Finally got that stuck helicoid on a 50mm f/1.4 lens from a thrift store in Portland

After soaking it in lighter fluid for 3 days last week and using a homemade spanner wrench, it finally broke free without cracking the glass, has anyone else found a better trick for seized focusing rings?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_emery3d ago

Oh man, I gotta say I think you're overcomplicating it. Lighter fluid for 3 days is overkill, that stuff is harsh and could mess with the coatings or grease over time. I've had way better luck just using a heat gun on low setting to warm the ring evenly, it expands the metal just enough to break the seize without the chemical risk.

jesse_west3d ago

Yeah, I agree with you on the lighter fluid thing. I tried that once on a old ring and it left this weird film that I had to scrub off. I actually had good luck with a heat gun too, but I took a different approach. I heated the ring just enough to get it warm to the touch, then I used a piece of wood to tap it gently all the way around. The expanding and contracting broke it loose without any of the chemical mess. @the_emery your method sounds cleaner than what I did, I like the idea of keeping it low and slow.