Tripod Maintenance: A Quick Guide for Filmmakers

With the sun out in force, now is the best time to get some shots in nature. And when filming out in the wild filmmakers will of course need their trusty tripod for the job. However, as we noticed a lot of filmmaker’s struggle with proper tripod maintenance and don’t always know how to best clean it. So, we decided to make a handy mini guide on what to look out for when taking care of your basic camera tripod.

*Note* Please use this guide for simple tripods only e.g. Manfrotto. More heavier duty broadcast tripods require specialise servincing.

 Taking Things Apart

Your first step for good tripod maintenance is to take apart your tripod – each leg, foot, and tripod head. You can disengage the friction lock by turning the cap counter clockwise and then taking it off. Make sure you take every part and lay it out carefully on a paper towel.

Cleaning the Parts

Next, take a small toothbrush and clean each part individually. You can dip the toothbrush in lukewarm water and brush of the dirt of the screws and inside tubes. This part of your tripod maintenance routine should take much effort at all! Important – makes sure you keep your parts organised and put them back on the towel where you took them from, that will make your job much easier when putting it back together.

Keeping Parts Moving

Now take a silicone lubricant and spray some to the top and base of the legs and head. Get a cloth and rub it down the length of the parts. Avoid using too much lubricant, just a little will go a long way and saves you a penny. Tip – you don’t need to spray the actual screws as it will naturally absorb it when you reattach everything.

Putting your Tripod Together

After you cleaned and sprayed everything, you can put your film tripod back. Make sure you are really careful when you reassemble your legs, as every part has to go back exactly as you took it apart. This is where making sure you kept your tripod parts organised. Now all you have to do is checking if everything still works and voila there you have it, a clean and well-oiled tripod for your outdoor shoots.

If you do have tripod servicing needs that go beyond cleaning or don’t really have the time to give it a good make over, you can always bring it into Top-teks and we will make sure to have it up and running back in no time!