Any tips for extracting filter glass?

[eudemian]

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I thought I would try to take the glass out of my Leica 39 ir uv filter and reverse it ready for my new Milich filter holder.

 

Well I fiddled trying to get the retaining clip out but nothing budges, there is obviously a technique I need to master so any tips anyone?

 

Cheers

 

Tom

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[sean_reid]

Very small flathead screwdriver and some patience. Once you get the knack, the rings come out in seconds.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[gravastar]

I used a small sharp pointed needle file to remove the retaining spring ring. The ring has two flat ends. I pushed the sharp end of the file into one of the ends whilst pulling the file upwards towards the center and away from the filter. That pulls the end of the spring out from it's retaining slot. It's then a matter of using tweezers or a small pair of needle nosed pliers to pull the remainder of the spring out.

 

You do have to apply a fair amount of pressure on the file to get the end of the spring out and have to be careful not to slip and scratch the filter.

 

I guess you mean the 49mm filter and not the 39mm one for the Milich holder (for the WATE) ?

 

Bob.

[eudemian]

Its that first step Sean, I am sure once it is out I could improve easily on my technique,

I will give that a go Bob, I had this in mind but just wanted to be sure. I will try it tomorrow.

 

Thanks for the quick and useful replies, I would really flounder without this forum and its supportive ethos.

 

Tom

[ho_co]

Tom--

You are preparing a 49mm, not 39mm filter for John's adapter, aren't you?

 

--HC

[Artichoke]

I can understand that this may be required, but somehow I have my doubts

I should be getting the hood shortly & would just as soon not fiddle with my 39 BW 486 ir/cut filter unless really needed

[gravastar]

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I can understand that this may be required, but somehow I have my doubts

I should be getting the hood shortly & would just as soon not fiddle with my 39 BW 486 ir/cut filter unless really needed

I'm not sure which hood you're referring to if it takes a 39mm filter, the Milich adapter for the standard WATE hood supplied with the lens takes the glass from a 49mm filter. I think the Leica filter holder for the WATE takes a 67mm filter.

 

The B+W 486 filters have a thin screw-in retaining ring whereas the Leica UV-IR filters have a spring ring that fits into a slot. You need a different technique to uncrew the B+W ring. I removed my B+W rings by building up several layers of soft PVA adhesive on the ring until the dry adhesive was higher than the filter mount. After the adhesive had dried (ie. changed from opaque white to colorless) I pressed the adhesive side of the filter onto a glass mirror and twisted to unscrew the ring. You have to make sure you only apply the adhesive to the ring. Excess adhesive can be removed with water or after it has dried with methylated spirit. After you have removed the ring you can pull the adhesive off. The type of PVA adhesive to use the one that remains soft and tacky after it has dried.

 

Other people have used a rubber stopper pressed against the ring to unscrew it, but you have to ensure the stopper is large enough to only contact the ring and not scratch the filter.

 

Bob.

[ho_co]

And there's the package at Lens Ring Tool Set - Part #: LRSET, those these don't work with Leica's spring-clip design.

 

--HC

[eudemian]

I am waiting for the new filter hood for the CV 15, I think that this requires a 39mm filter, at least I hope it does, sorry for the confusion.

 

Tom

[sean_reid]

Just to clarify...The current Milich holders for the CV 12 and CV 15 (as I discussed in my review of them) allow the filter (as is) to be screwed into the adapters. The only current Milich filter holder/adapter that requires glass removal is the one for the WATE (49 mm).

 

With the 49 mm Leica filter, I find that I can pry one end of the ring up with a tiny flathead screwdriver and then catch it under my finger nail and lift it out.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[eudemian]

I am getting confused Sean.

 

I read your article on the Milich filter for the CV 15 and you mention that the Leica filter can be reversed to take account of the backwards orientation that John's filters need to work.

 

Have I misunderstood? I have a Leica 39 Mm uv/ir filter which I will put in the Milich filter holder, if I reverse the glass in the filter the uv coating will no longer be in a vulnerable position.

 

It is very likely that I have this wrong, I think my grey matter is vapourising daily.

 

Tom

[jlm]

from the source:

for the WATE adapter: remove and use the glass only from the Leica 49mm filter.

 

for the 15mm adapter: use the Leica 39mm filter intact in it's ring and screw it into the adapter.

 

for the 12mm adapter: use the Leica 55mm filter intact in it's ring and screw it into the adapter.

 

Optional: for both the 12 and 15, if you want to reverse the glass in it's holder so the same surface faces to the front, you have to pop out the retining spring, reverse the glass and re-assemble. then screw the filter assembly into the adapter.

 

jm@milich.com