Slinky Slidar - our $10 DIY ultra smooth camera slider [Red Ferret How-To]

www.redferret.n.... Inspired by other KZbin attempts (e.g • How to make a DIY DSLR... ) we've come up with an ultra-smooth, ultra cheap camera slider which you can make for around $10/£10 and which we think gives pretty good results.
Well let's put it this way, when the alternative is spending around $200 - $300, we like our DIY version a lot.
Parts List:
1. One 1.22 meter chrome tube (cut in half with hacksaw) - www.selcobw.com (£2.70)
2. Three electrical junction boxes - tinyurl.com/o93... - (£2.60)
3. PTFE Thread Tape - eBay - tinyurl.com/pm4... - (£1.00)
4. Four Hose Clamps - eBay - tinyurl.com/np5... - (£1.00)
5. Tripod Mount Screw - eBay - tinyurl.com/pho... - (£1.50)
5. Velcro Strips - (pennies)
6. Super Glue - (pennies)
7. Car wax (or other suitable wax) - (£?)
We'd like to experiment with something to attach it to a tripod with something like this - tinyurl.com/okd... - but we haven't seen anything suitable yet. We'll keep looking. If you see anything let us know.

[@Firebrand55]

Small tip: pull the camera with an attached elastic band, of the right tension; it's always an even, non-jerky action.

[@micky9229]

That is brilliant. This is the method I will follow. Thanks! The only improvement I would suggest is having the pull chord / handle mounted lower down on the metal cube holding the camera, since it will have a lower centre of gravity and eliminate any wobble caused by play in the camera screw.

[@melkins22]

That is what I did and it works better keeping pull cord/handle lower

[@walkyourpath4007]

Thanks for the Tutorial :) great to see different approach and materials used. And different ideas on going about this kind of project.

[@TerryPullen]

I love this slider, gets the job done for very little money. You might try replacing the pair of pipe clamps with a single pipe clamp large enough to clamp both tubes at once. Also connecting 2 electrical boxes with tubing is an everyday electrical thing and appropriate fittings are available. For that matter conduit is fairly smooth and would probably work very well in place of the chrome tubing. I recommend everyone who needs a hacksaw get a proper hacksaw, a good hacksaw (the kind with the square tube for a back) is about 100 times better than a cheap one and the blades will last forever. If you're already at the home center/hardware buying conduit ask them to cut it on their tubing cutter.

[@redferret]

Thanks for the feedback Terry, good stuff. :)

[@brooksysdead]

You can use an egg timer with a shoe string wrapped around it as an automatic pulley for timelapse with a rig like this. I like the overall design idea although when i build mine im going to modify the trolley a bit so it's not just sliding on metal. Maybe skateboard bearings or something

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Cool ultra smooth radical slider

[@lawrenceogden8682]

so bloody simple but bloody brilliant have also subscribed

[@redferret]

Thanks and welcome on board. :)

[@VELOC1RAPT0R]

Thank you so much! This tutorial worked great with a few modifications from the Film-Riot DIY slider

[@redferret]

Cool, glad we could help. Care to share your modifications? :)

[@zdragon369]

tripod mount: use a super strut on the bottom. pre-drilled holes so assembly is a cinch. each box can be mounted on the ends (usually comes in 10ft so cut to fit), then attach the center to a tripod (or leave a bit extra on the ends and use 2 tripods)

[@zdragon369]

super struts are located in the electrical dept :) www.homedepot.com/p/Superstrut-1-5-8-in-x-10-ft-12-Gauge-Metal-Framing-Channel-ZA12HS10PG/100156509

[@deadendkid1968]

Felt will keep the silicon lubing the rails and you wont get the niose...I think I will build the design...where did you get the chrome tubes? Id put mine on a wood plank and rubber feet...use a 3/8 sae (Im from the US) to hold an old fluid type head...and make it mountable to two old tripods of mine...thanks for the idea Ill run with this...

[@FreeMagneticEnergy2]

Simply line the holes by rolling up some black velvet contact paper which is long enough to pass through two holes at once. No wax required. Leave the peal and stick on as to keep it stiff. For longer runs, use 6 foot long aluminium pipes commonly found in hardware stores. Drill out a pair of holes in a block of wood to accommodate larger pipes. Cheers!!

[@redferret]

Thanks very much for the suggestion James, sounds very interesting. What exactly is the velvet contact paper? I've not come across it before. I assume it gives a very smooth run?

[@gazgazgaz2]

Thanks, very simple and easy

[@YourDriverMike]

Awesome idea, great for budget conscious creators like myself!

