HomebuiltȱStabilizerȱ

…ModificationȱTipsȱ
Forȱȱ
TheȱGlidecam®ȱ
VȬ16/VȬ20ȱseriesȱ
ȱ
 Praisesȱ
ȱ
ȱ
Onceȱ again,ȱ specialȱ thanksȱ goȱ outȱ toȱ Codyȱ Deeganȱ forȱ hisȱ wonderfulȱ 3Dȱ
drawings.ȱ Heȱ hasȱ alwaysȱ beenȱ tooȱ kindȱ toȱ helpȱ outȱ wheneverȱ Iȱ askȱ him.ȱ
Thanksȱforȱheedingȱmyȱcall.ȱ
ȱ
Iȱ wantȱ toȱ thankȱ Igor,ȱ Taylor,ȱ Bradȱ andȱ Jonathanȱ forȱ providingȱ meȱ withȱ
picturesȱofȱtheirȱmodifiedȱsystems.ȱTheyȱwillȱcertainlyȱprovideȱpeopleȱwithȱ
goodȱinfoȱandȱinspirationȱonȱhowȱtoȱmodifyȱcertainȱpartsȱofȱtheirȱrig.ȱ
ȱ
SpecialȱthanksȱgoȱoutȱtoȱtheȱGlidecam®ȱindustryȱandȱtheȱGlidecam®ȱforumȱ
forȱtheirȱsupportȱansweringȱsomeȱofȱmyȱinquiries.ȱ
ȱ
Lastȱ butȱ notȱ least,ȱ aȱ bigȱ thanksȱ toȱ Casey,ȱ whoȱ residesȱ oftenȱ onȱ theȱ
DVinfo.netȱcommunityȱforumȱgivingȱanyȱhelpfulȱinfoȱtoȱthoseȱwhoȱrequestȱ
it.ȱȱ
ȱ
…Andȱtoȱallȱthoseȱwhoȱdecideȱtoȱbuyȱthisȱbook.ȱThanksȱforȱallȱtheȱsupport.ȱ
 Allȱrightsȱreserved.ȱNoȱpartȱofȱthisȱpublicationȱmayȱbeȱreproducedȱinȱanyȱ
form,ȱstoredȱinȱaȱretrievalȱsystemȱorȱtransmittedȱbyȱanyȱmeans,ȱelectronic,ȱ
mechanical,ȱorȱotherwise,ȱexceptȱinȱaȱreview,ȱwithoutȱtheȱwrittenȱconsentȱofȱ
theȱpublisher.ȱ
ȱ
ȱ
©ȱ2004ȱCharlesȱKing
 Contentsȱ
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Introductionȱ
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Pageȱ8ȱ
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ToolȱOptionsȱ
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Pageȱ10ȱ
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FaceȬliftingȱyourȱsledȱ
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Pageȱ21ȱ
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ItemsȱRequiredȱ
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Pageȱ30ȱ
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Gettingȱdownȱtoȱbusinessȱ
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Buildingȱtheȱbatteryȱfore/aftȱmoduleȱ
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Pageȱ43ȱ
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Connectingȱtheȱlowerȱpostȱ
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Pageȱ84ȱ
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Buildingȱtheȱmonitorȱbracketȱȱ
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Pageȱ87ȱ
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Glidecamȱ®ȱOwner’sȱmodificationsȱ
ȱ
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Jonathan’sȱsledȱmodificationsȱ
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Pageȱ109ȱ
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TaylorȱMoore’sȱvestȱmodificationsȱ
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Pageȱ123ȱ
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Igor’sȱsledȱmodificationsȱ
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Pageȱ118ȱ
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Finalȱwordsȱ
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Pageȱ127ȱ
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 Introductionȱ
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Yep!ȱIt’sȱanotherȱhomebuiltȱseries.ȱInȱthisȱeditionȱI’llȱshowȱyouȱhowȱoneȱcanȱ
modifyȱ anȱ alreadyȱ prefabricatedȱ sled,ȱ likeȱ thatȱ ofȱ theȱ Glidecam®ȱ V16ȱ andȱ
V20ȱ series,ȱ usingȱ offȬtheȬshelveȱ itemsȱ mixedȱ withȱ aȱ littleȱ scratchȱ building.ȱ
Theȱ methodsȱ couldȱ alsoȱ beȱ usedȱ onȱ similarȱ lowȬendȱ stabilizersȱ onȱ theȱ
marketȱbutȱIȱchoseȱGlidecam®ȱbecauseȱofȱitsȱsimplicity.ȱ
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Pursuingȱtheȱgoalȱforȱaȱbetterȱsledȱhasȱalwaysȱbeenȱmyȱpersonalȱcrusade.ȱIȱ
tendȱneverȱtoȱbeȱsatisfiedȱ‘tillȱIȱgetȱwhatȱIȱwant.ȱInȱthisȱrespect,ȱitȱhasȱtoȱdoȱ
withȱhavingȱaȱsledȱthatȱhasȱfeasibleȱoptions.ȱ
ȱ
Everythingȱ seemsȱ toȱ comeȱ atȱ aȱ highȱ costȱ thisȱ dayȱ andȱ age.ȱ Lookingȱ forȱ
somethingȱlucrativeȱisȱaȱchallengeȱinȱitself.ȱWeȱtendȱtoȱwantȱthingsȱinȱallȱitsȱ
gloryȱ andȱ gettingȱ itȱ shouldȱ beȱ atȱ aȱ priceȱ weȱ allȱ canȱ afford.ȱ Sadlyȱ enoughȱ
thingsȱareȱneverȱtheȱwayȱweȱwantȱit.ȱSoȱwhatȱdoȱweȱdo?ȱWeȱfindȱaȱcheaperȱ
methodȱofȱgettingȱtheȱthingsȱweȱsoȱwantȱbyȱwaysȱofȱdoingȱitȱourselves.ȱThisȱ
evenȱappliesȱtoȱgettingȱtheȱbestȱoptionsȱoutȱofȱthingsȱweȱtendȱtoȱuseȱmoreȱ
oftenȱandȱoperateȱatȱaȱcostȱthatȱisȱreasonableȱforȱourȱpockets.ȱInȱshortȱ–ȱAsȱ
anȱoperator,ȱhowȱdoȱyouȱimproveȱonȱsomethingȱthatȱisȱvitalȱtoȱyourȱwork?ȱ
Weatherȱ asȱ aȱ hobbyistȱ orȱ professionalȱ operatorȱ oneȱ canȱ onlyȱ affordȱ anȱ
equipmentȱbasedȱonȱwhatȱtheȱpocketsȱcanȱdishȱout.ȱ
ȱ
TheȱriseȱofȱsoȱmanyȱcompaniesȱofferingȱtheirȱversionȱofȱaȱSteadicam®ȱisȱaȱ
testimonyȱtoȱtheȱcompetitionȱthatȱexistsȱwithȱthisȱtypeȱofȱproduct.ȱTheȱmoreȱ
manufacturersȱ thatȱ produceȱ thisȱ deviceȱ theȱ cheaperȱ theȱ offeringsȱ become.ȱ
Unfortunately,ȱtheȱpriceȱreductionȱalsoȱmeansȱshortcomingsȱofȱoptions.ȱToȱ
beȱ ableȱ toȱ maintainȱ aȱ reasonableȱ priceȱ rangeȱ forȱ hobbyistȱ andȱ semiȬproȱ
customersȱ alikeȱ theȱ productionȱ costȱ wouldȱ haveȱ toȱ beȱ maintainȱ atȱ aȱ levelȱ
thatȱ wouldȱ notȱ overȱ stepȱ theȱ purposeȱ ofȱ lowerȱ costȱ productsȱ ofȱ thisȱ type.ȱ
That’sȱ whyȱ companiesȱ likeȱ Glidecam®ȱ andȱ otherȱ lowerȱ levelȱ companiesȱ
offerȱproductsȱofȱthisȱgradeȱtoȱitȱreachȱtheȱmiddleȱrangeȱpublic.ȱMindȱyou,ȱ
Glidecam®ȱ doesȱ offerȱ higherȱ rangeȱ productsȱ forȱ theirȱ everȱ soȱ demandingȱ

