I've added Watch Repair to the Hobbies List!

[John Barrett]

Not quite Model Engineering, more like Miniature Engineering!

My old watch is coming up to its 30th birthday, and as I don't really need a watch anymore I took it to a specialist watch buyer with a view to getting some cash to put into a Wake fund...

"Sorry mate" he said, "The bracelet is knackered. All the link pins need replacing and it will cost you a fortune!", unless you can do it yourself...

I retired, hurt, and resolved to fix matters. The 40 odd pins are M1.2 stainless, micro knurled at each end. They are pressed in, and all I need is a small extractor fixture mounted on my little Myford vice to get them out again. I could buy a specialist tool like this one, but why bother when it's a bit of fun to do the job yourself.

Here's the partly disassembled watch.

Here you can see the huge wear on the links. The diameter is now 0.78mm instead of 1.2mm. With 40 links that adds up to about 15mm of slack in the bracelet!

I'll have a go at the tool tomorrow. It took a bit of courage on my part to take the thing apart as it is still worth quite a bit of money!

 

[Mikeco]

I’ve not worn a watch since I finished working 24 years ago and don‘t see the need to as I can either look at my phone or ask the wife.
Good idea to have a go yourself though.

 

[Wabs]

Brilliant,, I love watches and do a few repairs my self, but sometimes, messing around with watch interiors will devalue them, ( you do have a Rolex there) so be gentle, and good luck

 

[funflair]

I'll have a go at the tool tomorrow. It took a bit of courage on my part to take the thing apart as it is still worth quite a bit of money!

Not any more it's not I am sure you will do a cracking job though, I think my Omega could could with doing as well but I don't wear it as much now as I have a choice

 

[denisejoe]

I’ve not worn a watch since I finished working 24 years ago and don‘t see the need to as I can either look at my phone or ask the wife.
Good idea to have a go yourself though.

I could ask Denise she hasn’t got a watch but knows the time within minutes the correct time even abroad the day after we arrive she is bang on the time

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[Silver-Fox]

I could ask Denise she hasn’t got a watch but knows the time within minutes the correct time even abroad the day after we arrive she is bang on the time

Does she make your arm ache carrying her around on your wrist

 

[jockaneezer]

Those worn pins remind me of a time I left a worn shaft out with a note asking the nighshift lad if he would make a replacement and I would fit it in the morning. When I returned the next morning, he'd made the shaft exactly the same as the worn one. He thought the eccentrics were part of an adjuster !

 

[Silver-Fox]

Those worn pins remind me of a time I left a worn shaft out with a note asking the nighshift lad if he would make a replacement and I would fit it in the morning. When I returned the next morning, he'd made the shaft exactly the same as the worn one. He thought the eccentrics were part of an adjuster !

Assumption, the f*** up of all engineering as the saying goes

 

[John Barrett]

Assumption, the f*** up of all engineering as the saying goes

Agreed. It makes an ASS out of U and ME!

 

[U.Toadifact]

If you come unstuck:

Classic Watch Repair in Central, Hong Kong

Watch repair and restoration specialists who care for both inner mechanics and exterior aesthetics. Rooted from support by worldwide vintage Rolex collector communities for our watch band restoration services, we have evolved into a full-service center for watches and clocks of all sorts, be it vint

www.classicwatchrepair.com

Excellent reputation.

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