Looking for suggestion on how to remove stubborn filter off the lens.

I have a Tiffen CPL (67mm). And for a long time it's attached to my 17-85mm lens. Since I haven't used this lens in a long time. I have forgotten that I've had this filter. Well lately I've found a need to use this lens again. Hence this is when I found my problem.

I guess some cheap filters has a tendency to have less precise fit. Well I paid $85 for mine so I hope that wasn't the case.

Anyways I've tried to twist as hard as I thought I could to unscrew the filter but no budge. I even tried to put a rubber band around the filter to assist me with my grip but to no avail. I'm afraid if I tried to force it, that I would just break the lens from the twisting motion.

I live in a cold climate so I thought the temperature made the metal expand. I'd left it near the heater air vent to warm it up, but again not luck.

Just like a plumber using a liquid plumber to loosen the grip. Should I try dabbing some detergent and see if that works?

I'm just looking for suggestions that people have tried in the past.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Use a rubber band (the wide kind).

Cheap filters have aluminum mounts and tend to get stuck. Better filters such as B+W and Heliopan use brass mounts I believe and they do not stick as much.

The key is even pressure around the entire filter which your fingers can't do. Research the net for ideas as there are many. One that worked for me was pressing the filter into a rubbr placemat which was on a hard surface and turning the lens body slowly. If you can't get it off most camera shops can help as they also have filter wrenches for this job.

I have found that when filters get stuck it's because they have become cross threaded. It doesn't take much to cross thread a filter. A simple bump will do it.

Removing it is easy as well but you have to find the place where the threads got messed up so try this.
Remove the lens. In strong light examine the filter/lens interface and look for the spot that that is a little narrower than the rest. It is subtle but can be seen. When you find it, use the blade of a knife and carefully the space until it pops back into the thread. it doesn't take much pressure and when it moves it's really subtle.

A rubber screw lid opener (the round thin rubber thing), check in your kitchen (careful to hold the lens as to not put pressure on the focus mechanism when pushing on the filter to turn it).

Or two very long zip-ties - one going one way on filter and one going the opposite way on lens - then pull them. Have someone hold the lens or do so carefully between your legs. When separate if they don't slide off, be careful if you have to cut them off.

Get a cheap pair of lens filter wrenches for your size filters.

I forgot zip-ties sometimes slip - especially if not tight. I prefer other methods.

Canajun wrote in post #13594063
I live in a cold climate so I thought the temperature made the metal expand. I'd left it near the heater air vent to warm it up, but again not luck.

You might have gone the wrong direction. I put stuck items in the freezer to loosen. I also have a large strap type adjustable opener to remove jar tops that works great on lenses, bought it in kitchen store (gadget section.)

Do not "squeeze" the filter unevenly which can happen when trying to remove with bare hands. That will distort it just enough to actually make removable more difficult. This could be more of a problem with a CPL filter because they are so thin.

howiewu wrote in post #13594082
Use a rubber band (the wide kind).

^^^ Ditto.

If you can't find a wide rubber band, double up a regular one so it's tight around the filter. Another option is one of those rubbery discs that folks use to get the caps off of food jars. I keep one in my bag just in case.

T2i4me wrote in post #13594118
The key is even pressure around the entire filter which your fingers can't do. Research the net for ideas as there are many. One that worked for me was pressing the filter into a rubbr placemat which was on a hard surface and turning the lens body slowly. If you can't get it off most camera shops can help as they also have filter wrenches for this job.

I like your suggestion with the rubber mat. But in my case it's not possible because the CPL(circular polarizer) has the outer ring on free-play.

gjl711 wrote in post #13594132
I have found that when filters get stuck it's because they have become cross threaded. It doesn't take much to cross thread a filter. A simple bump will do it.

Removing it is easy as well but you have to find the place where the threads got messed up so try this.
Remove the lens. In strong light examine the filter/lens interface and look for the spot that that is a little narrower than the rest. It is subtle but can be seen. When you find it, use the blade of a knife and carefully the space until it pops back into the thread. it doesn't take much pressure and when it moves it's really subtle.

I checked and it wasn't the case.

If all else fails, you could pick up a filter wrench for less than 5 dollars.

Another vote for rubber bands. Simple and effective. You just have to position the rubber band carefully on the filter, then you will have a better grip and be able to unscrew it. Sometimes it helps to have a second one the lens barrel to improve your grip on that, too.

I store a few rubber bands around my filter stack to be sure to have them with me at all times. The wider kind used in the produce department of grocery store are particularly good.

Get a bees wax candle and rub it lightly on the filter threads, leaving just a tiny bit of wax to slightly lubricate the threads. This might help and the wax doesn't catch dust and dirt as badly as some other lubricants do. This also works pretty well on bayonet fit lens hoods, if too tight.

If a filter is seriously stuck, such as when cross threaded, take the lens to a camera repair shop. They will have lens wrenches in various sizes and/or rubber strap wrenches. It's usually a quick, inexpensive job to remove the filter. Cheaper than buying a set of lens wrenches or strap wrenches yourself. (You really should use two... one on the filter, the other on the lens barrel immediately next to the filter, so you aren't accidentally torquing on any of the lens mechansims.)

gjl711 wrote in post #13594132
I have found that when filters get stuck it's because they have become cross threaded. It doesn't take much to cross thread a filter. A simple bump will do it.

Removing it is easy as well but you have to find the place where the threads got messed up so try this.
Remove the lens. In strong light examine the filter/lens interface and look for the spot that that is a little narrower than the rest. It is subtle but can be seen. When you find it, use the blade of a knife and carefully the space until it pops back into the thread. it doesn't take much pressure and when it moves it's really subtle.

JJ from now on I'll call you Yoda. Since none of the twisting worked. I decided to inspect more carefully. And sure enough there were micro difference in one of the area. I just took a sharp knife as you have suggested and it did pop into place.

Problem solved!

Thanks everyone who took the time to offer me all these great suggestions.

Merry Christmas to all.

I filterless lens you have.. yes..

Happy holidays.

Glad you git it fixed, I am.

Rubber bands work like MAGIC. When this happened to me I didn't have any around. What I did have? Electrical tape. No residue, also works like magic.