Giotto carbon tripod fixing rust

alfbranch

alfbranch

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I have a set of Giotto MTL 8360B carbon legs which I like but as it used on teh beach a lot I have a problem.

The flip locks on the legs have carbon steel fixings and they are rusting.

I have been in touch with Daymen the distributor who sent me new parts but didnt sent them all. I have emailed them again and yet again asked for advice on preventing this from happening.

I wash then dry my tripod when its been to the beach and my Slik was OK before I changed to this.

So far no advice

Old parts on left

Giotto tripod parts by alf.branch, on Flickr

What advice on cleaning do you have?
Any advice on an alternative.
 
Rinse, rinse again, repeat, dry thoroughly. WD40 but check that won't damage the CF. Buy cheap, sturdy tripod to use in salt water and consider replacing all fasteners with marine grade stainless steel (including springs), if necessary making parts that are unavailable "off the shelf".
 
Should be able to get most parts in stainless steel from a supplier such as Namrick.
 
adrianday said:
Vacuum grease.
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+1.
I've used a thin layer of grease on my old tripod, it's nearly 30 years old, and still looks and works like new. It hasn't had much use in the last 2 years since I got a new one but I sometimes use it for an off camera speedlite.
 
"Cheap" well used aluminium 190xprob from ebay for sea work. It is pointless putting in something expensive and trying to save it from inevitable damage.

So you need one of those, while I now need something new and sound for other work :lol:
 
Thanks for the replies. My PC is poorly so writing this at work.

I have asked the importer if WD40 or similiar is OK.
I have cinsidered grease.
I am seriously considering a different tripod so maybe if I can find something at the right price (cant look on ebay) I should have a beach tripod.

Obtaining the parts in stainless is possible.
 
modchild said:
+1.
I've used a thin layer of grease on my old tripod, it's nearly 30 years old, and still looks and works like new. It hasn't had much use in the last 2 years since I got a new one but I sometimes use it for an off camera speedlite.
Click to expand...

Dow Corning high vacuum grease is excellent. It's silicon based and, for all intents and purposes, inert. It's not the cheapest (£10+ for 50g) but one tube goes a long way.
 
markmullen said:
If money happens to be no object have a look at the Gitzo ocean traveller.
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Nice but £900 :eek:

adrianday said:
Dow Corning high vacuum grease is excellent. It's silicon based and, for all intents and purposes, inert. It's not the cheapest (£10+ for 50g) but one tube goes a long way.
Click to expand...

I had a tube of that I dont think I do any more.
 
Pretty sure the Gitzo Safari range of tripods also have the ocean lock legs, but quite a bit cheaper than the Ocean ones
 
daugirdas said:
"Cheap" well used aluminium 190xprob from ebay for sea work. It is pointless putting in something expensive and trying to save it from inevitable damage.

So you need one of those, while I now need something new and sound for other work :lol:
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much what i have decided on I wish I hadnt parted with my Slik Pro 500.
 
I am still in the hunt for an aluminium tripod for the beach I can maintain without worry.

The Giotto importer Daymen have sent me a full set of leg locks for my tripod and I am in the process of replacing the whole mechanism and cleaning up the tripod now. I will not take it to the beach anymore.
 
If that's the only problem I'd change to stainless steel. No matter what material the tripod is made from if it has mild steel fittings they will corrode even if they have been zinc plated or passivated. Once the coating is broken, usually by wear at a certain point corrosion will do its thing.
 
Gaz J said:
If that's the only problem I'd change to stainless steel. No matter what material the tripod is made from if it has mild steel fittings they will corrode even if they have been zinc plated or passivated. Once the coating is broken, usually by wear at a certain point corrosion will do its thing.
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I know what you mean and I did consider that but on consideration a set of new Slik 500 DX pro legs is on its way to me for £39.01 and I have a spare head so that what I will use. My last tripod was a the same legs and with a little washing inside and out which is easy they did not corrode when used over a longer period so I happy to use them.
 
What did the importers say about WD40 and CF?
 
Nod said:
What did the importers say about WD40 and CF?
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Nod I never got an answer on that actually which was disappointing really but I know some bumf says do not use grease with no explanation why. Depending on the resin used it is probably fine as CF is used for all sorts of things but there are plastic parts too. I know it may comparable to bicycle parts etc.
 
alfbranch said:
I have a set of Giotto MTL 8360B carbon legs which I like but as it used on teh beach a lot I have a problem.

The flip locks on the legs have carbon steel fixings and they are rusting.

I have been in touch with Daymen the distributor who sent me new parts but didnt sent them all. I have emailed them again and yet again asked for advice on preventing this from happening.

I wash then dry my tripod when its been to the beach and my Slik was OK before I changed to this.

So far no advice

Old parts on left

Giotto tripod parts by alf.branch, on Flickr

What advice on cleaning do you have?
Any advice on an alternative.
Click to expand...

Sorry to dig up a old thread but I've got the same problem with my Giotto. Has the rust issue returned? I've been less than impressed with it overall.
 
Get a can of ACF50, it's a sort of pink spray but prefers to be warmer so it comes out more of a spray.
I use it on the motorbike over the winter and fends off most corrosion and all the salt they throw over the roads.
 
rjbell said:
Sorry to dig up a old thread but I've got the same problem with my Giotto. Has the rust issue returned? I've been less than impressed with it overall.
Click to expand...
No it has not returned but after some research I found on Gitzo make tripods for these conditions.
So I bought a Slik pro 500 DXfor beach use (it is what I had before) and it gets hosed down regularly but as I got off ebay as new old stock for £40 I am happy to ruin it but it is bearing up nicely.
I couldnt get an answer as to what cleaner and water repellent was safe.

I us wd40 on the Slik.
 
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Thank you. I might get hold of daymen for some replacements then flog it.
 
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