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frozen filter thread


rob_w

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Hi, I was using my polarising filter recently and afterwards I found that the mounting ring had 'frozen' to the UV/IR filter on the front of my lens. No amount of force will separate the two, and I am scared that any further mechanical effort will just damage one or both components.

 

Does anyone have experience with something like the photographic equivalent of WD-40 that will lubricate the threads so that the ring can be unscrewed from the filter?

 

Many thanks

 

Robert

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Usually, this can be resolved by using some device to rotate the filters which doesn't deform the filter while operating. A camera repairer will probably have a couple of filter grabbers that will do the job Lens Filter Wrench Review

 

The other approach is to jam the filter or the mounting ring against some non-slip plastic surface and rotate the other part. The plastic sheet prevents the other part from rotating, but doesn't pinch it in any way and may allow you to separate the two.

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I have a flat rubber ring that about 2 inches round by one inch thick it is made to remove filters I am trying to find the web site for it now. All you do is push the hard natural rubber against the filter and turn works better than a filter wrench I ever had. If anyone here knows what I have please post the web site incase I can't find it.

 

Found it there neer the bottom of the page THEY REALLY WORK... Hint buy a large one thats bigger than you largest filter..They again work and are made from natural rubber. If two filters are stuck and come off the lens buy 2 rubber tools to seperate the two filters.

 

http://www.micro-tools.com/Merchant2/e_lens.htm

 

 

Jan

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Here is a different approach.

 

It works like a mini belt wrench.

Use a pencil and a shoestring. The pencil gives you leverage and the shoestring

tightens or loosens depending on the direction you set it up.

 

(the spiderman pencil is the secret power tool for this method)

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Love it. Thanks for the suggestion, I will certainly be trying it along with the shoe, the WD40 and a few choice English expressions this weekend!

 

PS your photo exactly matches my dilemma, even down to the silver filter ring which detached itself from the lens rather than leave go of the step-up ring for the polarizer! :cool:

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Well, I tried most of these suggestions. And the winner is ...

 

You guessed it, the shoe heel. WD40 and improvised slings failed to produce the desired result. So I cleaned the heel of a Rockport shoe. Firm rubber with just the right amount of give. Pressed down evenly on the offending filter, rotated carefully, and ... voila! ... movement.

 

Now I have cleaned the escaped WD40 off the filter and all is fine.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

 

Next question: are there any preventative measures to stop it happening again? But I might make that a new thread.

 

Cheers

 

Robert

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From a different but neighbouring thread:

 

"1. A very thin film of Vaseline. Not more than a pinhead's worth, spread along the thread -- and spreading on the thread of the lens, too.

2. Soft pencil lead.

3. One of those soft rubber, saucer-like things that help old and feeble people to open screw can tops.

 

None of the above points exclude each other."

 

The old man from the Age of Slip-On Filters

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I might recommend prevention. When I screw on a filter, I never tighten it beyond a fraction of an inch-ounce of torque. There's very little risk of it's unscrewing-off completely and falling to the floor: after all, the filter would have to go through several revolutions to unscrew completely. I do however, briefly and lightly unscrew and re-screw a filter from time to time to be sure it is securely on.

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