'd give them credit for and have speed control built in, the chuck allows you to afix just about any type of spindle/ reel system you can devise and most will work off a 12 volt lead acid battery no matter what their stated voltages are.

Worth a try.

CS

Phil Bloom · May 12th, 2008, 02:53 PM

it needs to be REALLY slow though

Bob Woodhead · May 28th, 2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Bloom

it needs to be REALLY slow though

Make it a union job? ;)

Onno Perdijk · May 28th, 2008, 02:37 PM

Hello Philip,

How slow is slow?

1 meter/second? 10 cm/second? 1cm/second?

Slow speeds does not necessarily mean small motor... For a decent move with no vibrations you will need a strong motor with a big rotation-reducer. In combination with a small pulley you have the power and reduce the speed.
A slow rotating motor will always have its vibrations: So you will need to let your motor run at max speed and reduce speed with gearboxes and pulleys..

A source could be an electrical step?

Onno Perdijk
Key Grip / Manufacturer
Netherlands
www.solidgripsystems.eu

Onno Perdijk · May 28th, 2008, 02:42 PM

btw:

a 2000 rpm motor with a 1/30 reductor and a pulley of 6cm will give you a max speed of 21 cm/second....

This combi can pull a 50kg straight-line. So the dolly-weight on smooth running track can be over 200kg... (just finished math-school, :-) )

Onno

Phil Bloom · May 28th, 2008, 02:45 PM

can you make me one?

June 3rd, 2006, 10:18 AM	#1
Bryan Aycock Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hammond, LA Posts: 84	slow crawl with a dolly I heard many mention trying to acheive a slow crawl with a dolly, and some people talked about hooking up some sort of slow turing motor to do this smoothly. Well, I have an idea and want to hear what you all think. What if you mounted a fishing reel (just the reel) to a 2 foot long 1"X6" board, stood on each end of it with the reel between your feet, and literally reeled the dolly towards you. With some heavy fishing line and a low gear ratio reel, you could keep the speed consistant. What do you all think?

June 3rd, 2006, 05:39 PM	#3
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Fishing reels usually have a rather fast retrieve: They're geared that way to get the line in quickly. Some have two speed settings to deal with heavy loads (something we all wish for) or for a fast retrieve in case the fish makes a run toward the boat. If you want to use a motor, there are geared low-speed motors that run film processors, etc, which might be available at surplus outlets. There was a place here in Honolulu that sold stuff like that but they went out of business. Or you might want to create a simple hand-cranked, spool-type device. Use a long handle with a small spool and you'll get a slow retrieve. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

June 3rd, 2006, 09:54 PM	#4
Bryan Aycock Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hammond, LA Posts: 84	Yeah Yeah after I posted this, I played with some of my fishing reels, and they are kind of fast at the retrieve. That's when, like you said, I realized some type of big handle/little spool type device would work best. I just figured it would be a lot cheaper than a motor, and its speed could be variable as well.

June 4th, 2006, 12:50 AM	#6
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Or a garage door opener. You can even operate it with a remote control. :) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

May 8th, 2008, 04:55 PM	#7
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	reviving this as I want to do this so i can do timelapse dolly shots... __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

June 3rd, 2006, 05:27 PM	#2
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	That sounds like a reel great idea!

June 3rd, 2006, 10:46 PM	#5
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	How about a boat trailer winch. They have a nice thick strap, and a low gear ratio. Just need to hold or remove the ratchet mechanism. Just something to think about. -gb-

May 8th, 2008, 06:16 PM	#8
Chris Li Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Wash. DC area Posts: 154	something like this ? http://www.trevswork.com/mo/

May 11th, 2008, 09:32 PM	#9
Mark Wisniowski Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 31	You can use a motor from a rotating disco ball. You can find them here: http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/12254 5 rpm and runs between 6-12 V DC, (very easy to keep it portable). You can attach a larger pulley wheel to the motor to collect the string attached to your dolly. __________________ Mark Wisniowski www.probe3.com

May 11th, 2008, 11:31 PM	#10
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Even better........... And with a bit of luck, even free! A surplus/ trashed battery powered drill. See 'em turfed out every day (usually 'cos the NiCad's have died). The motors/ gearboxes have more grunt than you'd give them credit for and have speed control built in, the chuck allows you to afix just about any type of spindle/ reel system you can devise and most will work off a 12 volt lead acid battery no matter what their stated voltages are. Worth a try. CS

May 12th, 2008, 02:53 PM	#11
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	it needs to be REALLY slow though __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

May 28th, 2008, 02:37 PM	#13
Onno Perdijk New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 15	Hello Philip, How slow is slow? 1 meter/second? 10 cm/second? 1cm/second? Slow speeds does not necessarily mean small motor... For a decent move with no vibrations you will need a strong motor with a big rotation-reducer. In combination with a small pulley you have the power and reduce the speed. A slow rotating motor will always have its vibrations: So you will need to let your motor run at max speed and reduce speed with gearboxes and pulleys.. A source could be an electrical step? Onno Perdijk Key Grip / Manufacturer Netherlands www.solidgripsystems.eu

May 28th, 2008, 02:42 PM	#14
Onno Perdijk New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 15	btw: a 2000 rpm motor with a 1/30 reductor and a pulley of 6cm will give you a max speed of 21 cm/second.... This combi can pull a 50kg straight-line. So the dolly-weight on smooth running track can be over 200kg... (just finished math-school, :-) ) Onno

May 28th, 2008, 02:45 PM	#15
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	can you make me one? __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net