HELP!

[Meeskephoto]

I have a new sigma 18-35mm lens with a new hoya nxt polarizing filter stuck on it like no other. Seriously this is the second time it's been stuck and this time it won't come off even after hours of different twisting and leverage techniques. I may have over tightened it but I didn't think I did. The problem is that it is the circular polarizing filter so the front will turn but the little tiny surface area to twist it off is hard to get a grip on. If there are any special tactics on how to remove these freaking things please tell me! I don't want to damage the the equipment it's expensive but I would like to get out shooting again soon. Thanks for any help! I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had this problem.

 

[KmH]

Have you tried a jar opening aid, or a rubber band stretched around the small part of the housing that is connected to the threads?

 

[vipgraphx]

Bang the sh$T out of it…hahaha

Try using a blow dryer to heat it up a bit it might help out.

 

[weepete]

Last time this happened to me I very carefully used a pair of mole grips to get it off, but you need to be making sure the grips are only on the filter

 

[Smokeyr67]

Bang the sh$T out of it…hahaha

Try using a blow dryer to heat it up a bit it might help out.

The opposite of this would be to use an icepack to cool the filter ring, hopefully shrinking it just enough to get it moving.

 

[Gavjenks]

Yeah cold makes more sense. Although I like the jar opener idea first. If you do try cold:
1) Bring it somewhere cold like outside (Nevada? Cold at night right now yes?), remove rear lens cap, and zoom the lens int and out a bunch right when you get there, to fill it with cold air.
2) Put the rear cap on and stick it in a ziploc bag
3) Return to your kitchen and stick it in the fridge or the freezer IF you watch it carefully and take it out in 15-20 minutes.
4) do not take out of the bag yet. Go back outside into the cold, then take it out of the bag, and be careful not to zoom it. Quickly try to unscrew the filter. Have your jar opener or whatever with you.
5) Whether successful or not, stick it back in the bag
6) Bring it inside and let it warm up before removing from the bag!

(Convoluted process is to prevent condensation inside your lens)


Do you own a bench vise? Comes in perfectly square on either side, should jsut grip the filter only, tighten veeeeeeerrrrrrryyyy slowly once it contacts, constantly twisting to see if it's enough yet.

A small amount of (bar) soap might help (like oil but comes off much easier and less damagingly if you screw up)

 

[Smokeyr67]

It's best if you can cool the filter and warm the lens, maybe a couple of minutes with a hairdryer on the lens front then ice the filter, you only need to shrink the filter by a hair, or expand the lens thread by the same amount.

If your very subtle efforts fail, take to a pro, it's not worth damaging the lens ( it's a fantastic lens, I love mine)

 

[Pav10566]

I have experienced exactly the same thing once and the idea with the Rubber band took care of the problem easily, worked like a charm

 

[Smokeyr67]

I have experienced exactly the same thing once and the idea with the Rubber band took care of the problem easily, worked like a charm

The simplest solutions are often the best, just as I was thinking of breaking out the blowtorch and liquid nitrogen

 

[Tom47]

Try a small strap wrench just put the rubber strap on the filter only. Over the years I have tried different things rubber bands, non slip shelf cover a 6 inch strip, I carry a large and small filter wrench in my camera case at all times and have used them to remove stuck filters over the years. Polarizing filters seem to require a filter wrench more often.

 

[table1349]

Adorama Filter Wrench for 67mm-77mm Filters,Pack of 2 7206

This is why high quality filters use brass housing instead of aluminum. Aluminum and steel tend to grab onto one another.

 

[Meeskephoto]

thanks guys, I'm cooling the filter as we speak and soon I shall attempt to take it off with some rubber gloves on. (For extra friction). If that doesn't work I will probably attempt a bench vise (gently) or take it to a pro. Thanks for the advice!

 

[bratkinson]

Rather than cooling the filter, you should be warming it.

Back in the railroad steam engine days, there were metal 'tires' on the steam engine driving wheels about 3/4 inch thick...just like the metal rims on wooden horse-and-buggy wheels of the day. Although the driving wheels were extremely heavy, the tires wore out, wore crookedly, or got flat spots from skidding, so they had to be replaced. What the railroad shop crew did was put the driving wheel with tire on it on top of a bed of hot coals, heating up the whole thing. The tire expanded faster than the wheel, so it could be easily lifted off with an extra large pair of tongs...or handy crane, if available. Putting on the new tire, they started with a cool wheel and a hot rim. Dropped it on and it shrunk down to the tire size.

 

[Dao]

I will suggest rubber band trick first and warming it if that alone does not work.

 

[mmaria]

rubber band!

that easy it was for me...of course, I lost my temper after a while trying to take the damn thing of! then when I gave up trying myself I googled about it and it worked in a second!