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What (quality) spanners are you guys using?

Terence

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2005
Messages
1,426
Location
NYC
Format
Multi Format
I've tried a couple of the parallel bar type ones off of Amazon, and they were junk. Didn't stay tightened, weren't rigid, etc. I knew I should have bought a machined one from the guy (forget his name) back in the early 2000s who did large format CLAs, etc., and made tools on the side, Now I can't seem to find anything that isn't crap. What are you guys using to disassemble lenses, remove small rings, etc.? I'm okay with getting 2 different sized tools, or more, if need be.

And what other tools are you finding helpful for working on cameras? I have the rubber lens cup/removers, a pair of round-tip pliers (using it for smaller rings), some pointy tweezers, a regular set of jeweler screwdrivers (but feel like I need an even smaller set).

Thanks.
 
Hah. Thanks. That's the one I meant, but I thought I heard he was long out of business or passed away, or something. Obviously not. I was having trouble coming up with his name.
 
Last edited:
retina_restoration said:
Doesn't get much better than this: https://skgrimes.com/product/spanner-wrench-2/
Click to expand...

The tips on those would be too big (thick) for many lens rings. But they could be ground down. I recommend these but they don't work for everything and might need grinding down too. But they are more controllable being horizontal and can be gripped better.

Adjustable Camera Lens Opener :Camera Lens Repair tool Made in Japan

Adjustable between 12mm/0.4in. and 60mm/2.3in. Contents Adjustable Opener: 1 peace Camera Lens opener spare bit (Normal Size): 1set Only Long bit 60LL for Adjustable Camera Lens Opener Only watch tool bit for Adjustable Camera Lens Opener Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE / Amazon FR /...
japanhobbytool.com

Here's a similar one I've not tried:

CuteHairy V Shaped Lens Opener Tool Kit, Professional Camera Lens Spanner Wrench Opening Opening Tool with 16-100mm Opening Lens Repair Wrench, 3 Types Of Tips black : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

CuteHairy V Shaped Lens Opener Tool Kit, Professional Camera Lens Spanner Wrench Opening Opening Tool with 16-100mm Opening Lens Repair Wrench, 3 Types Of Tips black : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo
www.amazon.co.uk
 

Thanks. I'll check it out.
 
I need to upgrade too. I've made due with small pairs of scissors. A lot of swearing is involved.
 
The SK Grimes are available w pointed or chisel tips..... wonderful for mountintg/demounting LF lenses on boards
 
The SK Grimes spanner works well for the lens mounting rings on large format shutters but I suspect the OP is looking for something smaller that will work on 35mm lenses and such.

The simple cut steel wrenches for large format mounting rings is a fraction of the price and does everything most large format photographers need to do short of tearing down lenses.
 
I got both Grimes spanners, but have also gone on evilBay and purchased a couple used spanners for cheap-- one is an old Edmund Scientific, another a Japanese one from the 70s-- that get into tighter spots than the Grimes' do. If you look for a bit you can find such deals.
 

Thanks. What do they look like? Are they the same bar type as the Grimes?
 
I've found something like this to be stable and strong. I am not certain where I bought it, maybe not from Ebay and not from China, not certain. But the style-


The tool ends themselves are typical for assorted spanner wrenches, so I've been able to take them from other failed wrenches and grind shapes as needed. The flat blades are often too wide, too thick or not thick enough, etc.

 
IMO, H-type spanners aren't junk, they're simply not designed to deal with the small-diameter fasteners commonly found in old cameras. I design and 3D-print many of my own specialized tools. But there seems to be no standardized sizes, and so far, my tools have been specific to a particular make and model of camera, and fit nothing else that I've encountered.
 

Most of the H type spanners are indeed junk, as their fit is too sloppy, and the bars to small and weak, with the result that they don't maintain any kind of squareness under even moderate use. I've even tried the ones with Allen head screws to tighten them down, but the thread tolerance has so much slop that they don't even stay tightened. I'm sure there's an original model out there that all the cheap, Chinese-manufactured ones are modeled on, that was absolutely fine. That's the type I'm hoping to find. The SK Grimes one is probably the easiest to obtain these days, but is more geared to toward large format lenses than medium format or 35mm ones.
 
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