How To: Make a camcorder stabilizer

If shaky home videos are making your audience seasick, it's time to steady your hand. Watch this video to learn how to make a camcorder stabilizer.

Step 1. Begin building bottom

Attach two 45-degree elbow connectors to either end of a 6-inch PVC pipe. This will be the bottom of your camcorder stabilizer.

Step 2. Attach T-connector

Add a piece of 2½-inch PVC pipe to each connector's open end and then attach a T-connector to both.

Step 3. Connect PVC to cross

Separately, affix the two 3-inch pieces of PVC to opposite ends of the four-way cross connector. Attach an elbow to the open end of each 3-inch piece. This assembly will serve as your camera's base.

Step 4. Link Ts to elbows

Attach the two assemblies you've built so far by attaching the elbows to two 1½-inch PVC pieces, and those pieces to the inward-facing holes in the T-connectors.

Step 5. Add remaining PVC pipe pieces

Add the remaining two 2½-inch PVC pipe pieces to the open holes on each T-connector, and attach elbow connectors to the pipes.

Step 6. Connect side pipes

Attach a pair of 6-inch PVC pipes to the open ends of the elbow connectors. Attach elbow connectors to their open ends.

Step 7. Build top

Now build the top of the stabilizer. Attach a pair of elbow connectors to either end of a 6-inch PVC pipe. Then, attach the two remaining unused 6-inch pieces to the other ends of the elbow connectors.

Step 8. Attach top piece

Step 9. Seal with cement

Step 10. Drill hole in end cap

Step 11. Thread bolt in cap

Step 12. Connect PVC to cap

Step 13. Attach wing nut and washer

Step 14. Screw in camcorder

Step 15. Attach camera mount to rig

FACT: The first movie to use a handheld stabilized camera rig – or Steadicam – was the 1976 David Carradine film Bound for Glory.