suggestions please! how to keep bottom of tripod legs clean at the beach: Anyone got any ideas about the best way to keep the bottom of your tripod legs clean at the beach, or...

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

Anyone got any ideas about the best way to keep the bottom of your tripod legs clean at the beach, or anywhere there's mud, dirt or sand? I've heard all kinds of ideas like wrapping them with Saran wrap, cutting a hole in an old tennis ball and sticking the tripod leg through there, etc. Any better ideas? Oh, by the way I read that you never want to get a carbon fiber tripod wet or the fibers can swell up and make it useless....don't know if that's true or not...

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Have you considered using a monopod? I'd worry about the stability of a tripod and the possibility of falling over with my camera on it. Good luck.

Budnjax wrote:

Anyone got any ideas about the best way to keep the bottom of your tripod legs clean at the beach, or anywhere there's mud, dirt or sand? I've heard all kinds of ideas like wrapping them with Saran wrap, cutting a hole in an old tennis ball and sticking the tripod leg through there, etc. Any better ideas? Oh, by the way I read that you never want to get a carbon fiber tripod wet or the fibers can swell up and make it useless....don't know if that's true or not...

Photofortytwo Loc: England. Now living outside DC

They make cars out of carbon fiber. I think it can handel the weather.
Cleaning the legs with fresh water is all you need to do. But if you want added protection, tape some plastic bags, dare I suggest condoms, over the legs.
Not sure on what planet a mono pod is more stable than a tri pod. But for sure a monopod is useless for long exposure shots.

boydimages Loc: California

Saran Wrap may be difficult to remove. Do you carry the roll in your camera bag? Tennis ball, where do you keep them in your bag? Small ziplock bags, not sandwich but quart freezer with a rubber band to hold them on. Easy to keep them in your bag.

Budnjax wrote:

Anyone got any ideas about the best way to keep the bottom of your tripod legs clean at the beach, or anywhere there's mud, dirt or sand? I've heard all kinds of ideas like wrapping them with Saran wrap, cutting a hole in an old tennis ball and sticking the tripod leg through there, etc. Any better ideas? Oh, by the way I read that you never want to get a carbon fiber tripod wet or the fibers can swell up and make it useless....don't know if that's true or not...

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

did you try wrapping them in plastic bag?

crissx09 Loc: FL-USA

Budnjax wrote:

Anyone got any ideas about the best way to keep the bottom of your tripod legs clean at the beach, or anywhere there's mud, dirt or sand? I've heard all kinds of ideas like wrapping them with Saran wrap, cutting a hole in an old tennis ball and sticking the tripod leg through there, etc. Any better ideas? Oh, by the way I read that you never want to get a carbon fiber tripod wet or the fibers can swell up and make it useless....don't know if that's true or not...

I could forget about wrapping the tripod legs; it is not practical and will not protect the tripod anyway. Give the tripod a good wash with fresh water after used and you will be just fine. Some WD40 will help while in storage.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Budnjax wrote:

Anyone got any ideas about the best way to keep the bottom of your tripod legs clean at the beach, or anywhere there's mud, dirt or sand? I've heard all kinds of ideas like wrapping them with Saran wrap, cutting a hole in an old tennis ball and sticking the tripod leg through there, etc. Any better ideas? Oh, by the way I read that you never want to get a carbon fiber tripod wet or the fibers can swell up and make it useless....don't know if that's true or not...

The only effect water has on carbon fiber is to make it wet. Same thing it does to most things it touches. As far as keeping the legs clean, the system that works for me is to just clean them when I am done shooting. Works every time.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Budnjax wrote:

Anyone got any ideas about the best way to keep the bottom of your tripod legs clean at the beach, or anywhere there's mud, dirt or sand? I've heard all kinds of ideas like wrapping them with Saran wrap, cutting a hole in an old tennis ball and sticking the tripod leg through there, etc. Any better ideas? Oh, by the way I read that you never want to get a carbon fiber tripod wet or the fibers can swell up and make it useless....don't know if that's true or not...

Flatten out the sand and place a 4X8 sheet of plywood on the sand and then put the tripod on the plywood. There are at least 2 problems with this. The rake and the plywood are kind of hard to put in your camera bag. (obviously a joke)

rodaz

I attach empty wide mouth plastic water bottles over the legs with duct tape. Alcohol removes the sticky when you're finished. I've been able to take some interesting surf photos with the self timer.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

could always find 3 pygmies to hold it up.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

Condums.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

dirtpusher wrote:

could always find 3 pygmies to hold it up.

Won't work. The pygmy union would boycott the bigotry and the pygmyphobic nature of the abuse.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

boberic wrote:

Won't work. The pygmy union would boycott the bigotry and the pygmyphobic nature of the abuse.

Oh :shock: :idea:

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

boberic wrote:

Flatten out the sand and place a 4X8 sheet of plywood on the sand and then put the tripod on the plywood. There are at least 2 problems with this. The rake and the plywood are kind of hard to put in your camera bag. (obviously a joke)

:thumbup: :thumbup:

anotherview Loc: California

Ditto.

The tripod functions as a tool requiring care and maintenance. It will get filthy. Follow the practical guidance here.

crissx09 wrote:

I could forget about wrapping the tripod legs; it is not practical and will not protect the tripod anyway. Give the tripod a good wash with fresh water after used and you will be just fine. Some WD40 will help while in storage.