Carbon Fiber Rods - Reinforcement for Bipod Clamp Zone

This has come up multiple times, and several people have either put a sleeve on the rod or a cup over the clamp end. Have you checked if they offer a replacement clamp that distributes the pressure more?

https://surveyorconnect.com/community/surveying-geomatics/bipods-quality-business-and-the-end-user/paged/2/

As you say, it's "manageable".?ÿ I crank mine down what I consider to be very tight and have no problem. Back when these rods were first introduced it was more so. It wasn't too hard to over stress. I suspect that the rods are reinforced on the inside these days. So steps have been taken, just not ones that are externally obvious.?ÿ

Some guys will reinforce with a sleeve of aluminum or PVC tubing. I don't think it necessary. I do instruct my crews to tighten these things with their fingers and not with their fists.

Posted by: @norman-oklahoma

Some guys will reinforce with a sleeve of aluminum or PVC tubing. I don't think it necessary.

Perhaps not necessary, but it's cheap insurance in my book.?ÿ My Seco rod is almost 10 years old and still in great shape.?ÿ I sleeved it by taking a 3" (or so) piece of thinwall (18 gauge?) aluminum tubing slightly smaller in diameter than the rod, slitting it lengthwise and sliding it up onto the rod.?ÿ It's a tight fit and hasn't budged since installation.

Best and easiest fix. Gat a piece of pipe with inside diameter close to rod diameter. Cut a slit in the pipe, and spread it apart just so it slides over the rod snug. Make sure all edges are smooth. Works like a charm, never had to replace another rod. The pipe now acts like a circlular clamp when you tighten up on it. I have a picture somewheres when I find it I will post.

I 3d printed some choke rings that are like Mr Frame said above about 3" in height (actually 75mm) with just a slight gap.?ÿ FDM printing has a weakness in layer bonding compared to filament laid, so, they were printed in the same direction as the rod standing.?ÿ Yes, PVC would work, but, the printer is just sitting there.

I started buying the bipods with the anti-crush clamp and the problem went away completely.?ÿ

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I use thin-wall PVC pipe (like the kind used under bathroom sinks) with the slit...

@cameron-watson-pls

I do this also.?ÿ And I also ordered replacement heads like this one, and just swapped the old legs over to the new heads - much more economical if your legs are in good shape.?ÿ On my main carbon fiber bipod I reversed the head because I like the knob on the other side of the rod so it does not interfere with the DC clamp.

@cameron-watson-pls You can also get DC brackets with the same anti-crush clamp.