Dolly - Parts
I used 3/4" plywood as the standing platform. I welded small 1" wide by 1/8" thick metal strips to 2" X 2" X 1/8" think angle iron. I drilled holes in the stips to secure the angle iron to the plywood. The three sections of angle which run perpendicular to the track are for added support. Perhaps a bit overkill, but the sections can be easily removed. The wheels are off center so that no two wheels are touching the same part of the track at a given time. This, in theory, will make for a smoother ride. The image below to the right shows how I attached the wheel to the angle iron. The nut between the wheel and the angle acts as a spacer. This spacer nut makes contact with the inner race of the bearing, but not the outer race, thus allowing the wheel to spin freely.
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The image at the bottom to the left shows the wheels in contact with PVC pipe. The center pictures shows how I use the tripod levelers to secure the tripod to the dolly. This helps to keep the camera nice and steady, not to mention safe. The image to right shows the contraption designed by Joren Clark to attach lengths of PVC together. It works well, but as noted before, I have found that "top rail" works better and fits together without the need for any connectors.
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The dolly works great and, among the larger peices of equipment, was the easiest to build. My main word of advice would be to take you time in drilling the holes for the wheels. They need to be exacly the same distance from the peak of the angle iron. This will ensure that all of the wheels touch the track. This is a must for a smooth ride. Center punch the exact location before you drill and use/borrow a drill press.
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