Punaguy opened this issue on Sep 29, 2007 · 7 posts
Punaguy posted Sat, 29 September 2007 at 10:15 PM
Aloha!
A few years ago I purchased a wide angle lens 17-35 that I just had to have. Like all my lens, I put a UV filter on it in the store to protect the actual lens from scratches. Because this is somewhat a specialty lens it doesn't get the work out my other preferred lens get. Most of the time it stays in the bag and comes along for the ride.
About a year after owning it, I realised when I tried to get the UV filter off that it was pretty much welded on there. No amount of pressure could release the filter, and believe me I grunted and and tried to man handle the dang thing off on more than one occasion. It's been 3 yrs. since I've owned it and it's been a thorn in my side trying to get it off. Just before I was going to order a couple of filter wrenches online I thought I would approach this problem scientifically.
Bear with me now as this is not the most ingenious way to get a severely stuck filter off, but it worked beautifully for me and came off immediately after. And it cost me nothing but time to do.
First off I filled a small shallow dish with hot water. I wouldn't recommend boiling water, just hot enough out of the tap worked for me. Any container will work here as long as it will support the lens, and can hold a shallow bit of water.
Next I put the lens with the stuck filter into a zip lock bag. You can see ti coming can't ya? I sealed the bag tightly and and laid the lens in the bag face down into the shallow hot water with the filter facing down. The water just has to cover the lens filter, not the whole lens.
After one minute or so I removed the lens from the bag and let it sit for a minute or so. I then took and old rubber mouse pad and laid it down on a flat surface. A small rubber jar lid remover pad will work also. Gripping the lens firmly around the base of the lens I proceeded to turn the lens letting the mouse pad grip the the filter end. With just a slight bit of pressure I was able to free the filter with minimal effort the first try. The heat from the water made the lens filter expand releasing it's grip on the filter.
A very happy dance ensued! This is probably a last ditch effort to get one of these welded on filters to come off and I'm sure there are many other ways to do this.....This one worked for me!!
Jus' thought I 'd share this happy moment....
Aloha~