Does carbon fiber get brittle over time or otherwise deteriorate? I bought a monopod used about 20 years ago. Should I be concerned about carrying a 600mm TC + gimbal over my shoulder?
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I wouldn't worry about it.Does carbon fiber get brittle over time or otherwise deteriorate? I bought a monopod used about 20 years ago. Should I be concerned about carrying a 600mm TC + gimbal over my shoulder?
protected from UV, or is the resin not susceptible?The basic answer is that the carbon fiber itself has basically an infinite lifespan but the specific resin, curing process and layup can influence lifespan of the completed part. A general working estimate of 50 years is commonly cited and in engineering applications we take this as a conservative number in the sense that these parts typically last a lot longer.
Mine has been in a dark closet for 99% of the time!The resin can weaken over time from UV in sunlight…but that’s typically a years of exposure time frame and a monopod doesn’t have years of exposure…even a 20+ year old one likely has only weeks to a few months of actual exposure. Breaking down resin is obvious so if it looks ok then it most likely is ok.
UH OH !!!!! You just reminded me.....my RRS tripod legs sat in a lake for about an hour in British Columbia this past June!!!! I'm thinking you recommend I take it apart and clean it? LOL! (Really scary seeing my tripod set up on the edge of the bank of the lake - with my 600mm TC on top! The tour leaders set it up for me.)Maintenance is key which is not much. Mine goes in the water many times to get the low shot/eye level of the bird. When Im done it gets taken apart washed, dried and put back together. Ive seen where some people abused them don't even rinse them of after a morning shoot at the beach and then complain that there tripod is falling apart. I've had my (3) carbon fiber tripods & (1) monopod for years and never had any issues. I do recommend that a quick inspection before a trip is important and I would also look for discoloration/delamination. JMO
Fresh water immersion isn't a big deal but after placing my tripod legs in salt water or highly alkaline water (e.g. Mono Lake) I'll take apart the joints and clean the legs with fresh water.UH OH !!!!! You just reminded me.....my RRS tripod legs sat in a lake for about an hour in British Columbia this past June!!!! I'm thinking you recommend I take it apart and clean it? LOL! (Really scary seeing my tripod set up on the edge of the bank of the lake - with my 600mm TC on top! The tour leaders set it up for me.)
Thank you for the reassuring comment! Standing in water with the tripod and lens wouldn't spook me so much. But I was sitting in the water about waist deep. When it was time to leave, I let them grab the tripod+lens and take it safely up the bank. I didn't want to risk grabbing the set up while I was trying to stand up in the lake!Fresh water immersion isn't a big deal but after placing my tripod legs in salt water or highly alkaline water (e.g. Mono Lake) I'll take apart the joints and clean the legs with fresh water.
Not to worry the lake had to have been fresh water.UH OH !!!!! You just reminded me.....my RRS tripod legs sat in a lake for about an hour in British Columbia this past June!!!! I'm thinking you recommend I take it apart and clean it? LOL! (Really scary seeing my tripod set up on the edge of the bank of the lake - with my 600mm TC on top! The tour leaders set it up for me.)
2 of the 3 leg sections were submerged since I was sitting in water about waist deep. We got back late that night and then I flew home the next day, so I had no chance to take it apart and clean it before flying home. Once home I did take off the neoprene leg covers and let them dry out thoroughly! DUH!Not to worry the lake had to have been fresh water.
Were any metal parts involved, if so I would wipe them down and apply silicone grease to moving parts or screw threads.
Good Point. The monopod is made by Gitzo.....but unfortunately their support record is not good at all. Considering how seldom I use the monopod, I wouldn't replace it if it were to develop a problem.I would have no concern with the legs, but an older tripod may be harder to get parts for. I have one that I love, but the sleeves that clamp on the legs were worn out They are no longer available from the manufacturer, but a friend with a 3-D printer was able to make me the parts I needed.
If you can find the part number I found a parts place in England and was able to order what I needed.Good Point. The monopod is made by Gitzo.....but unfortunately their support record is not good at all. Considering how seldom I use the monopod, I wouldn't replace it if it were to develop a problem.
Again, I seldom use a monopod......so if I were to ever run into problems with my current one, I would not replace it.If you can find the part number I found a parts place in England and was able to order what I needed.
WHat happens is typically they have an internal sleeve presumably made of Teflon that helps keep the legs moving in and out smoothly. When I took my tripod apaert I found some of those sleeves were worn or broken. I was able to find a complete set for my tripod and was able to replace all of them.
Apart from that the only thing you really need to do is take the legs apart, clean them paying special attention to the threads in the metal clamp mechanism and put them back together. Apply some silicone grease to the threads it helps the mechanism go smoothly.
Pay attention to how the leg assembles there is a rubber gasket in there it has to be put back the same way.
I paid around $100 for all the parts for my three section three leg tripod. That included all the teflon guides, replacement rubber gaskets for the clamps and new O rings. The only thing i reallly needed to replace was the teflon slides.
Once I had everything in place and ready to go the whole process took about an hour,
You can also splurge and get a brand new Really Right Stuff monopod. I think they cost around $400 as I recall.
So you’re good then…not to worry about its lifetime.Mine has been in a dark closet for 99% of the time!![]()
I suppose there's a carbon fiber failure mode akin to the Oceangate Titan disaster. My understanding is that the repeated stresses on the hull in multiple dives broke individual carbon fibers in the matrix without the whole thing failing, which was't really detectable. Until enough of them were broken. Once the threshold was crossed, at the next heavy stress the failure was catastrophic. Like fatigue failure in metal, though the physical process is quite different.
Don't go using your monopod as a pry bar, I suppose![]()