Hand Balancing Equipment

[Mark Wessels]

Howdy Y'all,

I was hoping to make a portable rig for doing hand balancing. Anyone have any experience with this type of thing? I was thinking a suitcase with a big board on one of the big sides with two poles sticking out of it. Perhaps plumbing fixtures exist so that I could screw the poles (pipes?) in and out. Also, any one know any measurements that would be useful? Ideally the whole unit would be self-contained and even have room for other stuff. Anyone seen or built one?

Thanks,

Mark

[Frisbee]

Hand Balance

You could try to build one on your own. IF you want a commercially produced one check out Juggle Art:

http://www.juggleart.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=140_88

that should be the link directly to where you want to go.
otherwise check out juggleart.com and click thru to find the balance equipment.

-Frisbee

[Stretch]

." Perhaps plumbing fixtures exist so that I could screw the poles (pipes?) in and out."

They are called pipe flanges. My guess, and only a guess, is that you will want 3/4 inch diameter or better, unless you use solid stock. Good luck.

[worldwidese]

PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ

Pipes and flanges are not very elegant. Something chromed would look much better.
To make your own, consider buying chromed steel tubing in 2 dimensions, which are much lighter and look more professional. The narrow diameter pieces fit into the larger pieces, so you could inset cutoff larger diameter into the board and slide the narrow ones into them.

[Mark Wessels]

Wouldn't I have the same problem with attaching the wider diameter chromed steel tubing to the board? Also, should I make the poles about as wide apart as my shoulders and the blocks about as big as my palms?

mfw

[Stretch]

good grief! or props n stuff

Sometimes you plan on making it twice, but the first effort is the best. sometimes not.

Just do it! the easiest way is to go to the plumber supply, or hardware store, or even a big box, and buy four flanges, some 3/4 inch pipe, some big fat screws, or better yet bolts, and some lumber. try it out and see what you like best.

after you figure out how tall, how wide, etc. THEN you can worry about if it is shinny enough, or needs to be covered in chrome vinyl , or colored duct tape, gaffers tape, or spray painted or wire brushed., or taken to the car bumper shop to be chromed. At this stage how pretty the pipe is, is the least of your problems. Build the !@#$ thing, and start practicing on it!

[worldwidese]

Right Again!

Good advice, Stretch. He can always make another better one once he's got the routine down pat.

[Circusnews]

I see that you are in the Boston area. If you can wait, on Aug 13 2005 their will be a regional youth circus festival in Sudbury. One of the tracks in that festival will be equipment design and building (8 hours of help constructing props!), and one of the specific workshops being ofered is called "Open prop construction Help". That workshop brings togeather several tradesmen to try and address prop construction issues just as this one.

[pedro1216]

I built some

Hey all. I built some handbalancing canes not so long ago. I used a very thick strong wood for my base, however the 'canes into hole' idea i had did not work, so i have to screw the pole into the socket plate, just as the hand block to the cane itself. I used 3/4 pipe from Homedepot, and i got the wood from my dad. I will post pics if you want. Now i need a Handbalancing teacher in my area....

pedro1216@yahoo.com

[Moira]

Barry.ca Handbalancing Canes

If anyone's still interested, these canes look very portable:

http://www.barry.ca/circus-equipment/acrobatic-equipment/balance-handles.htm

They quoted me 952.20 CAD for the most basic model, though.

Cheers,
Moira

[blueberry_fox]

Ooo i would really love to see some photos of some platforms that youg uys have mad i have been puzzleing away at how to make some my self.

I saw a youth circu once which had a loverly set constructed cleverly entiarly out of wood. Unfortunatly i didn't get to have a close look

[Moira]

Acro Blocks

What you saw might have been the training blocks that they use in acrobatic gymnastics. You can see some examples here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0dsdF7kgg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFxUsMBbOoA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_ESGams76M

They don't seem to be widely commercially available. I bought some from a local acro team program, where one of the team mothers makes them.

[blueberry_fox]

Yeah this set did look kind of like that but both of the hand platforms were attached to the one structure and it looked alot more stable than those. I think it was just a nice design that one of the coaches came up with. I'll see if i can find a photos.

[SimplyCircus]

I know this is an old thread, but for other looking for this information, the Simply Circus Hand Balancing page has step-by-step instructions for making hand balancing trainers.

[thayr]

I quickly read through the Simply Circus guide to building canes, for the most part it seems like a great rough idea. The sizing and configuration you use can differ depending on your needs...

I use bolts, not screws. On one set of canes I put in multiple sets of holes so the bottom plate could be adjusted depending on the width desired.

I can't be totally sure without measuring my set of canes but I think I used 1/2" rod not 3/4". I've been on canes that were thicker and they have no play at all, for me personally I like to have a little bit of movement. In my experience I've always seen hand balancers with canes that give a little and sway. Though maybe my numbers are confused and I have 3/4" and 1" is too solid for me...

I've attached a photo of a set I made for a friend.

And here's a video with an example of the movement of the canes I was talking about, it's around 3:50 into the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXqC969-5g