Nikon Camera Lens Tools for disassembly and assembly question

[Lonnie1212]

Hi Folks,

I have been watching people disassemble old Nikon lenses on YouTube. I want to give it a try. But I need a smaller screwdriver set. I have a jewelers screwdriver set. But there is a screw in a 50mm Nikkor lens that is smaller than I have ever seen. Can anyone recommend a screwdriver set that would have that small of a driver? I thought I had seen about everything in the size of screws. But this one is very micro size.

Thank you,

Lonnie

 

[Warfarin]

Bump. I would like an answer to this as well. With all the old repair guys retiring I thought I would give it a go.

 

[RAZKY]

My number one source:

Watchmaking Screwdrivers | Jewelry Making Screwdrivers | Esslinger.com

Shop here for all your jewelry workbench tools and supplies including jewelers screwdrivers and screwdriver kits.

www.esslinger.com

 

[Soocom1]

Keep in mind that most of those screws are metric and a standard Philips is not wise.

You need a JIS set for those screws. (Japan International Standard). They are different and a regular Philips can tear the hell out of them.
Also learn about the various assembly means.

 

[Lonnie1212]

Thank you for the responses. I will keep these things in mind.

 

[480sparky]

JIS is the way to go.

 

[P.giannakis]

Depending on what is your plan, you might need more than screwdrivers - you might need friction tools and lens pliers. Very often Nikon applied a screw locking cement on screws so you might require a soldering iron to warm the screws up before trying to unscrew them (or apply a solvent on the screw).

I would say, try disassembling a cheap lens before giving a Nikkor a try. It is not as easy as it might seem on youtube videos.

 

[Lonnie1212]

Depending on what is your plan, you might need more than screwdrivers - you might need friction tools and lens pliers. Very often Nikon applied a screw locking cement on screws so you might require a soldering iron to warm the screws up before trying to unscrew them (or apply a solvent on the screw).

I would say, try disassembling a cheap lens before giving a Nikkor a try. It is not as easy as it might seem on youtube videos.

Good advice! I may intentionally buy some junk lenses just to practice with. I have seen those friction tools and lens pliers around. Knowing how to repair lenses would be a good racket to get into. But I have other things going on in life now.

 

[ac12]

The "problem" comes when you separate the lens elements groups.
When you assemble it, HOW do you know you have the elements in the EXACTLY correct position?
To me, that is impossible, without an optical bench.
So, be careful how far down you disassemble the lens.

Tips
When you unscrew a lens helical, MARK where it separates.
So that when you assemble the lens, you have a reference point to align to.
Been there, done that. On an old manual focus lenses, I assembled it, but the assembly was 180 degrees off

Get a visor magnifier, if your eyes are anywhere as bad as mine.

Put a white towel on your bench, so that a dropped part won't bounce, and so you can find parts that you drop.
And work in a room with a SOLID floor, not carpet. If a small part drop onto carpet, good luck finding it.

I use an egg carton to put the parts of what I am disassembling. Each position is used to put a different set of parts. That makes it easier to find the parts I need, when I reassemble it.
And glue the egg carton to a piece of wood, so it is harder to flip over. Been there, done that too.

Take LOTS of pictures and notes as you disassemble the lens.
It is the old joke about having parts left over after you assemble the item.
The longer the time between disassembly and reassembly, the more you will forget the details.

 

[cgw]

I rate DIY lens repair equal to DIY root canal work. No intention to try either. Happy to leave both to the pros.

 

[compur]

The Vessel JIS screwdriver set is a popular choice for working on Japanese cameras and lenses. Get the precision set that has 4 cross-point sizes:

TD-56S

Don't use "Phillips" screwdrivers on Japanese products.

 

[dxqcanada]

JIS and flat ... Vessel is good for both

Link below to
Learn Camera Repair

and FB page where we discuss stuff including tools and those videos

 

[dxqcanada]

If you have watched Nikon videos I am going to guess it was Richard Haw ... he is in the FB group.

 

[Lonnie1212]

The "problem" comes when you separate the lens elements groups.
When you assemble it, HOW do you know you have the elements in the EXACTLY correct position?
To me, that is impossible, without an optical bench.
So, be careful how far down you disassemble the lens.

Tips
When you unscrew a lens helical, MARK where it separates.
So that when you assemble the lens, you have a reference point to align to.
Been there, done that. On an old manual focus lenses, I assembled it, but the assembly was 180 degrees off

Get a visor magnifier, if your eyes are anywhere as bad as mine.

Put a white towel on your bench, so that a dropped part won't bounce, and so you can find parts that you drop.
And work in a room with a SOLID floor, not carpet. If a small part drop onto carpet, good luck finding it.

I use an egg carton to put the parts of what I am disassembling. Each position is used to put a different set of parts. That makes it easier to find the parts I need, when I reassemble it.
And glue the egg carton to a piece of wood, so it is harder to flip over. Been there, done that too.

Take LOTS of pictures and notes as you disassemble the lens.
It is the old joke about having parts left over after you assemble the item.
The longer the time between disassembly and reassembly, the more you will forget the details.

Sounds like good advice. Thank you

 

[Lonnie1212]

The "problem" comes when you separate the lens elements groups.
When you assemble it, HOW do you know you have the elements in the EXACTLY correct position?
To me, that is impossible, without an optical bench.
So, be careful how far down you disassemble the lens.

Tips
When you unscrew a lens helical, MARK where it separates.
So that when you assemble the lens, you have a reference point to align to.
Been there, done that. On an old manual focus lenses, I assembled it, but the assembly was 180 degrees off

Get a visor magnifier, if your eyes are anywhere as bad as mine.

Put a white towel on your bench, so that a dropped part won't bounce, and so you can find parts that you drop.
And work in a room with a SOLID floor, not carpet. If a small part drop onto carpet, good luck finding it.

I use an egg carton to put the parts of what I am disassembling. Each position is used to put a different set of parts. That makes it easier to find the parts I need, when I reassemble it.
And glue the egg carton to a piece of wood, so it is harder to flip over. Been there, done that too.

Take LOTS of pictures and notes as you disassemble the lens.
It is the old joke about having parts left over after you assemble the item.
The longer the time between disassembly and reassembly, the more you will forget the details.

Sounds like good advice from someone with a lot of experience.