Circular Polarizer stuck (Page 2): Lefty loosey, righty tighty? I like the rubber band idea and the bottle cap remover idea. If that doesn't work try a slipjoint pliers. If that...

10MPlayer Loc: California

Lefty loosey, righty tighty? I like the rubber band idea and the bottle cap remover idea. If that doesn't work try a slipjoint pliers. If that doesn't work get a pair of dikes (diagonal wire cutters) and cut it off. Nothing to worry about. If all fails get ugly with it and cut it off. You can even use a hacksaw blade to very carefully cut through it.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

rick_n_wv wrote:

So I put it on yesterday because it was really bright sun. There was not a lot of fall colr but the sky was really blue. Anyway when I went to put stuff back in the bag the polarizer would not unsrew. Got home and tried some warm water, hot water, and then tried putting in the refrigerator, then even the freezer. No go. It went on easy and did not tighten hard. It is a Hoya NXT plus.
Any ideas?

Filter wrench from B&H.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

A rubber band always does the trick for me!

sidpearce

Get a HAMA Filter Clamp For the size of your filter. I keep one in my bag always.

jhud202 Loc: Prineville, OR

rick_n_wv wrote:

So I put it on yesterday because it was really bright sun. There was not a lot of fall colr but the sky was really blue. Anyway when I went to put stuff back in the bag the polarizer would not unsrew. Got home and tried some warm water, hot water, and then tried putting in the refrigerator, then even the freezer. No go. It went on easy and did not tighten hard. It is a Hoya NXT plus.
Any ideas?

Press straight down on the filter with your palm and twist at the same time. This generally works to align the threads and facilitate the removal.

Canisdirus

jhud202 wrote:

Press straight down on the filter with your palm and twist at the same time. This generally works to align the threads and facilitate the removal.

I agree with you on that method, but it's a circ polarizer.... it would just spin the outer ring...not the threaded ring... in this case.

Okay, I have read the many suggestions, and everyone has the right idea.
I do think the filter and lens have been temporarily fused together by the heat (expansion).
Cooling them both at the same rate probably won't fix the issue.

Perhaps take a small bowl ... put a small amount of very cold water and place the lens filter down in it.
Hopefully cooling the filter the fastest .... and take a few tries using even pressure on the filter.
I use a rubber mat and press down slightly ... that way the entire diameter is evenly affected (as opposed to a wrench)

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

rick_n_wv wrote:

Rubber band worked. I did fail to mention it was not a lens but a UV filter which I figure made it even easier to go out of round.. After it came off tried it a couple more times. Why, because I have used it several times and want to use it in the future. I'm kinda like if I have to worry I won't use it so just replace it kind of a guy. Thanks all for the explanation. I figure when it failed to unscrew I just gripped it harder which only frustrated me more.

Glad you got the filter unscrewed (rubber bands worked).

That'll teach you to unnecessarily stack filters!

One of the problems with using a UV "protection" filter is that you have to remove it first, whenever you want to use another, actually useful filter such a polarizer! That's a PITA and one of the reasons my "protection" filters are stored in my camera bag, separate from my lenses, until actually needed (which is far, far less often than a polarizer).

lightyear

To avoid the problem in the future, use a Number 2 hardness pencil and rub ( scribe) the pencil led into the threads of the filter and the lens, as well as other filters. The tiny amount of graphite in the lead will lubricate the threads of the lens rim and the filter to make removal easier in the future. I keep a thick rubber band in my camera bag just for this purpose, but since scribing my filter threads rarely need it.

lightyear

Problems with stuck filters can e minimized by scribing the threads of the filter and the lens with the lead of a number 2 lead pencil. The tiny amount of graphite in the lead will lubricate the threads to make filter application and removal easier in the future. All of my filtr threads are scribed this way and and renew it about once a year.

mikee

FILTER WRENCH!!. Cheep, they work, and are made for this job. Never tried rubber bands, but have used the flat rubbery kitchen jar opener gripping thingy.

Or you can use your channel locks...over the garbage can. Shortens the walk to the garbage when you're done.

LouK

B&H sells filter wrenches; you have to specify the size range you want. They work well and are easy to carry with you.

clickety

rick_n_wv wrote:

So I put it on yesterday because it was really bright sun. There was not a lot of fall colr but the sky was really blue. Anyway when I went to put stuff back in the bag the polarizer would not unsrew. Got home and tried some warm water, hot water, and then tried putting in the refrigerator, then even the freezer. No go. It went on easy and did not tighten hard. It is a Hoya NXT plus.
Any ideas?

Filters need not be ‘tightened’. With a circular polarizer I start the threads and then tighten by rotating the outer ring only. That will provide sufficient force when it rotates. Then always turning it clockwise to adjust polarization will keep it plenty tight ( to date I’ve never had one come off or stick).

eugenehinds

To remove a stuck filter/polarizer I get a rubber bang slightly smaller than filter, stretch to get onto filter. The band will exert uniform pressure on filter ring so that gentle turning removes filter. What you are doing is pressing spots which make filter go out-of-round and threads bind. Near as possible get 360 deg pressure so binding will not occur.

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

Use all of your fingers to unscrew the filter and spread them out. Just grasp the filter and don't squeeze. That will put more equal pressure around the lens.

eugenehinds

Correct. The more fingers around the filter the better. A heavy rubber band sometimes helps.