[@cyclingdane101]

That is pretty simple, i might make it out of plastic and put it on a wooden board or something. Have you ever made one from plastic/pvc? And if you have, how did it work out?

[@redferret]

CyclingDane Nope, we've just done the one metal type so far. I suspect that plastic won't give you the smoothness you need for rolling camera work.

[@cyclingdane101]

okay. Yeah i was thinking the same thing however, i might give it a shot :)

[@redferret]

CyclingDane Good luck. Let us know how you get on. :)

[@LooneyM3]

CyclingDane PLastic will bend with the weight of the camera.. Film Riot explained all that pretty well, I watch all videos and end up creating my own using tips from everyone, Film Riots was more stable and firm.

[@cyclingdane101]

how do you know which camera I am using? Do you have the weight of my camera? I hardly believe that PVC pipes will bend by the weight of my camera.. You might want to get a bit more details when commenting. Going to look into the Film Riot one, thanks.

[@DuochromeFilms]

That was fantastic. Gotta go get me that stuff.

[@redferret]

:)

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Nylon bushes would be better on the dolly and the ends could be stabilised using boots which are designed to sit between conduit and junction boxes, so they fit perfectly.

[@redferret]

Ahh, you're talking about those rubber grommet things? Sounds like a good idea. Got to be careful on costs though, since the whole thing is supposed to come in at under $10.

[@DeltadronesBr]

Awesome! Could you show how can i put this on tripod? Thanks! I'm bilding one!

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Oh, also, pull it quicker and shoot at 60fps as there will be no judder, any intrinsic wobble will be slowed significantly and look deliberate.

[@redferret]

Oh nice idea. Thanks. :)

[@JaneyBielendaRadiantwild]

beautiful.

[@canturgan]

I would have probably left the tube double length and put them all the way through the junction boxes. I thought of a similar hack using a printer transport. Good job.

[@redferret]

Yes, you're absolutely right. I don't know why I didn't think of that before. Version 2.0. :)

[@redferret]

***** Ah yes, but we were thinking about costs. $10. :)

[@turkbroschannel]

Please respond I really need the smartphone clip mount what you used can you please give me a link or just give me the name please

[@JodBronson]

Awesome!

[@RudeBoysIncTV]

Smart build. I encourage you to use linear bearings instead of Velcro.

[@redferret]

Cost issues though? Wanted to keep this cheap.

[@TheAwesonymous]

Just thought of something. I could use the broken RC car I have, strip the chassis, and mount the camera on that. Keeping it a rolling chassis. And it has shocks to dampen rough terrain :P Or remotely control the camera with the RC car too...

[@redferret]

Hmm...the problem will be keeping it smoooooth. :)

[@DanielVegter]

Great video! my tip is to use an other mic! but your camera work is perfect!!

[@lancethrustworthy]

I'm unsure if your 'super glue' is the same as ours (cyano acrylate), but over here, super glue is close to worthless on metal. We tend to use it on things that have significant porosity, like china and some fabrics.

[@redferret]

Hmm...not sure if they're the same. Good point though. We found it stuck well enough to be secure for our needs. Maybe different stuff?

[@billkaroly]

you could replace the metal boxes with 3d printed parts. make PLA bearings with a little graphite and no need for ptfe tape or car wax. make it longer and add a slow rpm electric motor for use in a time lapse mode.

[@redferret]

Lovely. :) More than $10 though? :)

[@VarunRajVR]

great..cheapest and easiest DIY Slider ..ever great thought..brother..

[@aazLP640]

nice work

[@mikesama5458]

but how can i mount this on a tripod?

[@angelatran3695]

how did you put the screw mount onto the electrical junction box?

[@redferret]

I made a small hole and then just screwed it in. Not very elegant, and I suspect a better way would be to use a proper nut on the other side or some strong glue.

[@qntube]

Good video. However, I think you should use longer pipes and slide them through the second holes of the electrical boxes to stabilize the slider. Looks like the pipes were cut a bit too short. If you don't want to slide the pipes through the second holes, I suppose you could install another fastener before each of first holes.

[@redferret]

Yes that's actually a pretty good idea. I may try that with V 2.0. :) Also I want to use the thicker Teflon tape, because it should be more robust.

[@joebor1777]

How do you attach the camera quick release?

[@redferret]

There is no quick release. It's just a screw mount I took from an old cheap, plastic micro-tripod.

[@deadendkid1968]

Silicon based lube instead of wax?

[@OllieGuitarDotCom]

Hi guys, what's the diameter of the chrome tube? Thanks :)

[@redferret]

3/4 inch.

