I thought a trick for stuck lens rings was just a myth

For years, I heard other repair folks talk about using a rubber band and a jar opener to free a stuck filter or front ring. I always thought it sounded silly, like a kitchen hack that wouldn't work on a real camera. Then, a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 came in with a filter so tight the owner had bent a wrench trying. Out of pure frustration, I wrapped a thick rubber band around the ring twice and tried a basic rubber jar opener. It took a solid minute of steady pressure, but it turned. No scratches, no heat, no special tools. I was shocked it actually worked on something that seized up. It's not for every job, but it's now my first try before I reach for anything metal. Has anyone else found a simple household item that saved a tricky repair?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor9296d ago

Out of pure frustration" is the key part here. I feel like half these repair stories start with someone just trying something dumb because they're out of ideas. It's a rubber band, not some professional secret. I guess it's good it worked for you, but making it your first try seems like overkill. Even @nathan_foster60's story is more about avoiding a mistake than proving the trick is amazing. Most of the time, if a filter is that stuck, there's a bigger problem like cross-threading or metal corrosion that a jar opener won't fix.

nathan_foster607d ago

My stubbornness cost me a good lens once. I had a stuck UV filter on an old Nikon and refused to try the rubber band trick, thinking I needed proper tools. Ended up using too much force with pliers and cracked the filter glass, scratching the front element. Had to eat the cost of a replacement. Now I keep a jar opener in my kit bag, you know, just in case.