SK-1 Arm Repair and SD to HD Lower Sled Conversion

[Douglas Wood]

Where in CA can I get an SK-1 arm spring repaired/

 

Sorry if this is answered elsewhere. I just signed up.

 

When I assembled our 12+ year old SK-1, a bolt inside the Arm was broken. The cable tension is gone

 

Also, is there an HD upgrade to the SD Lower Sled on the old SK-1?

 

Thank you,

 

dwood@calottery.com

[Janice Arthur]

Douglas

 

Start w Tiffen then find robert Luna and derrick whitehouse. Sorry numbers are not handy but someone has them

 

The HD conversion is just not worth it is my advise

 

That was a limited capability rig that you'd spend more on converting than its worth

 

Buy a down converter and power it off the p-tap or off the sled and use the SD monitor which isn't terrible in bright light

 

If u did insist on HD monitor u can just run a video cable out the front of the rig and that's fine

 

Now u only have to power whatever monitor u put on it

 

You'll find you'll outgrow this rig and its limited design ideas so use it for a while and then sell it and upgrade to a used flyer (again SD) because HD on that rig is also not always the amount u want to pay for

 

Good luck

 

Janicr

[Sam Law]

the SK1 was the closest thing to a big rig I could get my hands on when i was first learning steadicam, so I've delt with all its little quirks, more times than I care to remember. keep in mind, most steadicams have adjustments for the camera, as well as for the monitor, and battery rack. moving the three weights around is what allows you to balance the sled. the sk1 only has adjustments for the camera stage. This limits your camera balancing capabilities, a lot, but because the monitor and battery are in similar places, and are similar weights, it is still possible to balance most cameras. if you "upgrade" to an HD monitor, you will need a monitor bracket that adjusts forward and back, as well as allows you to tilt the monitor that you choose. it will also need to be a heavy enough monitor configuration to offset the weight of the battery. I don't know for sure the sizes on the sk1 center post but film-stuff sells a monitor mount, I believe xcs does as well. I'm not positive if film stuff is still in business.

http://www.film-stuff.com/telescoping-monitor-arm.html

[Rob Vuona SOC]

Robert Luna 310-621-4763 can fix the spring in your arm

 

As for updating the rig you can totally make it HD, I converted one a long time ago, but you also have to add power to the bottom of the sled

 

You can add a 1/4x20 thread to the existing monitor bracket and just simply screw on a new HD monitor, run the HD lines down the post and your good to go

 

Terry West 310-621-5063 can do it for you.

 

Good Luck

 

But for the record, you will grow out of it quick, the arm is wicked limiting, as is the adjustments. Your better off selling it and upgrading to a newer used model.