Wrench in a pinch.

[M Carter]

Thought I'd share this, as I'm going through a lens repair in the MF thread.

I found that none of the tricks (rubber plug, rubber gloves, rubber bottle opener) could get a retaining ring to budge. This teardown's more of a learning experience and I didn't want to order a spanner and wait a week to get back to this. Two grip heads, two screwdrivers, and a 12" piece of 5/8 boom arm and... spanner!

[BrianShaw]

Clever!

[summicron1]

if it doesn't work I'll always think it should have.

[M Carter]

It worked quite well - yes, a couple pounds of grip gear made it a little nerve wracking, as the ring surrounded a convex lens element and the whole thing was inside a steel barrel with little side clearance - so it was a little dicey lowering it in and getting it set. Breaaaaaaaathe, as my (yoga teacher) wife would say. But a little pressure and a tiny *jerk* and all was good.

[Whiteymorange]

and all was good.

It's all good until somebody loses a (glass) eye. ; >)

[M Carter]

It's all good until somebody loses a (glass) eye. ; >)

Indeed!

When I think of the crazy rigs I've built from grip heads & pipe in my career... I think this one's a classic!

[Jim Jones]

I've used two blades like screwdrivers clamped in a vise, but your system lets one observe the placement of the screwdriver tips in their slots much more accurately.