DIY Sliding Camera Rig
- 1). Place two 7/8-inch metal utility tool handles on a work surface. Slide two 1-inch PVC connectors onto each of them and slide them to the center point of the handles.
- 2). Measure and use a hacksaw to cut six 3-inch pieces of 1-inch PVC pipe. Insert a 3-inch piece of PVC pipe into all the open ends of all four T-connectors. Move one of the T-connectors on both handles (upper pair) up and away from the center point of the assembly area. Place another T-connector between the two handles and connect it to the two unconnected ends of PVC pipe on the other pair (bottom pair) of T-connectors. Repeat this process connecting the upper pair of T-connectors in the same way.
- 3). Slide the two assemblies (upper pair and bottom pair) together and connect those assemblies with two more 3-inch pieces of PVC pipe and a center T-connector. Finish the sliding assembly by inserting a 1-by-1/2-inch reduction T-connector with a 1/2-inch threaded, male straight end. At this point the combined assemblies resemble the letter "H," with the tips of the four flanges connected by T-connections to the two handles. This single sliding assembly is the heart of the slider.
- 4). Disassemble all the PVC pipe assemblies and reassemble them with PVC-glued connections.
- 5). Use a tape measure and T-square to measure and mark a piece of 1-by-2-inch pine lumber as long as the length of the handles. Measure and mark two 10-inch pieces of 1-by-2-inch pine lumber. Cut the pieces with a circular saw.
- 6). Measure, mark and drill two 1/8-inch holes centered and 1/2-inch apart, at the 5-inch mark of the 10-inch pieces of pine wood. Lay the small pieces of drilled pine wood across the ends of the long piece of pine wood and drive 1/4-by-1 1/2-inch wood screws into the long piece.
- 7). Wrap four loops of electrical tape around the both ends of both utility handles. Place them on the cross-mounted 10-inch pieces of wood. Move the slider assembly to one end of the wood assembly, and allow that assembly to move the utility handles apart. Use 1/4-inch wood screws to attach the utility handles, with 1/4-by-1-inch metal hole straps, to the 10-inch pieces of the wood assembly.