Stilts

[Steven Ragatz]

Gang,

Here is a pic of my new and improved leg stilt design. Bask in their glory and beauty! All aluminum, no welds, break down for transport, plus the pole swaps out for different lengths. Once size fits me.

stilts image

Just in case any others out there are working on building heavy-duty stilts (and because I just wanted to show off my new shiney toy!)

Steven Ragatz

[Stretch]

How improved?

Steven! Thanks for posting! How are they improved fom the old design?

[Steven Ragatz]

The boots are smaller and lighter as are the plates that hold the pole in place a much smaller and lighter. The supports for the leg brace go up the sides instead of the back. (Initially, I thought it would be better for costuming if the support went up the back to balance the bump created by the foot, but in retrospect, I think that it only made it worse.)

Lighter and smaller.

Steven Ragatz

[Stretch]

boots

so are you still using ice skating boots? If you are using a more flexable boot, then you might experience some chaffing with your calf strap design. I find that a rotating strap is comfortable. The strap is fastened to the two side poles with a single pivoting joint. That way as your
ankle and calf pivots the strap rotates instead of binding. Comfortable on parades and long gigs.
cheers!

[Steven Ragatz]

That is an interesting suggestion, Stretch. I don't think that the way I have it set up at the moment would allow that, but perhaps with some modifications it would be able to slide. Maybe I could make a pad on the strap slide even if the strap itself doesn't move. Thanks for the tip!

Yes, I use inline skate boots.

Steven Ragatz

[Cybele]

FYI, it's 'shiny'.

Beauty, Steven...what does the stilt 'foot' look like?

What dimenstions are the aluminum poles? Are they hollow? Can they be used as weapons? Will they create a 'strip search' situation at the airport?

[Stephon]

Re: FYI, it's 'shiny'.

Originally posted by Cybele
Will they create a 'strip search' situation at the airport?

See, now here's a woman with goals.

[Steven Ragatz]

Poles and feet

The poles that I have on them are three footers, but I've got an order in for six foot ones... They swap out easily.

The feet are just BMX bike tire strap-clamped to the base. The poles have pvc plugs on the bottoms so that the aluminum doesn't cut through the tire rubber.

The feet are not very graceful. I have not found a good solution for that just yet. In the circus, we had custom molded feet, but since my budget doesn't allow for such luxuries, I have to make do with off-the-shelf materials.

You would definitely want to check these bad boys at the airport. I am quite sure that they would set off the metal detector.

Steve

[Eveish]

oooh ooh! I would love some pretty aluminium stilts! Mine are stilll the old heavy wooden ones! I shouldn't complain, they still work, and mine also have interchangeable legs of differing heights but it would be so nice to have some lighter shiny ones!