Looking for a spanner wrench, or someone with one.

[Don Simon]

OK this is an odd one; I'm looking for a specialised camera tool that can be used for unscrewing the retaining ring around a TLR lens. Something that looks like this...

I've found them online but at a prohibitively expensive price; same goes for Ebay. In the various camera and tool stores I tried no-one even had a clue that such a tool existed. Unfortunately I don't have the skills to make such a tool myself (a simple flat bit of metal won't do it, as that would scratch the lens). So basically what I'm wondering is if anyone has such a tool (or one that would do the same job) that they would be willing to sell and if necessary ship to the UK. If not, does anyone in the UK have one that they wouldn't mind lending me? Thanks in advance for any offers or advice.

 

[Paul Ron]

Use a scisor.

 

[Don Simon]

Thanks, but I'd rather not scratch my lens to pieces if I can help it

I've tried several pairs of scissors, small screwdrivers, a couple of borrowed medical tools - nothing I've improvised will get a proper grip on the notches in the ring without scratching the lens at the same time. The ring's screwed on too tight to simply remove with friction (apart from which the lens element sticks out too far).

 

[Mitica100]

OK, you can make some at home like:

1 - a thin and long nosed plier tool with the tips filed down until they match the opening (dip the tips often in used engine oil so they stay tempered)

2 - make a tool from two identical pieces of steel held together by a 'butterfly' style screw (see photos below):

3 - buy a spackling tool (the hard type) and file down in the middle leaving two tips at a distance which will allow you to fit it into the lens' slots (dip in oil as above)

4 - machine something like this:

My opinion, buy the real thing if you plan to open lenses. The one you pictured I believe comes from Micro-Tools and it's one of the best.

Let me know if you want to know more about this subject.