Cleaning tripod legs after lagoon/sand/silt

[Gavin Spooner]

I recently acquired a Gitzo 2540 tripod. I shoot often in Little Estero Lagoon and am wondering what is the best way of cleaning the legs?

I have hosed them down, but there sounds like a lot of grit in the release threads. Do I completely unscrew the leg releases and hose the threads down too?

Thanks
Gavin

[Jim Craig]

I don't have the same make Tripod so am not familiar with the disassembly procedure. But, as required I disassemble my Manfrotto legs completely and using a 1/2" stiff brush, brush out the sand and grit. I lightly spray a rag with WD-40 and wipe down the legs before re-assembly. I don't leave a WD-40 residue on the legs which would collect sand.

[W T Lloyd]

Gavin - I strongly recommend that you disassemble the legs and make sure that salt water is not left in the screw cap at the joints. There is a chemical reaction with aluminum and salt water, and it will weld the threads together....I was fortunate with one of my 'pods in that Gitzo was able to get it apart, but that is not often the case. Cleaning the threads and reapplying a small amount of white lithium grease is all that's needed. At the least, immediately after a shoot, use a rag to wipe dry the legs before collapsing them. If you submerged one or more joints, I would unscrew the collars and use a rag to wipe dry the threads and remove as much sand as possible.



here are two articles from around the web I have bookmarked over the years...

http://www.earthboundlight.com/photo...intenance.html

http://www.naturescapes.net/082004/gd0804.htm

[Rod Wiley]

Gavin you need to check these out. Rod
http://www.birdsasart.com/Drypod%20Page.htm

[Grady Weed]

W.T. and Rod, thanks for the links! I too found them interesting. I copied the URLs to my system for future reference.

[Rod Wiley]

Grady the trick is if possible don't get any salt water on the tripod at all. Not only is it very hard to clean, salt water is damageing your tripod while its in the water and you can never fully restore that damage.

[Gavin Spooner]

here are two articles from around the web I have bookmarked over the years...

http://www.earthboundlight.com/photo...intenance.html

http://www.naturescapes.net/082004/gd0804.htm

I had seen that 1st once before, and its exactly what i needed. Thanks

[Gavin Spooner]

Gavin you need to check these out. Rod
http://www.birdsasart.com/Drypod%20Page.htm

I had seen these before and they look like an investment as most of my bird shooting is in a salt water lagoon. And i mean in it.

cheers
gavin

[Gavin Spooner]

any suggestions on what "cleaning/degreasing liquid" should be used as referenced in the articles.
The tripod is Cf.

thanks
gavin

[James Shadle]

I use simple green to clean and degrease.
A thin coating of furniture polish is a nice touch.

[Gavin Spooner]

I use simple green to clean and degrease.
A thin coating of furniture polish is a nice touch.

Just the All-purpose cleaner?

I'll take this kind of advise from someone with an avatar like that! I bet you buy gallons of the stuff!

cheers
gavin