QL robustness

[Charles Twist]

Helo,
I am looking for advice from quickload (QL) users. As some of you know, I am given to travelling with with my Toyo, and I won't let myself be stopped by snow, sand and the such like. I have been using double dark-slides (DDS) and am aware of (i) the dust on the tranny and (ii) the robustness of the DDS. It will survive sand, water - salty or otherwise - and also if one slide breaks, I still have plenty DDS slides to go at (if the QL jams, that's curtains). I can't ignore QL in spite of the cost and the weight/bulk of film (not to be sniffed at when travelling by plane).
So how do you reckon QL fares? What happens when sand gets into its mechanisms? Is it possible to just brush it out quickly before moving on to the next shot, or is a sitting-down-with-it job? (Note: sand is sometimes fine enough to be swept along by wind. The last time, I was finding sand in my trouser pockets for days afterwards. This stuff gets everywhere. BTW I am amazed how robust the shutter mechanisms are: a few crunching wind-ons and then back to normal!) What about salt-water? Are there parts in there which will rust? What about freezing temperatures (-20degC with wind chill)? Will any lubricant seize?
Anyway, that kind of thing - any problems that may limit the use of QL in the field.
Thanks,
Charles

[Joanna Carter]

Hi Charles

Funny you should bring this up; Helen has recently undertaken an experiment to find out just how a QL reacts to sand... or more precisely, she dropped hers on the beach opposite Étel where there are some great wooden épaves

I have to report that you do indeed need a handy Swiss Army Cybertool, or similar, to disassemble the back. However, there are only six screws and, provided you are careful as to which way up you open it, there is nothing too ready to jump out on springs. Total time to disassemble, blow out and re-assemble, about 10 minutes. There is very litle grease inside and I doubt if it would be affected by anything but the most extreme of temperatures.