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clientsȱ butȱ ofȱ course,ȱ thisȱ comesȱ atȱ aȱ priceȱ whichȱ isȱ theȱ oppositeȱ ofȱ whatȱ
theirȱlowerȱlevelȱproductsȱoffer.ȱ
ȱ
So,ȱweȱcomeȱtoȱtheȱquestion.ȱHowȱdoȱweȱ(I)ȱget,ȱatȱleastȱsome,ȱofȱtheȱextraȱ
featuresȱassociatedȱ withȱ theȱ bigȱ boys?ȱ Well,ȱ readȱ onȱ andȱ seeȱ howȱ oneȱ canȱ
improveȱonȱanȱalreadyȱavailableȱsystem.ȱ
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Stepȱ4,5:ȱ
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Thisȱ nextȱ stepȱ isȱ aȱ matterȱ ofȱ preference.ȱ Itȱ involvesȱ aȱ littleȱ bitȱ ofȱ machining.ȱ Byȱ
takingȱ theȱ ‘Baseȱ clamp’ȱ andȱ shavingȱ downȱ aboutȱ 0.5mmȱ ofȱ theȱ surfaceȱ ofȱ theȱ
centerȱofȱtheȱclamp,ȱwhereȱyouȱmadeȱtheȱtwoȱthreadedȱholes,ȱitȱwillȱthereforeȱbecomeȱ
aȱflatȱsurface.ȱSeeȱfigȱ19bȱforȱaȱbetterȱunderstandingȱofȱwhatȱIȱmean.ȱ
ȱ

