Anybody who have installed a boom arm over their MFT using a Photography style boom arm please post your pictures of your boom arm installation. I know the parts I need but would like to see how your ran the hose and cable etc. Thanks, really appreciate it
Boom Arm MFT - Photography Boom Arm
- Thread starter krudawg
- Start date
I have two boom arms (Bogen/Manfrotto) in my photography studio, but I don’t think they will offer you the information you want.
Personally, I would use black zip ties to attach the hose and cord to the boom arm.
I would probably first zip-tie the cord to the hose, and then using larger zip ties, attach it at several points to the boom arm.
Manfrotto (Italy) was the original manufacturer of these boom arms, and mine are about 35 years old and show no signs of impending failure. They also made the identical boom arms under the Bogen name (a USA distributor).
If there is not too much of a cost difference, I would go with the Bogen/Manfrotto versions.
Note: Adding the black colorant to the resin in molded parts makes it UV resistant and greatly improves the usable life of the part. I always buy my zip ties in black.
Also: Manfroto makes “cable clips” to attach wires to the boom arm and they make a very tidy looking job. They come in “natural” and “black”. Again, go with the black. You will want 3 or 4 of these.
The cable is captured by the little hump out shown at the 7 o’clock position in the image below. First attach the clamps to the cable and then the clamps to the boom arm. I assume that the Chinese knock-offs will offer similar hardware.
The black versions were not available when I got mine. Mine are molded in “natural” (Nylon??)
Personally, I would use black zip ties to attach the hose and cord to the boom arm.
I would probably first zip-tie the cord to the hose, and then using larger zip ties, attach it at several points to the boom arm.
Manfrotto (Italy) was the original manufacturer of these boom arms, and mine are about 35 years old and show no signs of impending failure. They also made the identical boom arms under the Bogen name (a USA distributor).
If there is not too much of a cost difference, I would go with the Bogen/Manfrotto versions.
Note: Adding the black colorant to the resin in molded parts makes it UV resistant and greatly improves the usable life of the part. I always buy my zip ties in black.
Also: Manfroto makes “cable clips” to attach wires to the boom arm and they make a very tidy looking job. They come in “natural” and “black”. Again, go with the black. You will want 3 or 4 of these.
The cable is captured by the little hump out shown at the 7 o’clock position in the image below. First attach the clamps to the cable and then the clamps to the boom arm. I assume that the Chinese knock-offs will offer similar hardware.
The black versions were not available when I got mine. Mine are molded in “natural” (Nylon??)
I’m not sure I am understanding the issue. You will attach the hose (and electrical cord along the horizontal arm of the boom arm. There will be a point where the hose and cord will drop to the work surface. You will also need some slack to maneuver the saw.
I guess you could lasso the hose in the middle with some parachute cord and run it up to a pulley mounted on the boom and down to a counterweight.
That would allow the hose and cord to be moved about. You would have to gage the counter-weight accurately. This is all starting to sound a bit complicated.
I guess you could lasso the hose in the middle with some parachute cord and run it up to a pulley mounted on the boom and down to a counterweight.
That would allow the hose and cord to be moved about. You would have to gage the counter-weight accurately. This is all starting to sound a bit complicated.
Yes, and it's hard to wrap my brain around the concept doing it right so it will work well and not something that will be a PITA to deal with. I was thinking of running a bungie cord from the ceiling to keep the hose out of the way when moving around the MFT. That is why I am seeking idea's. I've had the boom arm for a while and clearly see the advantages of the system. I have a CT 26 and a source for an extra CT26 hose and a long cord. I also have some hose to cord clips I got from Tool Curve. All I need now is to implement the best suggestion I get from a FOGer. I've seen specific build boom arms from RTS Engineering which is very nice but the $1500 price tag is a show-stopper for me.
I suspect that a pulley arrangement will be more satisfactory than a bungee cord. You can calibrate the counterweight to the precise weight that functions best.
I would get a plastic jug (with a handle and cap), and adjust the amount of water in the jug until you get the ideal balance. This is going to be trial and error. I don’t think that there is anyway to calculate the weight.
Milk, windshield washer solution, bleach, etc. are sold in these bottles. If you are using a used bleach bottle, rinse it out well.
They sell replacement window sash weights, but you may come up with less expensive option.
I’ve used pulleys using 1/8” stranded steel wire, but in your case, I think parachute cord will be sufficient.
I would get a plastic jug (with a handle and cap), and adjust the amount of water in the jug until you get the ideal balance. This is going to be trial and error. I don’t think that there is anyway to calculate the weight.
Milk, windshield washer solution, bleach, etc. are sold in these bottles. If you are using a used bleach bottle, rinse it out well.
They sell replacement window sash weights, but you may come up with less expensive option.
I’ve used pulleys using 1/8” stranded steel wire, but in your case, I think parachute cord will be sufficient.
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