Finally, a boom arm in my shop files and plans inside

[boasist]

Finally time to get going on phase two of my garage setup.

Inspired by the heated thread about the fully articulating boom arm, I went forward with my own. I've shared the files below, I made it from a mix of parts on my 3D printer and CNC. One file is the gear, the zip file contains the cnc files to cut the required parts.

File Link

Parts:
2" foam core pvc
2" street elbow
2" coupler
2" long 90 elbow
36mm Festool hose
Rubber Tape (non adhesive)
1x 12" long 1/2" hex bolt
2x 12" long 3/8" hex bolt
2x 2 1/2" long 3/8" hex bolts
2x 4" long 3/8" hex bolts
Fender washers and lock nuts for the bolts above
2x 3d printed gears (I did 12 walls and 40% infill, ASA filament)
4x 2" diameter thrust bearings
2x 1/2" through washers
2x 6" long 3x3x.25" angle iron
3/4" plywood
2.5" flex dust collector hose
Dust collector hose clamps
Plug it cord, with extension cable

I've got everything cut, built, and ready to be mounted once the angle iron shows up. I'll get some pics up soon. It'll all flow back to my CT26 for now, it's a great start for my setup.

Thank you, enjoy, and let me know of any questions with the files.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I'm definitely interested in seeing how this comes together. I may do something similar as I build out my home shop.

 

[Muttley000]

Interested in pics of the finished product

 

[Packard]

Have you costed this out?

I have a Manfrotto wall mounted boom arm left over from my portrait studio.  It is still in production and the list cost is just over $200.00 (US$). 

For sale on Amazon.com for $135.00.

Chinese knock-offs for $45.00.

I cannot comment on the Chinese knock-offs, but the Manfrotto unit is quite robust and easy to adjust. 

Easily able to carry the weight of a vacuum hose and electric cord.  My strobe lights weighed about 5 - 8 pounds; probably 10+ pounds with the light modifier. 

https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/black-wall-boom-098b/

Manfrotto products are also marketed under the name of ‘Bowen”, a USA based distributor.  I believe that Manfrotto products are made in Italy.  Their products are widely used in the point of purchase marketplace also, but their origins are in photography.

Anyone interested in a 7’ tall camera stand?  Half the manufacter’s list price at $2.000.00.  (Listed at $3,995.00.)[eek]

 

[boasist]

Have you costed this out?

I have a Manfrotto wall mounted boom arm left over from my portrait studio.  It is still in production and the list cost is just over $200.00 (US$). 

For sale on Amazon.com for $135.00.

Chinese knock-offs for $45.00.

I cannot comment on the Chinese knock-offs, but the Manfrotto unit is quite robust and easy to adjust. 

Easily able to carry the weight of a vacuum hose and electric cord.  My strobe lights weighed about 5 - 8 pounds; probably 10+ pounds with the light modifier. 

https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/black-wall-boom-098b/

Manfrotto products are also marketed under the name of ‘Bowen”, a USA based distributor.  I believe that Manfrotto products are made in Italy.  Their products are widely used in the point of purchase marketplace also, but their origins are in photography.

Anyone interested in a 7’ tall camera stand?  Half the manufacters list price at $2.000.00.  (Listed at $3,995.00.)[eek]

Not to any great degree, but I'd say around $2-250 and that would include the sheet of plywood. I had the hose and extension cords already, so this would be nut, bolts, bearings, steel, and tubing.

Angle iron comes today, I'll get the holes drilled and mounted this weekend.

I uploaded another file that is the converter for 2" such 40 pvc to a 2.5" blast gate. I'm finalizing the tubing and electrical as we speak.

I thought of you [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] because the ts60 is the reason I have to run the blank power cord, I suppose it's fine to have it up there anyway along with a plug it.

 

[FestitaMakool]

The Manfrotto Boom Arm is a great alternative. I recently bought one myself, having wanted one long before I thought of using it for a hose and cord..  [huh]
I have also a Manfrotto Magic Arm - Also used for holding lots other items outside photography..

Yes Packard, Manfrotto is Italian, Bowens the US distributor. Manfrotto is kind of Lego in tubing and clamping/fastening stuff. Well worth a look for other uses.
So you have one of those dolly’s, heavy towers? .. those are nice..

 

[Packard]

The Manfrotto Boom Arm is a great alternative. I recently bought one myself, having wanted one long before I thought of using it for a hose and cord..  [huh]
I have also a Manfrotto Magic Arm - Also used for holding lots other items outside photography..

Yes Packard, Manfrotto is Italian, Bowens the US distributor. Manfrotto is kind of Lego in tubing and clamping/fastening stuff. Well worth a look for other uses.
So you have one of those dolly’s, heavy towers? .. those are nice..