ȱ
Figȱ19bȱ
Theȱflatȱsurfaceȱinȱtheȱ3Dȱdrawingȱwithȱtheȱoneȱarrowȱpointingȱtoȱitȱȱ
isȱhowȱtheȱsurfaceȱwillȱlookȱafterȱmachining.ȱTheȱwidthȱofȱtheȱflatȱsurfaceȱcanȱbeȱ
anythingȱbetweenȱ10Ȭ15mm.ȱ

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Theȱreasonȱforȱmachiningȱitȱdownȱflatȱjustȱaȱnotchȱisȱthatȱitȱlooksȱbetterȱtoȱhaveȱtheȱ
‘monitorȱbar’ȱflushedȱupȱagainstȱtheȱclampȱthanȱifȱitȱwasȱjustȱscrewedȱonȱdirectly,ȱ
onȱit’sȱoriginalȱroundedȱsurface.ȱHereȱisȱaȱpicȱofȱhowȱitȱlooksȱonȱmyȱclamp.ȱSeeȱ
below:ȱ
ȱ
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TheȱarrowȱshowsȱtheȱareaȱwhereȱIȱshavedȱoffȱaȱcoupleȱofȱmillimetresȱofȱtheȱsurfaceȱtoȱ
flushȱmountȱmyȱmonitorȱbar.ȱȱ
ȱ

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Stepȱ4,5a:ȱ
ȱ
Regardless,ȱifȱyouȱdecideȱthatȱyouȱwantȱtoȱcontinueȱtoȱshaveȱoffȱtheȱsurface,ȱyouȱ
willȱstillȱhaveȱtoȱmakeȱaȱthreadedȱholeȱonȱtheȱclampȱforȱattachingȱtheȱ‘Monitorȱ
bar’.ȱȱWhenȱyouȱhaveȱshavedȱoffȱtheȱsurfaceȱthenȱtakeȱaȱ5mmȱdrillȱbitȱandȱstartȱtoȱ
boreȱatȱAȱofȱtheȱclamp.ȱAfterȱdrillingȱtakeȱaȱ6mmȱtapȱandȱthreadȱtheȱhole.ȱTheȱ
resultsȱshouldȱlookȱlikeȱtheȱdrawingȱinȱfigȱ19cȱbelow.ȱ
ȱ

ȱ
Figȱ19cȱ

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ȱ

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Theȱpartsȱdissectedȱ
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Connectingȱtheȱlowerȱpost:ȱ
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Theȱnextȱstepȱisȱshortȱandȱwillȱtakeȱroughlyȱ5ȱminute’sȱtops.ȱItȱonlyȱinvolvesȱ
theȱ additionȱ ofȱ theȱ lowerȱ pipeȱ orȱ postȱ toȱ theȱ baseȱ moduleȱ thatȱ youȱ haveȱ
completedȱinȱtheȱearlierȱsteps.ȱSoȱhereȱgoes.ȱ
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ȱ

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Stepȱ1:ȱ
ȱ
Knowingȱthatȱtheȱlowerȱpost’sȱODȱisȱjustȱaboutȱlessȱthanȱ26,90mmȱ(1ȱ1/16”),ȱallȱ
youȱhaveȱtoȱdoȱisȱdecideȱhowȱlongȱyouȱwantȱtheȱpost.ȱIfȱyouȱpreferȱtoȱhaveȱtheȱsameȱ
lengthȱlikeȱthatȱofȱtheȱGlidecam’sȱlowerȱpostȱthenȱcutȱitȱtoȱthatȱsize.ȱAsȱIȱmentionedȱ
earlierȱaȱlengthȱanyȱwhereȱbetweenȱ250mmȱ–ȱ350mmȱwillȱsuffice.ȱ
ȱ
Now,ȱtakeȱyourȱpieceȱofȱpipeȱandȱcutȱitȱtoȱtheȱsizeȱyouȱwantȱusingȱeitherȱaȱstickȱsawȱ
orȱanȱindustrialȱsaw.ȱWhenȱyouȱhaveȱcutȱtheȱsizeȱthatȱyouȱareȱhappyȱwithȱthenȱyouȱ
canȱconnectȱitȱtoȱtheȱbaseȱbyȱattachingȱitȱtoȱtheȱclampȱandȱsecureȱitȱbyȱtighteningȱ
theȱ clamp.ȱ ȱ Itȱ shouldȱ workȱ justȱ likeȱ theȱ originalȱ lowerȱ postȱ thatȱ cameȱ withȱ theȱ
Glidecam®.ȱ
ȱ
It’sȱasȱsimpleȱasȱthat.ȱNowȱyouȱhaveȱaȱnewȱadjustableȱlowerȱbaseȱpostȱthatȱyouȱcanȱ
beȱproudȱof.ȱȱ
ȱ

