Showerthought: everyone says you need a special tool for stuck lens mounts, but I used a rubber band

Had a Canon FD lens that was totally frozen on an old F-1 body. The usual advice is to buy a lens wrench or use a strap wrench, but I didn't have either. I wrapped a thick rubber band around the lens mount ring for grip, then used a regular pair of smooth-jaw pliers with a cloth over the band. It came off in about 30 seconds without a single scratch. I know it sounds wrong, but the rubber band absorbed the pressure perfectly. Has anyone else found a simple household item that saved a repair?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wesley16d ago

That rubber band trick is actually pretty smart. I've used a wide zip tie in a pinch for extra grip on a stripped screw head. You just loop it tight and use it like a handle. Sometimes the simplest stuff works when you're in a bind.

vera_johnson915d ago

Yeah the zip tie trick is solid for when you need a little extra bite. I've also had luck with a bit of valve grinding compound on the driver tip, it adds grit without making a mess like super glue can. It's wild how many household items can double as tools in a fix. What's the weirdest thing you've used to get a screw out?

the_wendy16d ago

A dab of super glue on the driver tip works too.