Best way to clean sand out of tripod leg threads?

[gail bisson]

Hi everyone,
I cannot seem to get all the sand out of the threads on the legs. I have tried vacuuming, special cloths with no static , high pressure water spray, degreasing and regreasing but nothing works. I could go crazy when I tighten or loosen my tripod legs and hear/feel the grains of sand scratching. Any ideas,
Gail

[John Chardine]

Hi Gail- I'm a motorcycle mechanic so trust me on this, OK?!

Strip the legs apart. This is easy with a Gitzo. Not sure what you have. Obtain some Varsol or Kerosene and a used tooth brush. Dip the brush in the solvent and brush along the direction of the threads where the sand is stick. Continue until everything is clean. Wipe dry with a soft cloth. Remember that the sand can be stuck in the female or male part of the thread so you have to clean both parts. Let me know how you get on.

[gail bisson]

John,
Thank you so much. I do have a Gitzo and you are correct when you say it is easy to take the legs apart. i will try the Varsol.
I use the white lithium lubricant grease for the threads. Should I be using this after I clean with the Varsol?
Are the shorebirds still around in NB.?I have noticed a dramatic decrease in the last 72 hours here in CB,
Gail

[John Chardine]

Lithium grease is an excellent product Gail, especially in wet situations. Did you notice a little tube of dark brown grease that came with the Gitzo? This is what they would like you to use but it is pretty messy stuff. Use grease very sparingly in the threads because it will make anything stick up in there.

I haven't been out to photograph sandpipers lately. They should be still around our area.

[Tom Redd]

Thanks for this question Gail and thanks John for an answer.

[John Chardine]

You are welcome. BTW you can get low-odour Varsol, which is a bit more pleasant to use. Regardless, clean in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside, and dispose used solvent in hazardous waste. WD40 also works great as a solvent and will not harm the carbon fibre either.

[Tom Redd]

Thanks again!

[gail bisson]

Hi John,
Just thought I would let you know that I used the Varsol and it definitely helped by 90%! I will likely clean once again to get the last grain out before the winter season,
Gail

[Jay Gould]

My tripod goes into the shower with me after every outing!

[John Chardine]

My tripod goes into the shower with me after every outing!

Good for salt-water removal but water alone will not cut through the grease in the threads and wash the sand away. Maybe grease should not be used on the threads at all? After al, it's not as if the locking threads on the tripod legs are under huge amounts of pressure. I am sure they would last a lifetime with no grease.