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TIL a $2 rubber sink stopper from Ace fixed a stuck focus ring on a 30 year old lens
I had a Nikon 50mm f1.8 pancake lens that came in with a focus ring so stiff it would actually unscrew from the mount before it would turn. I tried the usual stuff, a tiny drop of lighter fluid, working it back and forth for like 20 minutes, nothing. A guy at the shop down in Austin told me to try a rubber sink stopper pressed flat against the front of the ring, and I kind of laughed at him. But I grabbed one at Ace for $2.19, the flat kind with the little tab, and pressed it against the filter threads while turning. The grip was way better than my fingers and I could feel the helicoid start to break free without putting any side load on it. Kept working it for about 10 minutes and the grease loosened up enough that the ring turns smooth now. Has anyone else used one of these on a stuck ring, or do you have a better trick for old grease that's gone hard?
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mason.mark4h ago
Laughed out loud at the part about the lens unscrewing from the mount before the ring would turn. That is wild! I have never heard of using a sink stopper on a lens but it makes total sense. The bigger surface area gives you way more grip and spreads the force out so you are not twisting the barrel. Now I want to dig through my junk drawer and see if I have one of those flat stoppers to try on an old Vivitar I have been fighting with.
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