Help! My filter is stuck!

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Help! My filter is stuck!

PSBaxter
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p.1 #1 · Help! My filter is stuck!

My 77 mm Heliopan Polarizer is stuck in a B+W 77 to 67 mm adapter ring. I have tried plastic filter wrenches without success. Anyone have a suggestion on how to seperate them?

Is there anywhere I can send them to to have them seperated?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Paul Baxter

Jan 16, 2013 at 02:53 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #2 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Boil up a kettle of hot water. Pour it into a flat bottomed container. Lower the adapter ring end into the hot water for a few moments, so that it expands a bit. Take it off.

Jan 16, 2013 at 02:56 AM

PSBaxter
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p.1 #3 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Thanks! It came loose. Anyone know a way to keep them from jamming up?

Jan 16, 2013 at 03:30 AM

Paul Mo
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p.1 #4 · Help! My filter is stuck!

The lightest lubrication you can manage and never 'tighten' them - you barely twist them on until they are secure and holding, but never tightened.

By lightest lubrication I mean a microscopic film of light (sewing machine for example) oil applied with a q tip and wiped off with a lens tissue leaving the barest trace of oil. And I mean a minute amount.

Jan 16, 2013 at 04:12 AM

killersnowman
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p.1 #5 · Help! My filter is stuck!

For filters less is usually more. If you try to apply too much pressure to loosen a filter it will distort the filter thread and will lock it while the pressure is applied. This is even more apparent on slim filters where there isn't much supporting metal around the glass.

Jan 16, 2013 at 09:43 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #6 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Step rings suck! I know, 'cause I use them a lot for ND filters.

As mentioned in both previous posts, don't make them too tight. Of course, this can be counterproductive in some situations, and can it happen all on it's own, depending on what temperatures the gear sees.

For light lube, I prefer light mineral oil for most photo gear. It doesn't dissolve stuff, but I rarely use it. IMR, never used in on step rings. YMMV.

Jan 17, 2013 at 12:08 AM

vsg28
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p.1 #7 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Had the same issue and bought a set of filter wrenches off eBay real cheap. Helped me take off my stuck B+W CPL easily.

Jan 18, 2013 at 12:28 AM

matt4626
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p.1 #8 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Rub threads with wax paper...it works....

Jan 18, 2013 at 11:22 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #9 · Help! My filter is stuck!

matt4626 wrote:
Rub threads with wax paper...it works....

Great idea. I'll try it.

Jan 19, 2013 at 01:07 AM

BluesWest
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p.1 #10 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Rub threads with wax paper...it works....

Very useful tip - sounds safer than using oil.

John

Jan 19, 2013 at 05:11 PM

photo1a
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p.1 #11 · Help! My filter is stuck!

I always carry filter wrenches. They are cheap and easy to use.

Jan 19, 2013 at 05:29 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #12 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Wax, applied by paper or candle. My cooking skills are abysmal, so I use a votive candle kept for power outages.

Jan 19, 2013 at 07:34 PM

moosehead222
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p.1 #13 · Help! My filter is stuck!

vsg28 wrote:
Had the same issue and bought a set of filter wrenches off eBay real cheap. Helped me take off my stuck B+W CPL easily.

+ for that, I always carry a plastic filter wrench, for got were I got it

Jan 20, 2013 at 12:36 AM

Glenn NK
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p.1 #14 · Help! My filter is stuck!

matt4626 wrote:
Rub threads with wax paper...it works....

Clever idea - thanks.

Adapter rings suck - had one once - wouldn't be so mean as to give it to someone else.

G

Jan 21, 2013 at 12:40 AM

PSBaxter
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p.1 #15 · Help! My filter is stuck!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have decided my combo of the Heliopan High Transmission polarizer and the B+W 77-67 adpater is impossible to use. I try rotate the filter into the ring until it is just snug then during use it seizes up everytime. Even with wrenches it is almost impossible to seperate the two.

I think I am going to abandon this setup and go with a Singh-Ray sproket polarizer in a Cokin holder.

Thanks, again!

Jan 21, 2013 at 03:54 AM

jason.alabama
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p.1 #16 · Help! My filter is stuck!

I have also found that putting them flat on a rubber pad and twisting can loosen filters. The key is to distribute the pressure evenly around the ring (as opposed to two or three pressure points when you use your fingers).

EDIT: Oops - just reread and see it was a polarizing filter (which obviously spins as well). You gotta be careful not over tightening those bad boys!

Jan 23, 2013 at 12:21 AM

wayne_eddy
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p.1 #17 · Help! My filter is stuck!

PSBaxter wrote:
Thanks! It came loose. Anyone know a way to keep them from jamming up?

Yes!

Never tighten the locking filter ring. Keep checking it is a little loose.

Changes in temp may lock the filter on your camera lens.

Feb 02, 2013 at 02:50 PM

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