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Frozen focus ring on a 25 year old zoom, a hair dryer and 2 minutes saved the job
Client brought in a lens that had sat in a garage in Phoenix for a decade and the focus ring would not budge, so I warmed it with a cheap hair dryer on low for about 90 seconds and it spun free with no damage. I used to soak stuff in lighter fluid for a day, which sometimes wrecked the grease. Anyone got a temp they swear by so I don't cook the coatings next time?
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henrygrant7d ago
How hot is your cheap hair dryer actually getting? Because that number matters way more than the 90 seconds does. Most of those dryers run 120 to 140 F on low, which is right in the sweet spot for old grease, but a "low" setting on a hot running dryer can hit 170 or more and that is where you start messing with cement and paint. My move is to check it with an infrared gun before it goes anywhere near the glass, point it at the barrel right where the ring meets it, and stop when the metal reads about 110 to 120 F. That gives the grease enough to let go without ever getting the front element warm. Takes an extra ten seconds and you never have to guess.
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