VDB Boom pole JAMMED, FIX?

[soundgun]

Hey gang:
I my VDB pole was returned to my cart last night with a serious
problem. The smallest section appears to be close to full extension
and jammed into position. It's an older pole I purchased used from
one of our fellow RAMPS members.
I've applied as much force as I can before what might destroy the pole.

I'd LOVE to keep this pole, as it has a really cool quick release
design integrated into it that is no longer available.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
George Whittam
eldorec.com

[tonymuricy]

George:

The same thing happened to my VdB large boom pole in the beggining of
this year.
All rings locked so much that I couldn´t open it anymore!
Nor me nor anybody else who tried! Absolutely amazing! Locked as if a
cement or superglue had been dropped inside the rings!
I´ve had to buy a new K-Tek pole (sorry, no more VdBs!), although I
like more the VdB than the K-Tek.
I do hope you find a solution so I can fix my pole too...

Best wishes

Tony Muricy
Rio de Janeiro

[e***@mac.com]

Post by soundgun
I my VDB pole was returned to my cart last night with a serious
problem. The smallest section appears to be close to full extension
and jammed into position. It's an older pole I purchased used from
one of our fellow RAMPS members.
I've applied as much force as I can before what might destroy the pole.
I'd LOVE to keep this pole, as it has a really cool quick release
design integrated into it that is no longer available.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
George Whittam
eldorec.com

A cameraman I work for had this happen to his Vdb, he used a hair dryer
on a medium setting ran it up and down the area that was jammed for a
few minutes. It worked.

[Gtrew]

I can probably be fixed without damage.

First, determine which way the lock needs to move to losen it. It
should move so that the white dot on the collar goes the shortest
distance to the white dot on the pole.

Then, take a heat gun (paint stripper or heat tubing shrinker) and heat
up the stuck knuckle. The collar will expand a little bit and allow it
to turn, but it will probably take pliers to do it. Put something on
the jaw such as gaff tape or a rag to keep from scratching the collar.

Glen Trew

Post by e***@mac.com

Post by soundgun
I my VDB pole was returned to my cart last night with a serious
problem. The smallest section appears to be close to full extension
and jammed into position. It's an older pole I purchased used from
one of our fellow RAMPS members.
I've applied as much force as I can before what might destroy the pole.
I'd LOVE to keep this pole, as it has a really cool quick release
design integrated into it that is no longer available.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
George Whittam
eldorec.com

A cameraman I work for had this happen to his Vdb, he used a hair dryer
on a medium setting ran it up and down the area that was jammed for a
few minutes. It worked.

[Charles Tomaras]

Post by soundgun
I my VDB pole was returned to my cart last night with a serious
problem. The smallest section appears to be close to full extension
and jammed into position. It's an older pole I purchased used from
one of our fellow RAMPS members.
I've applied as much force as I can before what might destroy the pole.
I'd LOVE to keep this pole, as it has a really cool quick release
design integrated into it that is no longer available.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
George Whittam
eldorec.com

Go to your local hardware or auto parts store and buy a "grip wrench" just
like the one you see Billy Mays selling on TV.
http://www.savontv.com/google/grip-wrench.html
One of the problems with loosening thin rings like those on a pole or camera
adapters is that the more you squeeze it the more out of round you make the
ring causing additional pressure points. What you want to do is apply equal
pressure from ALL sides when you try to move it. The grip wrench
accomplishes this perfectly and safely as it's made from rubber and provides
equal pressure and force to the entire circumference of the ring. They are
cheap and useful for anything from stuck jars to boom poles! Just make sure
you are turning in the proper direction which you can determine from the
white dots on the VDB rings. Move the ring dot towards the closest white dot
on the pole.

Charles Tomaras
Seattle, WA

[Jeff C]

Hi,

Those locking Vdb poles made for some interesting stories in the first
few months after they were introduced. I remember the problem being a
priapasm for some of the ENG camera guys using inexperienced ops to
save $. If it is a locker as you state, CT in post #5 is rite on...
My only suggestion is to never let anyone use it who is not familiar
with it..... I mean never ever ever...

