[IanHoughton]

What's the best way to remove a filter from the front of my lens. I've managed to screw on my polarising filter too tight and now cannot remove it . The lens is a Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 and the filter a 72mm circular polariser.

[stupot]

filter wrench Brand New Kood filter wrench set for 62-77mm filters on eBay, also Other Filters, Filters, Film Camera Accessories, Photography (end time 30-Jun-08 19:02:14 BST)#

saved my bacon a couple of times

[Chris H]

Try putting on a rubber glove first, they grip the filter better than your hands and will quite often give you better purchase

[brian wright22]

Try warming the filter with a hair drier .This will expand the filter slightly and with the rubber glove on your hand should enable you to remove the filter.

To prevent this happening again, I have got a rubber "0" ring from B&Q and placed the "0" ring onto the thread of the filter. You will need to get one that is smaller than the filter so that it stretches onto the filter and with a section thinner than 0.5mm.

This prevents the anodised surfaces of the filter and plastic lens from binding.
I hope this helps Ian.

[silkstone]

The rubber glove idea may work, and also try wrapping a rubber band around the filter - it gives more to grip on.

And... (really...) if it's firmly stuck you can dip a fine brush in some WD40 and paint it around the threads so it capillaries in.

[Steve]

I can't add anything else for ways of removing it but I can offer a way of preventing it happening again in the future...

A simple solution for preventing stuck filters is to lightly draw around the filter threads with a pencil. Before you fix it on to the lens remove any excess bits of graphite to stop it getting in between the filter and your lens and then, unless you tighten it as though your life depends on the two never parting company, it will always unscrew without any issues.

Good luck!!

[j sotelo]

Try putting the filter against the palm of your hand and then untwist. If this doesn't work, try it while wearing some rubber kitchen gloves.

If this doesn't work, I would get a cheap mouse pad, cut it in half and then push the filter side onto a small block of wood (with the mouse pad as cushion ofcourse)and use that.
Of course, this is pretty extreme.


hope this helps.......

[Steve]

That's a great suggestion for standard filters but it won't work for circular polarisers as they would just 'spin' as you turn the lens. You really need some way of gripping the filter from the side without pinching it at the grip points.

[hoffy]

I carry one of those large bottle lid grips, seems to work most times.
Only once have i had one that would not remove and found the thread had gone.

[IanHoughton]

Sorted it thanks everyone. Just stuck a wide tight elastic band onto the filter and it came off, don't know why I didn't think of that before.....

[Chilliman]

I was gonna say molegrips but since youve sorted it. perhaps a addition to the kit bag