How to Repair a Damaged Lens Filter Thread using a Repair Tool 

This ^, lens vice repair tools like this should really come with a small hammer else people will just crank it out and hope for the best.

I think that's the correct way to use this tool. Even has a flat spot on the end to hit it with a hammer. And also give gentle taps around the dent with a soft hammer while there's pressure on it from the vice. I went to autobody school and repairing dents isn't brute force pounding out dents with a hammer. It's putting pressure on the dent with a dolly and then gently hammer with a somewhat sideways blow around the dent and that causes the metal to vibrate which relaxes it and the pressure moves the dent out.

Thanks! What lubricant would you recommend? Won't it leak onto the glass? I have a badly dent lens here as I just dropped my camera... Thank you

@@jd5787 A lithium grease if you any or a very small amount of oil.

@@geoffankrett7012 thanks! Wish me luck... The lens was in mint condition for 30 years before meeting me... 😭😉

Ummm. No, not for me.

@@TBNTX That's probably because you haven't spent a life in engineering

Thanks for your kind comments. The tool is available to purchase on our website: www.jackthehat.co.uk

what's the link in Amazon?

Yes. That's a very good idea. I didn't think of that.

I would not recommend doing that, because afterwards you must remove all the grease from the threads without using aggressive solvent, wich is a hard thing to do. maybe you could use a bit of soap instead of grease, but I also don't know if that is such a good idea.

Maybe a little graphite…

@@chipcurry Even worse than grease.....Try cleaning that out of a lens with having to dismatle it, never put grease or oil in a lens where it doesn't need it, lenses very rarely need oil, capillary action is a devil.

The tool is made entirely from metal. I'm not sure what kind of metal but it's not brass.

I'm not sure. Some front rings can only be removed by using a rubber lens tool like these: www.ebay.com/itm/9in1-Rubber-Lens-Repair-Tool-Filter-Wrench-Opening-Ring-Set/122530615391?

@@jackthehatphoto If you don't have a friction tool (or the right size one) blue tack is a good alternative: Roll out a thin sausage of the stuff to encircle the ring (protect lens first), then use the palm of your hand to twist the ring loose.

@@hoverboverer Great tip! Thanks.

I doubt this tool would work with plastic threads. Plastic has a habit of springing back into place and cannot be bent back into shape like metal. Sorry.

Hi, you can buy the tool here: www.jackthehat.co.uk/lens-repair-vise-tool-fixing-filter-threads-p-1186.html You can pay in US dollars, UK pounds or Euros. We ship worldwide.

Hi Tom, this tool has now been updated. The new version of this tool can be found here: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BFHYZZKH I will update the link on RU-vid.

If I were you I would have a go at removing the remains of the lens filter yourself. As long as you don't damage the front element of the lens you won't have much to lose. Even if you make a mess of it, the professional repair bill probably won't increase. I don't know how much Canon would charge for repair. If you're in the UK, I recommend a company called Fixation. They did an excellent repair job on my 24-105mm f4L.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--qQh0X7XAUo.html you can order the part from canon and replace it.. it's easy

No, sorry.

If you force it it should give. Sometimes the helicoid can jam and you have to force it back

@@allshreeek8054 I managed to get it to turn but it’s very rough and something is grinding on the inside... I’m just going to take this as an opportunity to upgrade to the f/2.8

Nice, go for it!

Probably about 1 hour but this was my first attempt at a repair so I was being extra careful.

I wasn't using a lens hood. I picked up my camera bag without realising it was open and 3 lenses fell out onto the concrete. This lens was the only one that had noticeable damage.

@@jackthehatphoto was it a Canon cam bag?

@@jimbecarroll5780 It was a Lowepro Trekker AW.

Why? Cardboard cannot damage the front element of the lens.

@@jackthehatphoto Cardboard can absolutely scratch the coatings on a lens like this. At minimum i would at least just cut a piece of microfiber cloth to use for this. If it's worth fixing your thousand dollar lens, it's worth cutting up a $5 microfiber cloth.

@@lethalmindninja I agree a cloth would have been better but I think simply placing a piece if card on the surface of the lens is very unlikely to cause any damage.

@@lethalmindninja as an owner of dozen lenses from top line modern 135 lens to vintage large format lenses from the 30s, I can tell you a cardboard like this will definitely not damage modern coatings, modern coatings are even harder than the glass beneath, stop babying your lens its tougher than you imagine

@@passcomcompass2623 That's fantastic Marvin. I however spent years working in manufacturing producing some of the most expensive rifle scope optics on the planet sourcing and paying for the rights to use some of the exact patented coatings used on the modern lenses in question. I can absolutely with 100% certainty tell you that cardboard can and will scratch these coatings. There is a reason you're not even supposed to use cotton to clean these lenses. Though these scratches will not alter the light transmission in any perceivable or detrimental way to the image it is very easy to scratch these coatings badly enough that a person looking at the lens will see them and massively lower the value of the lens...something any professional should be cautious of. I have $45k lenses sitting in our gear room as i'm writing this and any person working here would be fired on the spot if they were caught cleaning a lens with cotton let alone letting cardboard sit on the surface of the lenses. I'm not sure why anyone would bother to argue that people should be LESS careful with their equipment but any person that relies on their gear for work and has invested their own money in that gear with entrepreneurial intentions should absolutely continue to 'baby' their gear and make sure it retains every dollar of value possible. ESPECIALLY when it's something as easy to avoid as this.

How much did the lens cost? I paid approximately £700 ($1000) for it when I bought it new.

I am insanely afraid as well. I wish I could get my 24-105 fixed.

Yes, we certainly are. The tool can be purchased here: www.jackthehat.co.uk/lens-repair-vise-tool-fixing-filter-threads-p-1186.html

@@jackthehatphoto Hi - This link is dead - Is the product still available? Thanks

The filter threads on the 200mm lens in the video are not linked to the AF motor in any way. They are firmly embedded in the lens casing.

Here's a guide for the 16-35mm. It seems like a really easy repair. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--qQh0X7XAUo.html

My theory is that, even if you make a mess of the repair and damage the threads permanently, the bill for getting the thread assembly replaced by a professional is going to be no more expensive than it would have been anyway. I have repaired a few other lenses using this method since I made this video and all have been successful so far. Obviously use your own judgement, some lenses are not going to be repairable if the lens is very badly dented.

@@jackthehatphoto yeah i have a pretty severe dent in mind, not minor. Gonna replace the front barrel.

Try the RU-vid slider bar, that's what it's for. Or you could just go to 11:27 if you're really that impatient.

Yea, I gave up after seeing the time of this videoooooooooooooooo

How rude you are aaron lucas!! Ingrate.