Dented filter rings

abruzzi · Sep 11, 2019

I have half a dozen lenses with dented rings, and so far I haven’t tried to fix them. Google leads me to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Camer...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=09CFCFGPP1ZBG6CJ1P9Z

But I’m wondering if anyone has successfully used this tool or similar, or if there are better tools for the job?

MFstooges · Sep 11, 2019

I read somewhere guys used wood dowel and paddle of some sort and I'm sure they might have failures on first attempt. That device looks promising to me.

Sirius Glass · Sep 11, 2019

abruzzi said:
I have half a dozen lenses with dented rings, and so far I haven’t tried to fix them. Google leads me to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Camer...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=09CFCFGPP1ZBG6CJ1P9Z

But I’m wondering if anyone has successfully used this tool or similar, or if there are better tools for the job?

I was very successful taking the dent out of a 210mm LF lens and really scraping of a lot of the lens coating. I will never use it again, although I might give it to jtk,

railwayman3 · Sep 11, 2019

Looks very interesting, thanks, have noted the details in case it is ever needed. I guess, though, that success depends on the degree of damage, if the actual threads were actually broken or damaged, rather than just bent, it might, presumably be less successful ? IDK ?

Kino · Sep 11, 2019

These tools are OK but you can't simply put it on the front of the lens and crank away.

It takes some finesse or you will put the lens barrel out of round!

Oh, and if you are doing this on a leaf shutter camera with a permanent lens attached, BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO TWIST THE FRONT LENS ELEMENT!

The threads on the jaws are NOT a like a tap; they are there to simply keep from deforming the existing threads.

Some shutters have very fragile locator pins that shear off with any torque applied; ask me how I know...

abruzzi · Sep 11, 2019

right now, I'm looking at doing it to a couple of old Nikkor lenses and a few Pentax lenses. Its a point well taken not to over crank for fear of pushing the entire opening to an oval shape. Its occurring to me at the moment because a just got a BGN condition lens from KEH (a Nikkor 5.8cm ƒ1.4) that is in excellent condition other than the dent on the ring. I'm trying to decide on either sending it back or fixing the ring.

Kino · Sep 11, 2019

abruzzi said:
right now, I'm looking at doing it to a couple of old Nikkor lenses and a few Pentax lenses. Its a point well taken not to over crank for fear of pushing the entire opening to an oval shape. Its occurring to me at the moment because a just got a BGN condition lens from KEH (a Nikkor 5.8cm ƒ1.4) that is in excellent condition other than the dent on the ring. I'm trying to decide on either sending it back or fixing the ring.

I fixed an old Nikkor 58mm f1.4 lens that had a mild bend by working from each edge of the bend toward the center, keeping an eye on the overall roundness of the front of the lens and it worked fine.

It takes a surprising (and scary) amount of force to bend the metal, but do it in tiny increments until a filter will screw on.

John Koehrer · Sep 11, 2019

Weeell, I attack them with a plastic toothbrush handle rounded to sorta fit the threads and
a saddle to fit the OD of the lens. The saddle is a piece of plywood with a hole of the correct diameter
cut in half. I've never had much skill making half circles.
The saddle keeps the rim from going out of round when you beat(gently) on the brush handle.

AgX · Sep 11, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
I was very successful taking the dent out of a 210mm LF lens and really scraping of a lot of the lens coating. I will never use it again, although I might give it to jtk,

Do not blame it on the tool, as with any critical work around the front element it is a good idea to cover it, for instance with shaped cardboard, low tack tape etc..

mshchem · Sep 11, 2019

This is a bit of, if you have "the knack" all you need is what you already have . I definitely don't have "the knack" . Some folks carve a work of art out of marble, with me it would just be crushed rock.

This reminds me of "paintless dent repair" a master can do it. Guys who come in town after a hail storm, not so much.

