Affordable Camera Dolly for Under $70 | Full DIY Tutorial

Описание: 🎥 How I Built a DIY Camera Dolly in Under 30 Minutes

If you’re a filmmaker on a budget and want smooth tracking shots without dropping hundreds of dollars, here’s how I built a homemade dolly using basic materials from Home Depot, ACE Hardware, and Amazon. Took me just 15–20 minutes to assemble!

🛠️ Materials Used:
• (2) Ten-foot 2-inch PVC pipes – Home Depot
• (1) 2x2 ft plywood board – Home Depot
• (4) L Brackets – Home Depot
• (8) Roller Skate Wheels – Amazon
• (4) 3-inch Hex Bolts (¼ inch diameter) – ACE Hardware
• ¼ inch Washers & Nuts – ACE Hardware
• ¼ inch Drill Bit (for metal)
• Power Drill
🔧 Step-by-Step Build Instructions:
1. Mark Wheel Placement:
• I measured 2x2 inches from each corner of the plywood using a square and marked those spots for bracket placement.
2. Prep the L Brackets:
• I drilled one hole center-mass on each side of the L bracket — this is where the wheels would be mounted.
3. Mounting the Wheels:
• Inserted a hex bolt through the newly drilled hole in the L bracket.
• Then I screwed each L bracket to the plywood board at the marked corners.
• Secured the hex bolt to the L bracket with one ¼ inch nut.
• Added two washers to the bolt for smooth wheel rotation.
• Slid on the roller skate wheel.
• Added two more washers after the wheel (again, for reduced friction).
• Tightened everything down with another ¼ inch nut.
4. Track Setup:
• Laid out the PVC pipes parallel to each other — these serve as tracks for the dolly wheels to roll on.
5. Mount Your Camera:
• Once the base rolled smoothly on the tracks, I mounted my camera setup on top of the plywood. Ready to film!
🎬 Pro Tip:
If you want added stability, you can install an extra set of wheels on each bracket at an inward angle to hug the PVC pipe from the sides — prevents derailing on uneven surfaces.

That’s it! Simple, effective, portable, and budget-friendly.