Jeff

[Charles Tomaras]

Post by Jeff C
Hi,
Those locking Vdb poles made for some interesting stories in the first
few months after they were introduced. I remember the problem being a
priapasm for some of the ENG camera guys using inexperienced ops to
save $. If it is a locker as you state, CT in post #5 is rite on...
My only suggestion is to never let anyone use it who is not familiar
with it..... I mean never ever ever...
Jeff

I will add that I LOVE these poles and if you hate them and want to sell one
or more of them that are in decent shape please let me know. I'd especially
like to find an XL and a L.

Charles Tomaras
Seattle, WA

[soundgun]

Thanks for your replies. I got the boom pole used with no explaination
about how to use it. I had no idea it has a special "locking" feature
other than the knuckles. The knuckle (ring) itself is not stuck, it
comes off easily, but the two sections are bound together as if glued
there. I wondered why the pole has rings drawn around it at regular 6"
intervals. Do they indicate special locking points? Can some one fill
me in more about the proper use and care of this special boom pole?
Thanks so much!
George

[Charles Tomaras]

Post by soundgun
Thanks for your replies. I got the boom pole used with no explaination
about how to use it. I had no idea it has a special "locking" feature
other than the knuckles. The knuckle (ring) itself is not stuck, it
comes off easily, but the two sections are bound together as if glued
there. I wondered why the pole has rings drawn around it at regular 6"
intervals. Do they indicate special locking points? Can some one fill
me in more about the proper use and care of this special boom pole?

The rings are included on the XL pole and are merely included as a reference
so you can return to a certain length if you draw the pole down in between
takes given it's 18 foot reach.

As for your problem of the pole sections being jammed...I would unscrew the
top knuckle and the bottom butt and remove the cabled. I would then put the
bottom knuckles back on and collapse as much of the pole as possible. Then I
would make sure that the white knuckle dot and the pole dot are lined up on
the knuckle below the jam. I'd cover the end of the top section with a
folded towel THEN I'd take a rubber furniture hammer or similar non damaging
instrument and give a sharp rap on the top to see if it frees up and
collapses.

When you get it freed up I'd take the whole thing apart and clean it. You
will find two strips of a gray rubber like material around the top of each
section. These are usually dirty and "glazed" looking. Take some fine sand
paper and lightly rough them up to remove the dirty glaze buildup. Make sure
it's all dry and put it back together. NEW POLE!

[tonymuricy]

Well, my pole has the rings locked like glue.
I haven´t been able to unlock then at all...
It seems that there is some kind of lubricant you have to use if you
clean these rings before you re-assemble it or the rings lock and then
it´s a gone pole...

Tony Muricy

[Charles Tomaras]

"tonymuricy" <***@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:***@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
Well, my pole has the rings locked like glue.
I havenŽt been able to unlock then at all...
It seems that there is some kind of lubricant you have to use if you
clean these rings before you re-assemble it or the rings lock and then
itŽs a gone pole...

Tony Muricy

Try the grip wrench. Use two of them at the same time....one on the knuckle
and one on the pole. It will turn...if you turn it the right way!

[manu]

You might try to

phone [phone]
or
fax [phone]

vdb in France ...

[ST. VAN DEN BERGH]

From Stéphane van den Bergh, VDB, France.

Hi George,

You are using a pole set with a quick locking. We had been obliged to
discontinue this system because, often, people could not be sure immediately
whether they had locked on the clockwise side or opposite. But many users
like it very much.

You must be able to determine on which side it is blocked. There is a tiny
mark at the base of the aluminum ring and one on the tube. In the open
position the marks must face each other. Once your have found that, you
should clamb with an appropriate clamps on the top of the ring, where it is
thiker, close to the next section, after protecting the ring with one or two
turns of paper. Another person shoud help by turning the next thinner
section in the same direction as the ring. That does it usually. If the pole
wast wet and remained some time like this, a kind of anodisation may happen
and it becomes very difficult to unlock. If there is no other solution than
destroying the part, we can still replace it.

Post by soundgun
I my VDB pole was returned to my cart last night with a serious
problem. The smallest section appears to be close to full extension
and jammed into position. It's an older pole I purchased used from
one of our fellow RAMPS members.
I've applied as much force as I can before what might destroy the pole.
I'd LOVE to keep this pole, as it has a really cool quick release
design integrated into it that is no longer available.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
George Whittam
eldorec.com