The Super Salon came standard at 9 feet tall.  There was an extra charge to cut it down to 7’ tall.  In addition to the camera stand you would need a ball head to mount the camera. The Arca/Swiss ball head is now about $450.00 but was more expensive 35 years ago.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4986-REG/Manfrotto_816_Super_Salon_280_Camera.html

 

[FestitaMakool]

The Manfrotto Boom Arm is a great alternative. I recently bought one myself, having wanted one long before I thought of using it for a hose and cord..  [huh]
I have also a Manfrotto Magic Arm - Also used for holding lots other items outside photography..

Yes Packard, Manfrotto is Italian, Bowens the US distributor. Manfrotto is kind of Lego in tubing and clamping/fastening stuff. Well worth a look for other uses.
So you have one of those dolly’s, heavy towers? .. those are nice..

The Super Salon came standard at 9 feet tall.  There was an extra charge to cut it down to 7’ tall.  In addition to the camera stand you would need a ball head to mount the camera. The Arca/Swiss ball head is now about $450.00 but was more expensive 35 years ago.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4986-REG/Manfrotto_816_Super_Salon_280_Camera.html

That’s one of them yes. I cannot recall the other brand just now, but an Arca Swiss ball head was mandatory - and so it seems, they were more expensive then.. But I believe this is just competition that has brought the prices down.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I thought of you [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] because the ts60 is the reason I have to run the blank power cord, I suppose it's fine to have it up there anyway along with a plug it.

One more reason to be annoyed with that non-sensical decision.  [blink]
I can sure see that a guy wouldn't want to void his warranty though. That's a pretty expensive thing to take a chance on.
Mine is coming up on a year though, with nearly daily use, zero issues.
I did discover a few months ago that I can't use it through the CT15 when connected to my retractable cord reel. That thing has a 15amp breaker built into the side of the housing and will shut down with that much draw.
I had cut 3/4" ply with it connected that way and it was ok, but straight-line ripping 1 1/2" thick Oak butcherblock panels, wasn't having it.
If I plug the CT straight into the wall though, it is fine.

 

[Packard]

The Manfrotto Boom Arm is a great alternative. I recently bought one myself, having wanted one long before I thought of using it for a hose and cord..  [huh]
I have also a Manfrotto Magic Arm - Also used for holding lots other items outside photography..

Yes Packard, Manfrotto is Italian, Bowens the US distributor. Manfrotto is kind of Lego in tubing and clamping/fastening stuff. Well worth a look for other uses.
So you have one of those dolly’s, heavy towers? .. those are nice..

The Super Salon came standard at 9 feet tall.  There was an extra charge to cut it down to 7’ tall.  In addition to the camera stand you would need a ball head to mount the camera. The Arca/Swiss ball head is now about $450.00 but was more expensive 35 years ago.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4986-REG/Manfrotto_816_Super_Salon_280_Camera.html

That’s one of them yes. I cannot recall the other brand just now, but an Arca Swiss ball head was mandatory - and so it seems, they were more expensive then.. But I believe this is just competition that has brought the prices down.

The other contender, as I recall was “Studio Ball”, though I don’t recall if that was the product or the manufacturer’s name. 

Also, Calumet Photographic, in Chicago and New York, was a major distributor of large format cameras and associated equipment.  They sold Manfrotto products under their own name. 

 

[FestitaMakool]

Could it be “Graf”?
I vaguely remember them as more specialised against professional studio photographers
Ah, I always thought Calumet was a British chain.. though they were present only in the UK if I recall right. This was just in the start of the www. thing that was supposed to flop..  [big grin]

 

[MikeGE]

The other contender, as I recall was “Studio Ball”, though I don’t recall if that was the product or the manufacturer’s name. 

When I was heavy into photography, I used Really Right Stuff ball heads, quick release clamps, and gimbal mounts on my Gitzo tripods.  The RRS equipment was similar to the Arca-Swiss format, but I thought it was much smoother than the Arca-Swiss ball head they replaced.  I tried the Manfrotto quick release clamps for a month or so, but after a D700 released itself, I abandoned the Manfrotto equipment.

 

[FestitaMakool]

The other contender, as I recall was “Studio Ball”, though I don’t recall if that was the product or the manufacturer’s name. 

When I was heavy into photography, I used Really Right Stuff ball heads, quick release clamps, and gimbal mounts on my Gitzo tripods.  The RRS equipment was similar to the Arca-Swiss format, but I thought it was much smoother than the Arca-Swiss ball head they replaced.  I tried the Manfrotto quick release clamps for a month or so, but after a D700 released itself, I abandoned the Manfrotto equipment.

Haha, opposite here, although RRS wasn’t until a bit later.. but I feared the Arca plates.. too many reported cameras falling of - due to no 2. safety feature other than the clamp holding the plate.. and aluminium against aluminium slides pretty well.

What I liked about, and still do, the Manfrotto QR was that you could flick the lever to hinder full release of the plate of you accidentally knocked the lever.. My D700 was saved a couple of times because of this. Peak Designs approach meets this secondary safety catch a little better, but Manfrotto QR system is still my favourite.