Marking a Bipod?

[sigcurious]

It occurred to me yesterday, that it would be wise to mark off increments on my bipod legs. Has anyone done this? I was thinking either a metallic colored sharpie or a grease pencil, but figured I'd see if anyone else has done this with good results and what they used.

 

[wogpotter]

I've done it on camera tripods & so on.

Any "dye", "Ink", or "paint will wear quickly unless you have a recess for it to "hide" in.

What I've found effective is the "paint crayons" from camera repair suppliers or Brownells. Brownells has it, but the camera repair places have a wider selection of colors if that's important. They look like a chinagraph pencil & are used about the same way but the "crayon" is a specialty paint that hardens. You need to make a non structure altering groove, or dimple & filll it with the crayola like paint & then let it cure for real durability.

 

[sigcurious]

That was my primary concern, was having to remark it every few uses. How did you go about making a groove or dimple without breaking it? Would a few pulls of file be enough?

 

[wogpotter]

I used a pipe cutter (very carefully) to make a shallow annular groove. It has the advantage of not raising a ridge alongside the groove as long as you keep the cut depth shallow enough. It does tend to ruin the pipe cutter BTW, buy a a cheap one & think of it as disposable.

 

[sigcurious]

You know...I've always been impressed at how quickly a pipe cutter goes through a pipe. I'll have to see if I'm that brave, aka ready to accidentally break my bipod 'cause im a klutz

 

[2ndsojourn]

I used nail polish on my camera tripod, so I guess it'll work on a bipod too.

 

[wogpotter]

Light & shallow is the trick here. I set it up to just contact the metal then add about 1/8 turn for 1 full revolution, thats it, no more.

 

[L_Killkenny]

Why mark a bipod? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Toolman]

I've used a standard lead pencil to mark mine. Works for me!

 

[sigcurious]

L_Killkenny, so the legs can be more easily adjusted to equal lengths.

Toolman, how well does the pencil hold up?

 

[Lucas McCain]

What kind of bi-pod do you have?
I have the Harris BR models that the legs pop out when the buttom is pushed and it has annular grooves to lock into if the ground is uneven. They are very quick and easy to set up
The bipods that have to be pulled out don't have the grooves and are a PIA as far as I'm concered
B-square bi pods also pop out and they have a leg lock ferrule the you tighten up. They are also quick to set up.