Once upon a time there was someone very stupid ...........

[Donald]

Filter wrenches are like insurance policies... You don't need one until you need it and then you really need it!

Wise words, methinks.

The irony is that, via an indirect route, my immediate problem is solved.

Because I've now bought the Canon 24 -70 f2.8 L lens, the 17-85 kit lens, with its 67mm diameter is no longer is use (might look to sell it - it does seem to still have a value). So ...........

The problem occurred on the 70-200 f4 IS L, which also has a 67mm diameter. Therefore ...................

I've taken the filter off the kit lens and put it onto the 70-200.

Adaptor Ring? I had two of them as well so that I could leave each on the lenses to make fitting the filter holder much quicker.

So problem solved .................. except I still have the other UV and ring stuck together.

But, in anticipation of the problem arising again some time in the future and as a means to try and finally resolve the present predicament, I think I might take Richard's advice.

[drjuice]

Hi, Donald -

In the States, I don't know about Scotland, in our dollar stores (everything in the store costs $1US), most of them sell what they call adapters for older folks who often have trouble opening jars. They used to be specially made and cost $5US each. But, somebody figured out that they could be punched out of shelfliners and sold at 4/$1US. So, take a look in the "kitchen" equipment or handicapped adapters sections of your local cheepie store, whatever passes for dollar stores in Scotland. When I bought the 4 pack for the intended purpose, I tossed one in the camera tools pocket of my bag and have wound up using it several times.

FYI - I talked to my trusty salesman at my favorite camera store about alternatives after I'd hit on this solution and the first thing he said was to get a jar-top opener for what he referred to as "the old folks". Then, he showed me wrench kits, etc. He didn't make a sale that day, but he got the commission when I came back and bought my macro lens. ;~)

Hope this helps.

v

[Donald]

In the States, I don't know about Scotland, in our dollar stores (everything in the store costs $1US), most of them sell what they call adapters for older folks who often have trouble opening jars. They used to be specially made and cost $5US each.

Now, why didn't I think of that? Brilliant. Thank you.

[Harpo]

Yeah, know the feeling… just happened to me in Florida the other week… put on the SLIM CPL on my lens inside my AC room, went out and about in the heat… I must have looked like some weirdo on the dock doing a funny dance trying to unscrew the CPL from my lens! I forgot to bring my rubber gripper with me. Lesson learned!

Dr Juice sparked the idea in my head… they have all these adaptive stuff for those with disabilities (motor issues), arthritis, etc that helps them unscrew stuff. Thats another avenue to explore online.

[Bobobird]

The trick is not to force the threads directly, too much force and you risk some deformations etc.

Some long time photographers I know carry a piece of rubber about the size of a filter holder. Stuck filter? No problemo. Keep filters on the lens so that there is something to hold, place the mat on top and twist with the palm.

[Colin Southern]

The trick is not to force the threads directly, too much force and you risk some deformations etc.

I heard that somewhere before too ...

Often what makes it worse is the distortion of the ring caused by finger pressure - so one trick is to spread that pressure as evenly as possible by grasping one ring with as many fingers and thumbs as possible, and getting someone else to do the same on the other ring.

[Letrow]

A good, albeit slightly depressing, thread. I always thought it just happened to me. I once thought that buying better quality filters would solve the problem. It didn't.

[Bobobird]

A good, albeit slightly depressing, thread. I always thought it just happened to me. I once thought that buying better quality filters would solve the problem. It didn't.

But now you know all the tricks and can now get away with cheapos hehe

[zascot]

Donald, the suggestion that you leave it in the sun obviously missed that you live in Scotland. Good Luck.

[Donald]

Donald, the suggestion that you leave it in the sun obviously missed that you live in Scotland. Good Luck.

I would just like the world to know that despite that terrible criticism of the wonderful Scottish climate it is, today, a positively scorching 24 degrees C. Now that's hot for around these parts. And for May it's positively headline news stuff.

Probably be back to normal tomorrow - Rain!

[revi]

You have to wait a whole day to get rain again?
When I arrived in Glasgow, I was told that if I didn't like the weather, I'd just had to wait 20 min: it would have changed...
(that also went for weather I did like :/)

[blakemcguire]

grab the filter at only one point as opposed to holding the outsides. (you probably know this already, but oh well)

[Dave Humphries]

grab the filter at only one point as opposed to holding the outsides. (you probably know this already, but oh well)

You mean the lip of the rim, I assume Blake?
Might work for a filter on a lens, but almost impossible to do twice with a ring stuck on a filter.
At least without plier type tools, but that brings other risks, one slip and

But I do get what you mean, it wouldn't distort so much as twin 'pinch' grip points, although distributed grip is possibly better.

[Colin Southern]

Post the darn thing over to me -- I'll get it off!

[blakemcguire]

@Dave I had a polarizer stuck on adapter ring, it worked for me.

[drjuice]

Now, why didn't I think of that? Brilliant. Thank you.

Probably because, at least from your photo, you're not yet old enough to use them for their intended purpose. ;~) And, you probably never taught engineering students who can get more things stuck together than I've ever had jars to open!

I can tell you that I definitely am that old, because that's why I got the four-pack in the first place. BTW - I'll hit the big 70 in about a month! ;~)

v

[Donald]

BTW - I'll hit the big 70 in about a month! ;~)

As they say, 'Life begins at ......'. And I hope that it carries on for a very, very long time. Enjoy the day when it comes.

[DeKa77]

Pls don't waste yr time and effort on that. Same as Colin Southern's sugest, post it to me and buy new ones !!!

[Kris V]

BTW - I'll hit the big 70 in about a month! ;~)

v

Me too - next Saturday!

[Mike Buckley]

I've needed the pair of filter wrenches twice -- once when I had never heard of them and once when I later had added them as permanent fixtures in my bag.