Premium Members Tom Wills Posted January 7, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 About a week ago, I started work on a student film, and was suddenly faced with losing one of the big creature comforts I’ve gotten used to on previous jobs. No longer were there 2 grips with double nets standing behind me for every take! Hell, they didn’t even have any 4x4 doubles on this job. So, I decided one night after wrap to get a little DIY on this problem, and this is what I came up with. I decided that I needed something small enough to tuck into my stand’s bag, big enough to block the entire sled, and light enough to be carried by any spare PA I can give 30 seconds of instructions to. Also, it needed to be pretty much bombproof, due to the aforementioned PA. It also had to be cheap, because I didn’t feel like blowing more than the $150 it’d cost to buy a brand new 4x4 double. The end design ended up being 6 pieces of 1/8”x1” aluminum extrusion, 2 cut to 4 feet, 2 cut to 19”. On top of it are 2 slightly offset pieces of fiberglass window screening (just held down with gaff tape for the moment). When assembled as shown in the pictures below, this gives you a 48”x36” screen when opened. I would have preferred 48”x48”, but since the window screening only comes in 36” widths, that’s the width I went with. A handful of bolts, lock nuts, and nylon washers, and you’re all set. The frame is inspired by a crappy little gel frame from Lowel, but it folds up beautifully, and I’ve yet to have to show someone how to open or close it, which is my standard for intuitiveness. It blocks the wind very well, and saved my ass a few times on this shoot, and hopefully will on a few more. It’s small enough to have on every job, and if it means I’ll earn some favor with a key grip by not stealing his nets, I’m happy. I probably will build a second for more effective blocking in the future, however. All told, I’m in for $60 in parts from Home Depot (could have been much cheaper if I had time to order from McMaster-Carr), and about an hour in drilling and cutting and sanding parts. Not bad for an evening’s project! Feel free to build your own, and if you want more detailed specs on it, I’ll do what I can to provide them. Hope this inspires somebody else to put their DIY talents to use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Tom Wills Posted January 7, 2013 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 And here is a picture of it in use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Poynton Posted January 8, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 (edited) Great timing Tom! Thanks! Also there is a design from Louis Puli for aluminium tubing in a "wind killer" thread at: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=12019 Edited January 8, 2013 by Chris Poynton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Louis Puli SOC Posted January 8, 2013 Moderators Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hi Chris I hope you are well .Here are a few more stills of my wind deflector. http://www.steadicam...showtopic=12019 If anyone wants more details please just let me know . Louis Puli . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Nick Tsamandanis Posted January 12, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Your wind deflectors are excellent Louis and have saved my ass many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Hruboska Posted January 12, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Big fan of the Windkiller, always have it in the truck. It has made a few impossible situations do-able, . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Louis Puli SOC Posted January 23, 2013 Moderators Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hi everyone Here is a wind deflector that Larry McConkey used on "Django Unchained" 10min 36sec .Looks great light weight and folds up .There is also a still of it on page 44 AC magazine Jan 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv0ecgerGAc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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