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Question about using heat guns for lens element separation
I was helping a friend fix a vintage Pentax lens last weekend in his garage. He wanted to separate a stuck helical group using a simple hair dryer. I was skeptical because I thought the heat wouldn't be strong enough or might warp something. We gave it a try anyway after about 15 minutes of warming it up. The element popped free with zero damage, and I was honestly surprised. Has anyone else had good luck using low heat methods for stubborn lens parts, or do you usually stick with solvents?
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david_jones385d ago
I used to be one of those guys who swore by solvents and thought heat was just asking for trouble. That "low heat methods" line you mentioned really hit home because I spent years avoiding them. A buddy talked me into trying a hair dryer on a stuck Canon FD lens, and the whole helical came apart clean in under 10 minutes. Now I always start with gentle heat before even thinking about chemicals or brute force. It just makes sense to try the least aggressive option first, and honestly it works more often than I ever expected.
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