Portable Camera Crane Base
In this instructable I am building a camera crane base for the camera crane I will soon be constructing.The cahllenge was to be able to make the entire unit fit in the trunk of my car and easily be carried to location.
I've located a folding walker.... $4.00.... probably the cheapest part of the build.
I also got a couple of 4 foot sections of 1 inch by 1 inch aluminum angle.
The construct will be riveted together so you will require:
A rivet gun
Rivets
Drill and 1/8th inch drill bit.
Magic marker (for marking stuff)
And a swiveling caster that has an axle wide enough to accept the crane. Mine is 1 and 1/4 inch wide.
I bought a locking caster in hopes that I can use the locking mechanism to add friction to the cranes movement.
I've located a folding walker.... $4.00.... probably the cheapest part of the build.
I also got a couple of 4 foot sections of 1 inch by 1 inch aluminum angle.
The construct will be riveted together so you will require:
A rivet gun
Rivets
Drill and 1/8th inch drill bit.
Magic marker (for marking stuff)
And a swiveling caster that has an axle wide enough to accept the crane. Mine is 1 and 1/4 inch wide.
I bought a locking caster in hopes that I can use the locking mechanism to add friction to the cranes movement.
The Idea.......
The idea behind the construct was that a walker is light and foldable...
AND readily available at my local thrift store!
I started this project when my wife said "I wish I could get some higher shots without climbing the ladder"
she shoots video.
I've seen some great ideas, but I wanted mine to be unique and easily transportable.
AND readily available at my local thrift store!
I started this project when my wife said "I wish I could get some higher shots without climbing the ladder"
she shoots video.
I've seen some great ideas, but I wanted mine to be unique and easily transportable.
Layout
Set your cut pieces of angle across the walker. No measurements folks walkers are made in a couple dozen different widths and styles so you're kind of on your own in the measurement department.
Mark them approx. in the center of the grip parts of the walker.
Cut to size. I stacked my angles to make cutting easier AND so that when I'm finished I end up with two symmetrical pieces ready for the next project.
In the second picture you see my end pieces in place. MISTAKE!!!! Drill and rivet the caster in place first. You can also use nuts and bolts in the original holes but my casters were easy enough to drill.
When your caster is riveted in THEN move on to the end pieces, they should be the same width as your caster to make assembly easier.
This is the caster side view.
I drilled 1/8th inch holes on the widest part beside the original mounting holes.
4 in all.
Mark them approx. in the center of the grip parts of the walker.
Cut to size. I stacked my angles to make cutting easier AND so that when I'm finished I end up with two symmetrical pieces ready for the next project.
In the second picture you see my end pieces in place. MISTAKE!!!! Drill and rivet the caster in place first. You can also use nuts and bolts in the original holes but my casters were easy enough to drill.
When your caster is riveted in THEN move on to the end pieces, they should be the same width as your caster to make assembly easier.
This is the caster side view.
I drilled 1/8th inch holes on the widest part beside the original mounting holes.
4 in all.
Mounting the Caster
Center your caster and use your predrilled holes to guide your bit as you drill the aluminum.
Rivet in place. I chose rivets to keep the project neat, and light. When you're hiking, Ounces catch up with you.
Rivet in place. I chose rivets to keep the project neat, and light. When you're hiking, Ounces catch up with you.
How It Locks in Place
You open the walker part way and set the frame on the handles of the walker, Open it all the way and the aluminum angle locks it in place, taking advantage of the locking mechanism already built in to the walker.
Side view of the aluminum angle that forms the lock. Rivets point out so your they don't impede the walkers locking mechanics.
Set the frame on the walker with the walker opened fully, Hold angle TIGHT to the already riveted piece so that the piece you're holding goes UNDERNEATH the walkers grips. Mark a line.
I advise clamping this. But align your piece and drill.
IMPORTANT!!! The rivets most point OUT! If they point in you will minimize how much surface grips the walker!
Side view of the aluminum angle that forms the lock. Rivets point out so your they don't impede the walkers locking mechanics.
Set the frame on the walker with the walker opened fully, Hold angle TIGHT to the already riveted piece so that the piece you're holding goes UNDERNEATH the walkers grips. Mark a line.
I advise clamping this. But align your piece and drill.
IMPORTANT!!! The rivets most point OUT! If they point in you will minimize how much surface grips the walker!
Ready to Make the Crane!
When complete, the walker will lock the base in place forming a very stout stand.
Good lord I'm fat............. Um..... The shirt's puffy? Anyway..... As you can see there's a chubby guy holding the walker up using the aluminum construct I just walked you through. It doesn't even flex holding the walker straight out!
Good lord I'm fat............. Um..... The shirt's puffy? Anyway..... As you can see there's a chubby guy holding the walker up using the aluminum construct I just walked you through. It doesn't even flex holding the walker straight out!
Why a Walker?
Asked why a walker I decided to post this as my response.
Why A Walker?
A walker is already strong and stable. It has to be to support a person who may have back or leg injuries or some other mobility problem.
A walker has adjustable and most importantly Hollow legs. This allows me to vary the height AND add wheels if I decide to make it into a dolly.
There's a million of them in the landfill. People die, That's sad. but their loved ones just throw much of their medical equipment in the garbage.
They're light. A walker has to be light. An elderly or injured person needs the lightest strongest material for a walker, so they can move it and so it can take their weight.
So why a walker? Because there're too many of them not being used, and too many in the trash.
Why A Walker?
A walker is already strong and stable. It has to be to support a person who may have back or leg injuries or some other mobility problem.
A walker has adjustable and most importantly Hollow legs. This allows me to vary the height AND add wheels if I decide to make it into a dolly.
There's a million of them in the landfill. People die, That's sad. but their loved ones just throw much of their medical equipment in the garbage.
They're light. A walker has to be light. An elderly or injured person needs the lightest strongest material for a walker, so they can move it and so it can take their weight.
So why a walker? Because there're too many of them not being used, and too many in the trash.