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 ȱ
Theȱfinalȱlookȱofȱtheȱglidecamȱmodifiedȱsledȱwhenȱputȱtogetherȱ

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 ȱ
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Nowȱtheȱbatteryȱmoduleȱcanȱbeȱadjustedȱforeȱandȱaftȱforȱdynamicȱbalanceȱwhichȱisȱ
oneȱ ofȱ theȱ keyȱ reasonsȱ forȱ buildingȱ thisȱ moduleȱ device.ȱ Seeȱ drawingȱ above.ȱ Viewȱ
someȱotherȱalternativesȱtoȱtheȱdesignȱaboveȱonȱtheȱfollowingȱpage.ȱ
ȱ

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 ȱ
Theȱdesignȱisȱbasedȱonȱmyȱpresentȱmoduleȱusingȱtheȱsameȱmodificationȱinȱthisȱbook.ȱ
TheȱdesignȱhasȱjustȱbeenȱslightlyȱreȬdesignȱtoȱfitȱmyȱtaste.ȱ
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 ȱ
Aȱlookȱatȱmyȱveryȱlatestȱandȱpresentȱrigȱdesignȱpossibility.ȱIt’sȱflexibleȱandȱveryȱ
modular.ȱAllȱpartsȱcanȱbeȱintegratedȱwithȱoneȱanother.ȱAȱsystemȱIȱcherish.ȱYesȱIȱ
know.ȱIt’sȱveryȱsimilarȱtoȱthatȱofȱtheȱSteadicam®ȱMini.ȱTheȱoverallȱlookȱofȱitȱwasȱ
partȱofȱmyȱinspirationȱbutȱtheȱfunctionalityȱisȱquiteȱunlikeȱtheȱSteadicamȱmini.ȱ
Certainlyȱaȱwellȱdeservedȱdesign.ȱȱ
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 Glidecamȱ®ȱOwner’sȱmodificationȱ
ȱ
WelcomeȱtoȱtheȱgalleryȱshowcasingȱpicsȱofȱGlidecam®ȱowners’ȱconceptualȱ
modifications.ȱ Theseȱ modificationsȱ haveȱ madeȱ operationsȱ manageableȱ toȱ
theseȱownersȱgivingȱthemȱaȱsenseȱofȱprideȱofȱtheirȱwork.ȱTheseȱmodsȱgoȱtoȱ
showȱtheȱdifferentȱconceptsȱthatȱareȱpossibleȱwithȱtheseȱtypesȱofȱsleds.ȱNotȱ
onlyȱ doȱ theyȱ lookȱ goodȱ theyȱ evenȱ enhanceȱ theȱ operator’sȱ controlȱ overȱ theȱ
systemȱatȱaȱgreaterȱadvantageȱthenȱwhatȱtheȱbasicȱunitȱhadȱtoȱoffer.ȱ
ȱ
Soȱtakeȱaȱlookȱatȱsomeȱofȱtheȱmodificationsȱandȱseeȱwhatȱtheȱownersȱhaveȱ
doneȱtoȱimproveȱtheirȱsystems.ȱWhoȱknows?ȱTheyȱmightȱevenȱinspireȱyouȱ
toȱdoȱsomethingȱsimilar.ȱȱ
ȱ
Browseȱandȱenjoy.ȱ
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N.B.ȱAllȱpicsȱpostedȱareȱcourtesyȱofȱGlidecam®ȱownersȱandȱshouldȱnotȱbeȱusedȱinȱ
anyȱotherȱpublicationsȱwithoutȱtheȱconsentȱofȱtheirȱconsent.ȱ

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 Jonathan’sȱmodifiedȱV20ȱGlidecam®ȱsledȱ
(PicturesȱcourtesyȱofȱJonathan)ȱ
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TheȱmonitorȱbracketȱisȱaȱsimpleȱuȬshapedȱclampȱthatȱheȱpurchasedȱ
atȱaȱhardwareȱstoreȱtogetherȱwithȱtheȱmountingȱsupportȱforȱtheȱmonitor.

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 ȱ
Aȱveryȱsmartȱconceptȱbyȱembeddingȱtheȱinternalȱwiringȱwhichȱworkȱsimilarȱtoȱtheȱ
proȱstabilizerȱsystemsȱ
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TheȱallȬinȬoneȱwiringȱconnectorȱ

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ȱ

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