3BO: Boom Pole Maintenance - Sound Speeds

Boom pole cleaning and maintenance is something that there's little info about on the websites of the manufacturers themselves. This is not because they want you to destroy your poles so you have to buy replacements but because most sound professionals have tricks they use for cleaning and maintaining their own boom poles. In this video, I'll go over my tips.
Note: Many of the great techniques I've learned were first taught to me from the amazing boom operator Doug Cameron. Much love to you bro!
If you have tricks that you use for maintaining your own boompoles, please write them in the comments below!
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[@robertleib3646]

Gotta' show your boompole the love it deserves!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Those are only 7 of my 18. LOL.

[@joelhernandez3465]

Great video! Concerning Vdb poles are you suggesting to apply the CamLube to each section of the pole or only the metal part of each section where the knuckles would connect? The bottom section of Vdb poles are glossy while the rest are more of a matte in order to reduce reflections.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm not 100% sure about VDB. Every time I've emailed them about their booms using email addresses on their website, they never reply. When I've called them international, they haven't answered.

[@robertharker]

Pledge is actually a Silicon based polish. Mostly water with 5-10% Silicon oil. Naphtha is used as a cleaning solvent.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Makes sense. It works well.

[@fiercesound2138]

Thanks for this. I bought all these products and cleaned my poles today. All worked great. But the Velcro from Ambient makes the pole extremely hard to use. I tried greasing the Velcro to help but it did not. I’ve left it off for now. Any tips for it?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yeah, replace one piece of velcro on each segment at a time. It'll flatten over time. Do maintenance at the end of a show whenever possible.

[@emanuelesetticasi8090]

I changed the velcro's on my ambient pole. But it is difficult now to extand it. The velcro's seems to thick. Maybye it will extend smoother after few uses?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yeah, in time. I may have to do a video about the velcro.

[@VoyVod242]

Is the double velcro a stock "safety feature" on Ambients? I've been in the habit of not extending segments out fully because of the stress thing, but occasionally I need the extra reach. I'm gonna buy my first Ambient soon, so this video came at a great time! I've had an Ambient QX5100 break, but it was really old and unmaintained, being a rental that had gone through many hired hands on a fast-paced, long running daily show. It had a 416 in that old, wooden handled Sennheiser zeppelin with a fur on, so there definitely was a bunch of weight on the pole. The boom pole had felt weird all day, like there was a lump on one of the segments, and I'm pretty sure that that's where it broke. Thankfully, it was one of the final shots that day. The mic was OK and no-one got hurt, and I'm still working.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Ilari Sivil The Velcro inside is standard. The Velvro outside the pole is my add.

[@jonathanayalacolon9107]

Where can I buy the special velcro at 14:40 for an Ambient QS? I need a replacement!

[@SoundSpeeds]

In the US, I'd contact Redding Audio. www.reddingaudio.com

[@thelinthicums3295]

(Ambient is HQed in Munich, just down the road from here.)

[@SoundSpeeds]

The Linthicums If I were that close to Ambient, I'd go to visit them constantly. I love those guys!

[@elandrue]

Hello! Would that grease work in a Rode Boom Pole? I noticed it does not have any lubrication inside the locks and would love to have a more smooth and tight twists plus to protect the aluminum. Also, can I get that silicone grease in Home Depot? Thanks!

[@SoundSpeeds]

I don't know if it would work in a Rode. Try Tweeting or emailing them and asking. Home Depot should carry the grease though.

[@chemicalcupcake431]

My ambient pole has recently had one of the locking connectors fully slide off of the pole, I can push it back on but have to be careful when extending otherwise it pops off again - any advice on fixing or tips to prevent that from happening in the future?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Write Ambient and tell them that. There's an epoxy they can send you (or probably will have Redding do it if you're in the US) that you can use to put it back on the pole. That shouldn't technically happen but I've heard of it happening but very rarely. When you get the epoxy, send me an email at [e-mail] and I'll tell you how I've done similar repairs to my Ambient poles.

[@RobertLinthicum]

Very interesting! Who would have thought there is such science and tech in boom pole construction and maintenance? Sorry your wife dumped your stash!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Robert Linthicum LOL. Easily replaceable my friend. BTW, check out this video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZeZn3eKnLyUnLc

[@RobertLinthicum]

Sound Speeds That is an excellent marketing video. I am conflicted about German design and engineering, but if I ever grow in skills to the point I would benefit from a pro-level boom pole, I will make the trip to Munich to check it out.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Robert Linthicum I love them. Definitely check them out!

[@imark7777777]

I'm not sure that "gun" smell is going to age well A.K.A 2021 on set. But I'm sure it smells good.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It does and the smell is fine on set

[@nathanksimpson]

Sadly the app is not available in my region’s App Store.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sorry. Try a VPN?

[@thelinthicums3295]

FIRST. For this honor I would like to thank Mom and Dad, my coach, and of course the LJC. (Just kidding about the LJC. We are happy atheists . . . )

[@SoundSpeeds]

The Linthicums ??? I don't understand