Steadicam M1 Volt

[Deke Keener]

Hi Tom -

this was a pretty down & dirty job, I intend to clean it up a bit. Since the plastic inlay sits on an aluminum fork I think there is no loss of strength. About to start a 6 month job, so I’ll see how it holds up. 

 

 

[Jerry Holway]

To Deke and all who try this.

One reason the dock supplied with the M1V is designed the way it is - is to avoid the potential of the balancing pin getting in the way of docking. It's quite possible, when the pin is slightly pulled out, that the motors and electronics can hit the balancing stud and break.

So be careful!

[Geoff Owen]

Hey Jerry,

any news on the rain cover for the volt?

 

[Deke Keener]

On 2/26/2019 at 2:57 PM, Jerry Holway said:

To Deke and all who try this.

One reason the dock supplied with the M1V is designed the way it is - is to avoid the potential of the balancing pin getting in the way of docking. It's quite possible, when the pin is slightly pulled out, that the motors and electronics can hit the balancing stud and break.

So be careful!

Jerry - 

Thanks very much for that info. Another thing I learned quickly and unfortunately is that the pulley on the side of the gimbal is pretty easily susceptible to damage when hanging the sled up. In my first day of using the Volt (on my Pro sled) I broke said pulley - apparently it needs to be docked with the handle directly opposite the stand. Once it’s supported, the handle can be turned around, but docking with the handle off to the side is trouble. 

 

Cheers,

- Deke

 

[Deke Keener]

17 hours ago, Geoff Owen said:

Hey Jerry,

any news on the rain cover for the volt?

 

Hi Geoff - 

I got this response from Tyson in the Tiffen shop earlier this week when I asked the same question:

Hi Deke,

 

We still don’t have a rain cover from our manufacturer. The best option is to put a bag over the volt and tape or bongo tie spots to keep from any leaks getting in.

 

I’m hoping we’ll have a rain cover somewhat soon. 

 

Tyson Galland

 

 

[Geoff Owen]

Quote

We still don’t have a rain cover from our manufacturer. The best option is to put a bag over the volt and tape or bongo tie spots to keep from any leaks getting in.

Thanks Deke,

Not a particularly good solution is it, but I can understand why it's taking Tiffen so long to come up with a suitable cover. Perhaps they should make them rain proof to start with.

[Thomas Gottschalk]

On 2/26/2019 at 5:28 AM, Deke Keener said:

Hi Tom -

this was a pretty down & dirty job, I intend to clean it up a bit. Since the plastic inlay sits on an aluminum fork I think there is no loss of strength. About to start a 6 month job, so I’ll see how it holds up. 

 

 

 

Hi Deke,

this is what a skilled machinist did for my docking bracket now.

Works very nice and truly no loss of strength.

Just the little screw holding the plastic inlay through the bottom is a bit wiggly...

 

 

[Brad Smith]

Jerry, what’s the chance that Tiffen will make the soft plastic part of the docking bracket available so we can adapt our Moses poles?

[David Berryman]

clean's camera support now has forks for the m1 volt.  you can attach it to a moses pole or our dock adapter which connects to any baby pin.  more details here:

https://cleanscamerasupport.com/product/moses-products/

 

[Kevin Kisling]

@Thomas Gottschalk and @Deke Keener I've been considering doing the same mod, adding the padded fork to my hill dock and having it cut out for the balancing pin. Now that it's been a couple of years, is this still your setup? How has it held up? Have you run into any issues?

Thanks!

[Thomas Gottschalk]

Kevin,

thanks for your interest in the Volt to Hill mod.

In fact I am still using the same modified bracket with the cut out.

I can say that this was a simple but very lasting hack. 

Go for it.

 

All the best

Tom

 

 

[Kevin Kisling]

Hi Thomas! Thanks, I think I will!

[David Marroquin]

This might be a silly question, but anyone know if the Volt will be offered for a Zephyr system?  I saw a video from June of 2023 showing one, but there was no update or other information that I can find.  I believe the Zephyr is now discontinued (I bought mine in 2022) and recently saw a new system called the Axis (20 lb load capacity vs the 23 lb load of the Zephyr) come out.  

)

[Kevin Kisling]

Hey @David Marroquin I believe you are correct and that the Zephyr is/has been discontinued and the Axis is replacing it. I'm not sure if the volt for the Axis will be available on its own, but it's worth reaching out to Tiffen to ask! 

[Kevin Kisling]

@Thomas Gottschalk I did the cut out mod and it has been amazing. I highly recommend it!