Let me preface that I subscribe to the idea that equipment should be used (pristine gear in on the shelf does not take pictures), and that for a possible good shot I may shoot in less than ideal circumstances ..... such as a marine mud flat in New Britain, Paupa New Guinea (water, salt, sand, grit, humidity).
The tripods are not quite as happy as they have been. I have a Gitzo 1228 and a 1325, both of which can easily be dis-assembled for cleaning. I did a quick and dirty field clean, with toilet paper and re-lube with high-viscosity silicone grease used to lube o-rings for underwater photography housings, but now it is time for a thorough job. Which brings up the following questions:
- Solvents: Soap water only or can some stronger solvents (benzene, chloroform) also be used?
- To remove the little clay particles, can CF legs be sonicated? The metal fittings and the plastic splice rings for sure, but I'm not that certain about CF.
- What is some good lubrication? Silicone seems to work quite well. I once asked Gitzo, who suggested some automotive grease that I could not get a hold of/figure out what it was. There may be something different between a French "appellation" and term used in the US.
Thanks in advance for the wisdom.
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