Cleaning Black Diamond trekking poles...

[war cry]

Hey y'all,

I've had a pair of Black Diamond poles for the last few years that have seen some heavy use. They have become kind of chalky and difficult to adjust with the flicklock mechanism. Does anybody have any tips/ideas for what the best way to clean them would be?!

I'm a little hesitant to use some kind of lubrication, as it may make them collapse when I don't want them to...

Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks,
JP

[Don H]

That chalk is the aluminum oxidizing.
I used a gun cleaning kit with a wire brush to scrub the inside of the pole and wiped off the outside.
I wouldn't use any kind of lube.

[jakedatc]

yea.. take it apart and wipe everything down. lube is just asking for trouble

[Franco]

"They have become kind of chalky "
As mentioned above , if you see a sort of white powder, that is oxide, essentially your poles are rusting.
After you have taken them apart and brushed the rust off the best you can, immerse the pole sections in soapy water , slide the section inside each other to remove rust from the inside whilst wet with soapy water.
Rinse and let dry.
Ideally poles should be dismantled, wiped down and left to dry dismantled after every walk

[war cry]

Thanks for all your comments!