soundtrane Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 Got a short VDB pole - completely jammed - each one of the locks. Any ideas on who to release and fix? I tried using a pipe wrench (the one with a long rubber whip) but no go. -vin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 The threads on these are so fine, so once jammed, it's hard to release them. You can try to insert some very thin oil into the knuckles and let it sit for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Trew Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 Vin, is this one of the eccentric 1/4-turn type VdB poles (no longer made)? If so, they can usually be loosed and operate normally again, but there are a few tricks. The eccentric type locking collars will lock in either directions, and you need to know which way they have locked in order to know which direction to turn them to unlock them. The have an index mark to help determine this. Once it has been determined which direction to unlock them you probably need to heat the collar (like from a heat shrink gun) to enlarge and loosen the collar enough to turn it. Then use soft jaw pliers to grip the collar and loosen it. Glen Trew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundtrane Posted August 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 Glen, Hope you are well... I dont see any index mark, so this must be a regular one. I'll try using my heat gun... -vin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Ah...... Thats better! that pole has been sitting in the corner for 5 years waiting to be loosened! An Older Sound guy told me not to get rid of it and that he knew how to free it up, but I lost contact with him. Heat gun and a patient plier manner was all that was needed. Index marks where there but hard to spot. Only had to guess on one section. Thanks guys, Jerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Reilly Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Is VDB out of business? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sndspd Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 They are still in business. I got a large internal coiled cable a couple months ago but had to order it through Gotham Sound which they had to get it from Europe; wherever the VDB manufacturing plant is. Gabe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nika paniashvili Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Vin, where you operating in extreme cold? Had it happen twise in very cold environment and warming it up helped. As well I have been adviced not to lock them very hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Clements, CAS Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 I'm glad you got it unstuck. I had my 1/4-turn type VDB lock up years ago, and had all the burly grips and electrics fight over who could unlock it first. If I recall, they all failed and I ended up getting it unstuck some how... On a related note... does anyone know if you can still get the 1/4-turn changed out for the standard locks? Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resonate Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 A bit of oil usually does the trick for me. Just have to wipe it good afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanieldH Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I 've borrowed a VDB to my friend for an cold winter outdoor shoot. when it came back, and warmed up to room temperature, it was locked. Putting it back outside in the winters cold for half an hour did the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldmixer Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I have a non-locking collar vdb. I barely ever even touch the lockers. I just slide the sections and they stay in place just enough. I can't imagine dealing with lockers anymore. Do the newer Manufactured vdb poles do this? Are there any downsides to never using the lockers over the long term? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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