Improved Steadicam for under 40 dollars! Also boom mic attachment!

Step 1Make the PVC vest with polystyrene insulation

Make the PVC vest with polystyrene insulation
Well, i actually built a design that this guy on another website (http://www.abracadabravideos.com/DIY/DIYpage1.htm), but the only difference is that i put some polystyrene foam insulation (the insulation is usually for your heater but i got a 6 ft lenght for 2 dollars. its just for looks and confort) but i feel he is not that desciptive with his explanation. Anyways i too have the same principal (okay, i forgot to measure how big they were, but i just did a "do as it fits" approach because i had to build from a picture.)

(i too also advise you to consult from his picture because they are very useful)

Here are some convenient parts descriptions:

Rib cage (all pvc parts are in 3/4 inch)
1 3/4 inch pvc pipe
7 1.75 inch "ingots" (parts you need to put in between parts)
11 45 degree pieces
2 90 degree pieces
3 "T" pieces
1 "cross" piece (has fittings for 4 tubes)
2 "bended pieces" (can be obtained in your electrical department. should be
grayish looking)
1 1 inch polystyrene plumbing insulation (optional, but just for looks and
comfort)
1 cover cap (it should screw in without an ingot)
1 premixed pvc cement

estimate: ~20 dollars
(if that seems too much, it is useful if you want to attach it to your boom mic, which usually requires lifting your arms for a long time. but if you simply attach it to the rib cage, no pain, no game! But more on that later....)

As the guy that i got it from, here are my following tips:

1. Pre-fit all your parts before gluing
2. make sure you are gluin the right part to the part is was originally connected to (or else the scale of it gets all ugly and tends not to fit well)

The finished product should be the picture above. Notice that i added the insulation and didn't buy or add the "bogen swivel" because i felt 30 dollars was too much anyways. anyhow, i solved that problem later on as we build the swivel attachment.
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Author:compatta
i am just like any other guy. i like to build stuff and make stuff (yes, that does include cooking and not neccesarily mechanical car work)