[@ObsequiousV4]

Maybe attach a rubber band or string to the mount for even smoother movement (if your hands are shaky like mine).

[@redferret]

Yes, tried that actually. Didn't find too much difference, but maybe it takes a bit of practice?

[@avidairial2579]

So does Slinky mean something else outside of America? It must because this build is completely void of a slinky. Other than that it was a good video with a good way of making a slider.

[@FlyingMooseStudios]

What length is your slider?

[@redferret]

60 cm or 2 feet.

[@FlyingMooseStudios]

Would you recommend using the car wax method on any other material than chrome, such as EMT pipe?

[@redferret]

***** Hmm...good question. I'm not sure you'd get the same amount of smoothness from it, but it probably wouldn't hurt, would it?

[@ucsalagos1743]

Nice

[@dutchfilmmaker6152]

which camera do you have?

[@redferret]

Panasonic Camcorder.

[@hugobrites6769]

what's the camera in the final?

[@ucoan2457]

+Hugo Miguel (DJPlayer) Sony Nex 5 I guess

[@hugobrites6769]

+Channel Giấy Huế thanks!

[@Itamarde08a80]

Parabens

[@mizouman]

not bad , tahnks anyway for sharing

[@RobJTeasdale]

If you can make them for $10, get them built and there will be hundreds of people who will buy them for $50 . Me included. Get them made.

[@wwvette]

GOOD JOB! HERE'S WHAT USED TO BUILD A SLIDER, CHROME SHOWER CURTAIN ROD, THREE PLASTIC ELEC. JUNCTION BOXES, HOT SHOE MOUNT, AND 1/4-20 CAMERA MOUNT. ALL FOR UNDER $20.00 US. (YOUR AUDIO NEEDS WORK?)

[@redferret]

Nice. Is it smooth? Didn't have a proper mic back two years ago. :) Cheers.

[@wwvette]

Smooth as a Baby's Butt!

[@ruangdestinasi2900]

good

[@dutchfilmmaker6152]

samsung nx3000?

[@redferret]

Sony NEX 5.

[@richardhawkins2647]

You'd get a smoother pull if you used a rubber band, possibly!

[@MadlockGilani]

This guy sounds like Vision from the Marvel movies.

[@arongatt]

56 dumb people dislike making cheap stuff and liked to get ripped off nice build mate

[@redferret]

+Aron Gatt Thanks. :)

[@Enovol]

With the middle electrical box i would of stabbed out the back hole and made a little extension bar so i can use that instead of sliding with my fingers.

[@redferret]

Interesting idea. I'm wondering how smooth that would be though. It's really hard to make sure it runs smoothly, I've found.

[@Enovol]

Yeah was thinking about that, I think I might have to try it out and see :)

[@redferret]

Go for it and let us know. :)

[@Leowulfs]

2:20 when I saw that tape all I could think of was a glory hole.

[@tim3854]

Now if you could only build one that is self moving haha... nice to the point video btw.

[@redferret]

Thanks :)

[@TomGunst]

that's how weo shoot our skateboard video's! ;D

[@BurkenProductions]

Not that smooth video, it was quite visible. The video jumped up and down also after like a 1 second or so. You need to make a stable version two of this! :D

[@risco1974]

Great video this is what I am working on Watch "Motorized Gopro timelapse dolly.. phase one." on KZbin Motorized Gopro timelapse dolly.. phase one. Hope you like it

[@redferret]

Wow, very interesting. Looks like quite a bit of work. :)

[@risco1974]

Well it started as a small idea but is growing and growing the more I do research some videos. Obviously I have to take the audio out on editing due to the sound of the geared motor

[@redferret]

Well good luck with it...

[@risco1974]

Thanks I'll link you the video one i finish proyect. Ohh by the way next will be a slider like yours.

[@redferret]

Cool.

[@goethe528]

please invest another 10$ into a couple of igus iglides..

[@redferret]

Thanks for the idea, I'll definitely take a look at the product.

[@corymartin2265]

Great job. But you slightly sound like Stewie Griffin

[@FVLGOR]

Use a rubber band to pull the camera, you'll be amazed. Thanks for the video

[@redferret]

Nice idea, thanks for the suggestion. :)

[@redferret]

Omair Yaqub it's a Hama clip - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002L4QCVE/

[@DOTFinancialNews]

shoe wax works much better :)

[@TomGunst]

put yo camera on a skateboard... TADA!

[@rigomortisfxstudios]

this idea is from another film maker stealing is not right film riot is where this ideal came from you just didn't paint it shame on you