Sirius Glass · Sep 11, 2019

AgX said:
Do not blame it on the tool, as with any critical work around the front element it is a good idea to cover it, for instance with shaped cardboard, low tack tape etc..

That is good to know after the fact. But in the future I will send the camera to a professional repairman.

dxqcanada · Sep 11, 2019

I have used a vice like that ... it is Ok, but it can cause more damage if you are not extremely careful with it ... and especially keeping it away from the front element.
I was more successful with using a wooden dowel (even bamboo chopstick) on a wooden form (or even flat board) to tap it back in shape.

mshchem · Sep 11, 2019

dxqcanada said:
I have used a vice like that ... it is Ok, but it can cause more damage if you are not extremely careful with it ... and especially keeping it away from the front element.
I was more successful with using a wooden dowel (even bamboo chopstick) on a wooden form (or even flat board) to tap it back in shape.

You have the knack!

StanMac · Sep 12, 2019

abruzzi said:
I have half a dozen lenses with dented rings, and so far I haven’t tried to fix them. Google leads me to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Camer...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=09CFCFGPP1ZBG6CJ1P9Z

But I’m wondering if anyone has successfully used this tool or similar, or if there are better tools for the job?

I got one of these and was very disappointed in it. It is way overbuilt for the task in that it is heavy and awkward to use and the expanding “jaws” are so large it’s difficult to see how the threads are engaging your filter ring. Most filter rings are of light enough metal that much of the mass in those jaws could be removed and they would still be plenty strong enough to bend the filter ring back into form and you could see better in engaging them in the filter ring. Better yet, the manufacturer should provide two separate jaws sets for small and large rather than including them both on one assembly.

Stan

Jim Jones · Sep 12, 2019

I've successfully used a technique similar to John Koeher's in post #8 with one modification. The tip of the tool that engages the threads is curved to nearly the diameter of the threads and sharpened to a 60 degree V that engages the threads to spread the force needed to straighten the dent. This is less apt to damage the threads. Using a hardwood tool permits the tool to somewhat conform to the shape of the threads to minimize the damage. Proceed carefully and regularly check all of your filters on the lens. Filter threads vary considerably. The tool the OP linked to doesn't provide the important support for the outside of the lens. Also, over many decades thread pitch on filter threads has varied. Damage is quite possible if the thread pitch of that tool is different than the pitch of the camera threads.

Nodda Duma · Sep 12, 2019

I’ve used it successfully. Go slow and think about what you’re doing...like any other delicate mechanical task.

John51 · Sep 12, 2019

John Koehrer said:
Weeell, I attack them with a plastic toothbrush handle rounded to sorta fit the threads and
a saddle to fit the OD of the lens. The saddle is a piece of plywood with a hole of the correct diameter
cut in half. I've never had much skill making half circles.
The saddle keeps the rim from going out of round when you beat(gently) on the brush handle.

The circular cutout could also be cut in half and that and the saddle could be clamped together to reform the ring.

Patrick Robert James · Sep 12, 2019

The problem with the reverse vises is that any force applied is equal to both sides. They work better if you can reinforce the opposite side to spread the load. I have one and have used it before. You can't fix smashed threads either, only if the ring is bent in. If the ring is dented from the front, forget about it.

They do work though if you take it easy and go slow. Don't just put the vise in there and crank away. Start on the outside of the dent and work your way to the middle. Some lenses can't be saved either depending on what kind of metal it is. It could just crack.

Good luck.

AgX · Sep 12, 2019

All dented threads I came across that were "repaired" were screwed up at least by that. Typically done by using a plumber's forceps.

My advise is: until you know what you are doing, and have been successful at test objects, better refrain from such as long as yoiu want something that still looks good and works fine.

In same cases the crucial qustion is whether you want somthing looking as original as possible or as functional as possible, as not all dents can be re-dented to full function.

John Koehrer · Sep 12, 2019

mshchem said:
You have the knack!

And the ones without it knacker the glass.

Dented filter rings

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