Macro How to deglass a Vivitar TC?

Zephos · 02-08-2015, 01:26 PM

Just got on to use as an extension tube. Where do I start?

**boriscleto** · 02-08-2015, 01:41 PM

Does the glass screw out? It does on many TCs.

EarlVonTapia · 02-08-2015, 02:06 PM

A small ball-peen hammer does the trick for filters. It would probably work for the TC. It's also fun to smash things.

**crewl1** · 02-08-2015, 02:16 PM

The lenses will be held with a ring that has two notches on opposite sides.
Use a flat screwdriver in one of the slots, hold it at an angle and tap it with a small hammer.
You want to unscrew that retainer ring.
Once you remove it the lenses should just fall out.
Some TCs have rings on both sides and you may have to remove both.

( A tool called a spanner wrench is made for this but not worth buying if this is the only time you will need it. )

**baro-nite** · 02-08-2015, 02:21 PM

Depends on which TC. The only ones I have encountered that are reasonable to de-glass (i.e., no hammer required, reversible) are 2x units. As Larry says, look for the ring with little notches. A lens spanner is best for unscrewing the ring but the screwdriver method works in a pinch. It's easy for the screwdriver to slip, though, which can result in scratching some part of the TC (probably not the glass).

Other TCs I've looked at with this in mind seem to be glued together.

waterfall · 02-08-2015, 02:58 PM

Any glass will fall apart when drilled with an electric tool. Even tempered glass explodes. So the ball peen hammer is more force than required. Of course a spanner works better. Architects caliper dividers with a locking screw feature have steel points that might engage the retainer rings.

severalsnakes · 02-08-2015, 03:12 PM

Thanks for posting this thread! I'm glad I read it. I have a 2x Promaster TC that I never use - I don't take too many "long" shots, and the TC just degrades the IQ, anyway, so I'd always kept it around thinking I'd take the glass out and make it an auto K-mount extension tube. Never looked into doing it until I coincidentally read this thread. Spanner slots were right there! I unscrewed the smaller ring (two rings had slots) and one piece of glass fell out. A gentle tap from the other side knocked the rest of the assembly out in a neat stack. I wrapped some scotch tape around it in case I ever want to put it back in, but I can already tell I'm going to enjoy it a lot more as an extension tube! :-D

Cheers!

EarlVonTapia · 02-08-2015, 06:27 PM

Carefully removing the glass? That's no fun. Hammer all the way!

jake14mw · 02-09-2015, 11:47 AM

Thank you so much to all, especially Crewl1! I had searched this previously, and tried to follow other instructions, and had worked with wrenches and all kinds of things. The way Crewl1 worded it made it clear for me, and it worked! My Quantaray 2x teleconverter had two rings with the two notches that he described. I took a screwdriver and small hammer as he described, and was done in just a few minutes. Thanks!

**crewl1** · 02-09-2015, 12:27 PM

Glad it worked for y'all. Enjoy your tubes!

02-08-2015, 01:26 PM	#1
Zephos Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Photos: Albums Posts: 341	How to deglass a Vivitar TC? Just got on to use as an extension tube. Where do I start?

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02-08-2015, 01:41 PM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Does the glass screw out? It does on many TCs.

02-08-2015, 02:06 PM	#3
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	A small ball-peen hammer does the trick for filters. It would probably work for the TC. It's also fun to smash things.

02-08-2015, 02:16 PM	#4
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	The lenses will be held with a ring that has two notches on opposite sides. Use a flat screwdriver in one of the slots, hold it at an angle and tap it with a small hammer. You want to unscrew that retainer ring. Once you remove it the lenses should just fall out. Some TCs have rings on both sides and you may have to remove both. ( A tool called a spanner wrench is made for this but not worth buying if this is the only time you will need it. )

02-08-2015, 02:21 PM	#5
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294	Depends on which TC. The only ones I have encountered that are reasonable to de-glass (i.e., no hammer required, reversible) are 2x units. As Larry says, look for the ring with little notches. A lens spanner is best for unscrewing the ring but the screwdriver method works in a pinch. It's easy for the screwdriver to slip, though, which can result in scratching some part of the TC (probably not the glass). Other TCs I've looked at with this in mind seem to be glued together.

02-08-2015, 02:58 PM	#6
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812	Any glass will fall apart when drilled with an electric tool. Even tempered glass explodes. So the ball peen hammer is more force than required. Of course a spanner works better. Architects caliper dividers with a locking screw feature have steel points that might engage the retainer rings.

02-08-2015, 03:12 PM	#7
severalsnakes Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kansas City, KS Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,612	Thanks for posting this thread! I'm glad I read it. I have a 2x Promaster TC that I never use - I don't take too many "long" shots, and the TC just degrades the IQ, anyway, so I'd always kept it around thinking I'd take the glass out and make it an auto K-mount extension tube. Never looked into doing it until I coincidentally read this thread. Spanner slots were right there! I unscrewed the smaller ring (two rings had slots) and one piece of glass fell out. A gentle tap from the other side knocked the rest of the assembly out in a neat stack. I wrapped some scotch tape around it in case I ever want to put it back in, but I can already tell I'm going to enjoy it a lot more as an extension tube! :-D Cheers!

02-08-2015, 06:27 PM	#8
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	Carefully removing the glass? That's no fun. Hammer all the way!

02-09-2015, 11:47 AM	#9
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	Thank you so much to all, especially Crewl1! I had searched this previously, and tried to follow other instructions, and had worked with wrenches and all kinds of things. The way Crewl1 worded it made it clear for me, and it worked! My Quantaray 2x teleconverter had two rings with the two notches that he described. I took a screwdriver and small hammer as he described, and was done in just a few minutes. Thanks!

02-09-2015, 12:27 PM	#10
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Glad it worked for y'all. Enjoy your tubes!