Stuck step down ring on A1, help! at DVinfo.net

Toenis Liivamaegi · February 2nd, 2007, 09:54 AM

I`ve never seen a tool to unscrew stuck filters or stepping rings so please enlighten me how on earth can stuck stepping rings and filters be unscrewed?

Somehow I managed to screw a step down ring to my A1 so that it`s stuck now. I have had that problem all the time in my photography career too so I never use any filters other than stackable Cokin`s.
This time I made a stupid mistake to screw on a cold 72 to 58mm stepping ring to my camcorder and I cant throw away the lens on this camera.

Thanks in advance,
T

Bill Pryor · February 2nd, 2007, 10:06 AM

What I've done in the past is go to a grocery store or one of those places that sells kitchen stuff and get a stuck lid opener. That's a flat thin rubber disc about 6 inches in diameter. It allows you to grip jar lids without slipping. When you try to get a stuck filter ring off, it's easy to squeeze it or the lens, and that just makes it worse. What you have to do is lay this rubber disc on the surface and press down with your palm and twist. If you place your hand flat onto a table surface and twist--that's what you want to do. The jar opener will provide traction, and by not squeezing on the side you should be able to get the stuck ring off. If it's not stuck too badly, you may be able to do it with just the palm of your hand. If these get stuck a lot for you, you may be either cross-threading them accidentally, or using rings whose threads are too coarse or too fine for the thread pitch of the lens. Hope that makes sense.

Billy Griffin · February 2nd, 2007, 09:10 PM

Get into a very warm, almost "hot" environment and let the camera warm up. The threads should "expand" enough for you to get the filter loose. Avoid humidity though, but maybe get close to a fireplace, stove, etc. Use obvious caution and good luck!

Try to avoid putting on "screw on" filters when it's cold.

Estebe Verde · February 2nd, 2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toenis Liivamaegi

I`ve never seen a tool to unscrew stuck filters or stepping rings so please enlighten me how on earth can stuck stepping rings and filters be unscrewed?

Somehow I managed to screw a step down ring to my A1 so that it`s stuck now. I have had that problem all the time in my photography career too so I never use any filters other than stackable Cokin`s.
This time I made a stupid mistake to screw on a cold 72 to 58mm stepping ring to my camcorder and I cant throw away the lens on this camera.

Thanks in advance,
T

Recreate the conditions that existed when you put the filter on. Do not use a great deal of force as this will F! your camera up beyond repair and that's not covered under warranty.

If you cannot finesse the filter off you will need to take it to a repair shop.

Best of Luck!

Toenis Liivamaegi · February 4th, 2007, 05:52 AM

So I went off to local Home Depot equivalent and picked up a rubber jar opener. Applied the technique that Bill suggested and off it came. It worked for all my other stuck UV filters and stepping rings too.

Thanks,
T

Rich Hibner · November 17th, 2007, 10:53 AM

just to let you know. instead of having to buy one of those, just use the bottom of your mouse pad. it has rubber on the bottom. it works for me.

Bill Pryor · November 17th, 2007, 11:28 AM

Good idea on the mousepad!

February 2nd, 2007, 09:54 AM	#1
Toenis Liivamaegi Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tartu, Estonia Posts: 579	Stuck step down ring on A1, help! I`ve never seen a tool to unscrew stuck filters or stepping rings so please enlighten me how on earth can stuck stepping rings and filters be unscrewed? Somehow I managed to screw a step down ring to my A1 so that it`s stuck now. I have had that problem all the time in my photography career too so I never use any filters other than stackable Cokin`s. This time I made a stupid mistake to screw on a cold 72 to 58mm stepping ring to my camcorder and I cant throw away the lens on this camera. Thanks in advance, T

February 2nd, 2007, 10:06 AM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	What I've done in the past is go to a grocery store or one of those places that sells kitchen stuff and get a stuck lid opener. That's a flat thin rubber disc about 6 inches in diameter. It allows you to grip jar lids without slipping. When you try to get a stuck filter ring off, it's easy to squeeze it or the lens, and that just makes it worse. What you have to do is lay this rubber disc on the surface and press down with your palm and twist. If you place your hand flat onto a table surface and twist--that's what you want to do. The jar opener will provide traction, and by not squeezing on the side you should be able to get the stuck ring off. If it's not stuck too badly, you may be able to do it with just the palm of your hand. If these get stuck a lot for you, you may be either cross-threading them accidentally, or using rings whose threads are too coarse or too fine for the thread pitch of the lens. Hope that makes sense.

February 2nd, 2007, 09:10 PM	#3
Billy Griffin Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Enumclaw, WA Posts: 58	Get into a very warm, almost "hot" environment and let the camera warm up. The threads should "expand" enough for you to get the filter loose. Avoid humidity though, but maybe get close to a fireplace, stove, etc. Use obvious caution and good luck! Try to avoid putting on "screw on" filters when it's cold.

February 4th, 2007, 05:52 AM	#5
Toenis Liivamaegi Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tartu, Estonia Posts: 579	So I went off to local Home Depot equivalent and picked up a rubber jar opener. Applied the technique that Bill suggested and off it came. It worked for all my other stuck UV filters and stepping rings too. Thanks, T

November 17th, 2007, 10:53 AM	#6
Rich Hibner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 218 Images: 1	just to let you know. instead of having to buy one of those, just use the bottom of your mouse pad. it has rubber on the bottom. it works for me.

November 17th, 2007, 11:28 AM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Good idea on the mousepad!