My home-made Antlers...

[Morgan Lowndes]

Hello steadi people

heres a couple of stills from the production i was on today.
thought i would post them as they show my home-made antlers.
Antlers make a huge difference when shooting in the wind and are fairly easy to build.
hope this is helpfull to someone...
best, and fly safe

Morgs

[trung dau]

the Antlers must be horizontal too the camera? Can it be parallel to the camera?

what is the length of it? How weight is it?

IS the length and the weight really matter for operating or for Antler's function?

Sorry for asking so much, cause i don't know anything about it, just saw some picture before.

[Morgan Lowndes]

Hi Trung

you can set them up both fore/aft and side to side.
side to side is best for helping keep horizon straight and fore/aft is better for headroom.

mine are adjustable from 3 to 4 feet in length, the tubing is aluminium and the weights are 1lb weights from a fishing tackle shop.
the supporting post is a headstem from a bike, cut and welded to a 3" square plate with a hole drilled and tapped underneath.

im told the length needs to be at least 3 feet and the weights at least 1lb on each end in order for them to work.
although i guess in really strong wind you could have them longer and heavier...

best
morgs

[Charles King]

Thanks Morgan Looks very nice. Have you had the V25 long?

[Morgan Lowndes]

hi charles

i got it in august last year after a much anticipated wait!
its a great rig for the money, and im getting loads of work with it.
loads of location stuff here in cornwall, and its always windy (hence the antlers!)

morgs

[Charles King]

...and how do you like the arm? Remember what I said in my Glidecam review? You had asked me how I felt about the arm and I said it was better than the Gold? What do you think? It's off topic, so it's my last question.

[Morgan Lowndes]

yes i do remember! and you were absolutely spot on!
the arm is excellent. very very smooth and easy to boom.
i did have a problem with it 'pinging' when booming down, it was coming from the bone nearest to the vest.
i read on the steadicam forum to use a little lube where the spring attactches to the cable (not sure what this is called).
this sorted it instantly. anyway drifting off topic...

[trung dau]

Thanks for ur information!
 when my dream rig is finished i will try this antler. THAnks DUDE!

U mean the "spring plug"?
Why lube is there to solve the "pinging" problem?

[Charles King]

U mean the "spring plug"?
Why lube is there to solve the "pinging" problem?

Yes, it was to do just that. Apparently, I'm assuming now that the either the cable slips causing the ping sound. Alright, enough of the off topic

[Ian OBriant]

Well done, Morgan, The antlers look very well made. I don't think anyone who wasn't in the know would look at them and say they look home made. Very well done indeed. What did you use to coat them, anodized, powdercoat?

[Morgan Lowndes]

hi ian
thanks mate. i sprayed them with hammerite, a hard wearing anti rust paint.
i used hamerite on the weight cage when i made it last year and its never rubbed or scratched off, yet the antlers have already got a few dings.
i guess it must stick better to steel than alluminium...?
morgs

[trung dau]

why not carbon fiber tube? less heavy, cause only need the weight on each side of the tube.

[Morgan Lowndes]

hi trung
yeah i guess carbon fiber would be lighter and therefore possibly work better? but i think it would also cost a lot more.
if i could get some CF tube id be up for trying it.
i saw a pic somewhere or someone with 3 bladed antlers (like the inside of a Mercedes badge), i wonder if this would be worth trying...
best
morgs

[trung dau]

maybe there's some cheap carbon fiber here. UR rig is lighter and u will can work with ur rig more time.

IT will be very nice to try 3 bladed antlers (like the inside of a Mercedes badge). But it will be more difficult for machine the part which keep 3 tubes. It has to be 120 degree for each angle. And 3 tube has to be exactly the same length.