Separating two stuck filters - any tips?

Does anyone have any helpful tips for separating two 77mm filters which have been screwed together?

I've tried with quite hard with my hands, but too scared to put a lot of pressure on.

Thanks in advance.

BFH!!!!
Seriously, put one on a car tyre or somethig similar and push while twisting. pushing will reduce the pressure on the threads, making the filters more apt to seperating.

man... those things are crazy sometimes. You can put all the torque your fingers can muster on then, then release, put very slight pressure at a different angle on and they pop right apart.

I suggest trying to rotate your grip around the edge of the filters.... and like wanna said pushing and pulling on them will help loosen up the threads momentarily while you twist.

NEVER squeeze filters with a two-point grip. That makes the filter try to be an oval instead of a square, and does nothing but make the threaded connection harder to turn.

At the very least, use a three-point grip - evenly spaced around the filter ring(s).

You could try using a rubber mat on a counter top. Press one of the filters into the mat to give it friction around the entire ring and then try rotating the other one with at least a three-point grip.

Better yet, use a pair of filter wrenches.

Tony,
Try heating them gently with a hair blow dryer. I see mechanics at work heat things all the time to loosen them. Hope this helps.

Tony_Tog wrote in post #2652387
Does anyone have any helpful tips for separating two 77mm filters which have been screwed together?

I've tried with quite hard with my hands, but too scared to put a lot of pressure on.

Thanks in advance.

Put them on a lens. Hold the lens and filter attached to the lens with your left fingers. Turn the outer filter with your right hand. This seems to work for me (plenty of experience).

You could try tapping them on a hard surface evenly on the edges, of course protected with a cloth. The vibration can often dislodge stuck threads.

Thanks for your all your help - I've got them loose!

How?

1. tapping them on a hard surface
2. holding one against the tyre of my car
3. twisted apart using both hands - two fingers on each filrer, all four evenly spaced.

Many thanks

Tony

Put a rubber band around each of them - this will improve grip without having to squeeze too much.

PS Always worth having some rubber bands in you kit bag for this any many other little jobs.

Don't they make filter wrenches anymore? Tony, get filters with brass rings instead of aluminum and you won't have the seizing problem.

jr_senator wrote in post #2653513
Don't they make filter wrenches anymore? Tony, get filters with brass rings instead of aluminum and you won't have the seizing problem.

I've used aluminum type filters (from the chaepest to most expensive) for 20 years now and have never had to deal with removing a stuck filter _ if you tighten the brass type too hard they can become stuck also.

Vaseline and WD40 have been used by others I know.They both clean up very well and do no damage to the filter(glass) itself.
Never had the need to try it myself.

glad i'm not the only one this has happened to... LOL

Lester Wareham wrote in post #2653394
Put a rubber band around each of them - this will improve grip without having to squeeze too much.

PS Always worth having some rubber bands in you kit bag for this any many other little jobs.

Took the words right outta my mouth.

For rubber band storage options... see this thread

how about a bucket of cold water ?

ed rader