WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE DIY114B

Watch this video as we unpack the DIY114B Slider Kit to show what is included.  You will need to purchase rods separately.  Please refer to the DIY Cookbook in the "Slider" section for selecting the appropriate rods for your application length.

USEFUL TOOLS

Here are some useful inexpensive tools that will come in handy while using your slider.

MOUNTING BAR ENDS TO RODS AND INSERTING TROLLEY BASE

Watch this video to see how the DIY114B bar ends mount to the rods, and how to insert the trolley base into the rods.  Visit the DIY Cookbook for instructions on purchasing rods to create a slider of your desired length(s).

USE WITH 15mm RODS

Although the bar ends were designed for use with 5/8" diameter rods, they can be used with 15mm rods as well.  Watch this video to see how to shim the 15mm rods for use with the slider.

FLATTENING THE RODS TO REMOVE ANY TWIST

Watch this video to see tips on how to remove any helix (twist) that may be in the rods while mounted to the bar ends.

MOUNTING THE PLATFORM TO TROLLEY

Watch this video to see how to mount the platform to the trolley, and set the wheel arms on the side to constrict the bars from bending outwards.

Note, any helix in the bar needs to be flattened out before adjustment of the wheel-arms.

The adjustment of the wheel-arms pins each rod between a wheel-arm wheel and two corresponding wheels from the trolley, and that is what constricts the movement of the trolley. So, if the trolley wiggles, then this step in this video of the wheel-arm adjustment has not been executed sufficiently.  Note that in this video, it shows how the rods and wheel-arm wheel are all get squeezed together while the wheel-arm gets tightened. This pins each rod against its corresponding wheel-arm wheel, and the wheel-arm wheels corresponding two wheels from the trolley. When successfully adjusted, the trolley will not wiggle.

Also, it shouldn't run simlutaneouly on all wheels. When the wheel arms are properly adjusted, the front of the trolley will run on the wheel-arm wheel plus corresponding top and bottom wheels from the trolley which surrond that corresponding rod. The rear of the trolley will do the same (on the other side). The 2+2 trolley wheels on the opposite side of the wheel-arm wheel are there as guides (to make sure it can't flip over if the wheel-arm is not set properly), and may or may not make contact with the rods.

8FT RODS: SINGLE PERSON MOUNTING TO A PAIR OF TRIPODS

This is a really neat video, which shows how the "lone wolf" videographer can even manage to mount an 8ft slider to a pair of tripods. 

USE WITH CHEAP TRIPODS

It is not necessary to use a pair of very expensive tripods.  We have tested some cheap tripods.  The Targus TGT-BK58T is about $20 online, and works reasonably well for holding up an end of the slider, especially when you keep the tripod head close to the sticks (don't crank up the neck).

8FT RODS: EVENLY DISTRIBUTE CAMERA CENTER OF GRAVITY

Learn a technique to evenly distribute the camera weight across both rods to keep the direction of the lens aligned while travelling across long slides (8ft).

8FT RODS: SHOT COMPOSITION