How to Make a Tripod Dolly

Making a tripod dolly allows you to move a camera around an area with ease and without recording a shaky picture. A tripod dolly can be made for about $30 in materials. Make your movies look professional by using a tripod dolly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 4 2-by-3 boards cut 3 feet long
• 2 1-½ inch PVC or UBS pipe cut 8 foot long
• 3 plastic wheels from a chair
• 2 tubes super glue

1. Place one 2-by-3 board on the ground in the location where you want the dolly to start.
2. Measure 2 feet from the first board and place another 2-by-3 board. Repeat the process for all four boards. The last board needs to be 8 feet from the first board.
3. Lay the PVC or UBS pipe across the boards a half inch from the edge of the wood.
4. Glue the pipe to the boards with the super glue. Place two to three dots of super glue on the pipe and press it firmly against the board. At this point, the dolly should look like a ladder laying on the ground. Bolts or screws can be used to attach the pipe.
5. Mount the rollers on the bottom of the tripod. Slide the end of each wheel into the bottom of each tripod leg. The wheels should stay. If not, add glue to hold the wheels in place.

Tips & Warnings

• The dolly can be cut in half or made in two halves for better portability.
• Do not to get super glue on your skin.