Unsticking ND filters from lens at DVinfo.net

Roger Shealy · April 10th, 2011, 12:42 PM

Well, I now have an expensive Hoya Digital HD xND4 filter "fused" to a UV filter. Both have thin, essentially smooth rings. Anybody have a good trick to unstick these puppies?

Ron Wilk · April 10th, 2011, 02:44 PM

It's an issue long familiar to still photographers.
Try placing a rubber band around the rings of either or both filters. That should give you enough traction to unscrew them without further adieu.

Todd Mizomi · April 10th, 2011, 03:57 PM

Some photo stores carry a tool specifically designed for this, but Ron's tip about the rubber bands works best. Have done it several times.

Jon Fairhurst · April 10th, 2011, 06:37 PM

I've found that sometimes I just have to keep working it. It's possible that one of the threads is a bit out of round, so grabbing at one angle may make it stick even harder while at another angle it can come off easily.

It can be like opening a jar. Your wife tries to open it and can't. She hands it to you and you can't budge it. Hand it back to her and she unscrews it effortlessly. ;)

Roger Shealy · April 10th, 2011, 10:08 PM

Rubber Bands to the rescue! I'll try that when I next have them in my hands.

Thanks!

John MacPherson · April 11th, 2011, 02:47 PM

One of the problems in trying to remove filters stuck like this is that the pressure you exert to actually hold the filter in your fingers can actually 'pinch' the two filters together as the filter slightly distorts.

One tip I can give from 30 years of unsticking these ****** things is to hold the filters flat between your two hands - as if you are praying - and apply gentle pressure as you turn your hands in opposite directions. Works more times than not.

For REALLY stuck ones use a couple of pieces of the black rubber sheet you get in hardware stores that you can put on shelves to stop stuff sliding about, very cheap. More expensie version of the same thing is the rubber pads that you can get for opening stiff jam jar lids, works really well.

All else fails get two of these: Filter Wrench

Roger Shealy · April 11th, 2011, 03:43 PM

Thanks John and everyone else. I guess I'm somewhat comforted to know that I'm not the only person that's run into this difficulty. I guess it's good for one's pride to feel the noob time and again!

Bruce Foreman · April 14th, 2011, 08:12 PM

I keep a pair of those soft pads for opening jars in my bag. Works every time.

Kirk Miller · April 15th, 2011, 04:08 PM

I've used a long zip tie with the ratchet tooth removed as a makeshift filter wrench.

James Strange · April 17th, 2011, 02:44 PM

Ive got a similar problem, ive had a uv filter stuck to the front of my canon 17-55 for about a year now! Nothing moves it

Ken Scott · April 17th, 2011, 04:25 PM

What about putting it in the freezer and taking out hours later... Cold VS a warm room and expansion changes? Then use the above tips?

Roger Shealy · April 19th, 2011, 04:25 PM

THANKS GUYS! I used the rubber bands and was just able to separate the filters. Now I need to give them a thorough cleaning.

Thanks again!

April 10th, 2011, 12:42 PM	#1
Roger Shealy Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fayetteville, GA Posts: 772	Unsticking ND filters from lens Well, I now have an expensive Hoya Digital HD xND4 filter "fused" to a UV filter. Both have thin, essentially smooth rings. Anybody have a good trick to unstick these puppies?

April 10th, 2011, 02:44 PM	#2
Ron Wilk Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Parkland Florida Posts: 407	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens It's an issue long familiar to still photographers. Try placing a rubber band around the rings of either or both filters. That should give you enough traction to unscrew them without further adieu.

April 10th, 2011, 03:57 PM	#3
Todd Mizomi Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maui, Hawaii Posts: 141	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens Some photo stores carry a tool specifically designed for this, but Ron's tip about the rubber bands works best. Have done it several times. __________________ Todd Mizomi Photographer/Videographer/Editor/Computer Guy Island Production Group Maui, Hawaii

April 10th, 2011, 06:37 PM	#4
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens I've found that sometimes I just have to keep working it. It's possible that one of the threads is a bit out of round, so grabbing at one angle may make it stick even harder while at another angle it can come off easily. It can be like opening a jar. Your wife tries to open it and can't. She hands it to you and you can't budge it. Hand it back to her and she unscrews it effortlessly. ;) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

April 10th, 2011, 10:08 PM	#5
Roger Shealy Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fayetteville, GA Posts: 772	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens Rubber Bands to the rescue! I'll try that when I next have them in my hands. Thanks!

April 11th, 2011, 02:47 PM	#6
John MacPherson New Boot Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Scottish highlands Posts: 20	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens One of the problems in trying to remove filters stuck like this is that the pressure you exert to actually hold the filter in your fingers can actually 'pinch' the two filters together as the filter slightly distorts. One tip I can give from 30 years of unsticking these ****** things is to hold the filters flat between your two hands - as if you are praying - and apply gentle pressure as you turn your hands in opposite directions. Works more times than not. For REALLY stuck ones use a couple of pieces of the black rubber sheet you get in hardware stores that you can put on shelves to stop stuff sliding about, very cheap. More expensie version of the same thing is the rubber pads that you can get for opening stiff jam jar lids, works really well. All else fails get two of these: Filter Wrench

April 11th, 2011, 03:43 PM	#7
Roger Shealy Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fayetteville, GA Posts: 772	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens Thanks John and everyone else. I guess I'm somewhat comforted to know that I'm not the only person that's run into this difficulty. I guess it's good for one's pride to feel the noob time and again!

April 14th, 2011, 08:12 PM	#8
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens I keep a pair of those soft pads for opening jars in my bag. Works every time.

April 15th, 2011, 04:08 PM	#9
Kirk Miller New Boot Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 12	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens I've used a long zip tie with the ratchet tooth removed as a makeshift filter wrench.

April 17th, 2011, 02:44 PM	#10
James Strange Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Posts: 309	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens Ive got a similar problem, ive had a uv filter stuck to the front of my canon 17-55 for about a year now! Nothing moves it

April 17th, 2011, 04:25 PM	#11
Ken Scott New Boot Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens What about putting it in the freezer and taking out hours later... Cold VS a warm room and expansion changes? Then use the above tips?

April 19th, 2011, 04:25 PM	#12
Roger Shealy Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fayetteville, GA Posts: 772	Re: Unsticking ND filters from lens THANKS GUYS! I used the rubber bands and was just able to separate the filters. Now I need to give them a thorough cleaning. Thanks again!