I have a question about a watch I own.

[Titanium Steel]

About 5-6 years ago, I bought myself a Timex Expedition Indiglo digital watch. By all standards, this is a middle of road, decent wrist watch. I am guessing that WR100M is the model number.

My question is, on the top and the bottom of the back of watch. Removal is easy, but putting these pins back into the slots in the back is really tough.

Is there a tool (besides pliers, hobby knives, slotted screwdrivers) made precisely for pins on watches?

If there are, can some one provide the name of the tool and brands of companies that create quality tools of this type?

I'd like to stress I've tried about every tool you could think of and while the job is done, it's often a long process and a daunting one at that.

Any help is awesome and I really am thankful for that.

Here are some pictures though.

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

WR100 mean water resist up to 100 meters, not a model number.

What you need is a spring bar tool, Bergeon (Swiss) makes the best one http://www.mywatchmaker.net/springbartool.htm. Cheap one works fine if you only use it occasionally.

 

[Givl Reggin]

The only "tool" I've ever seen a jeweler use is a small flat blade screwdriver - they make it look easy, but it probably helps doing dozens of these a week.

BTW... WR100M is "Water Resistant to 100 Meters depth"

 

[Odorcide]

VERY CHEAP but it works in a pinch;

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-watch-repair-kit-91622.html

 

[Titanium Steel]

T1: I couldn't find a model number anywhere, so my apologies for that.

Spring Bar tool is what this called? Thank you, finally a name to a product. I am likely going to be using this product a great amount of times, so I don't think I want to go down the cheap route.

Thank you very, very much for your help though. You'd be surprised on fact that this information isn't common at all.

Besides Bergeon though, in the event I am not able to get that product for what ever reason, do you recommend any other brands?

Seriously though, thank you though.

 

[shoturtle]

VERY CHEAP but it works in a pinch;

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-watch-repair-kit-91622.html

This is actually the kit to get if you do not want to pay more. I have allot of watches, and this kit covers more work on bands and bracelet.

 

[Titanium Steel]

Shoturle: I just did a Amazon search on Spring bar tools and all the ones I found looked really cheap in quality and did not look like would last even half of one time. It's not that I don't want a Bergeon brand, but I'd like to find a place to get one for not full retail price.

As for the Harbor Freight set, I really all those tools already except for a spring bar tool. Wish I knew a second brand other than Bergeon though.

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

You are very welcome. A word of warning though, don't get addicted to watches, they are way more expensive than tools...



PS: When changing spring bar, you might want to tape up the watch to avoid scratches from tool slippage.

T1: I couldn't find a model number anywhere, so my apologies for that.

Spring Bar tool is what this called? Thank you, finally a name to a product. I am likely going to be using this product a great amount of times, so I don't think I want to go down the cheap route.

Thank you very, very much for your help though. You'd be surprised on fact that this information isn't common at all.

Besides Bergeon though, in the event I am not able to get that product for what ever reason, do you recommend any other brands?

Seriously though, thank you though.

 

[shoturtle]

Shoturle: I just did a Amazon search on Spring bar tools and all the ones I found looked really cheap in quality and did not look like would last even half of one time. It's not that I don't want a Bergeon brand, but I'd like to find a place to get one for not full retail price.

As for the Harbor Freight set, I really all those tools already except for a spring bar tool. Wish I knew a second brand other than Bergeon though.

cheap way, buy a small precision slotted screw driver. And file in a groove.

 

[shoturtle]

You are very welcome. A word of warning though, don't get addicted to watches, they are way more expensive than tools...



PS: When changing spring bar, you might want to tape up the watch to avoid scratches from tool slippage.

I know about watch addiction, I have about 22 swiss watches, 5 german, 2 italian and 2 japanese watches. It is addicting.

 

[Titanium Steel]

T1r2u3s4T: I own only one watch and if you count a alarm clock, then maybe two. I am not really much of a watch guy and I just use mine to tell time and the date.

I am still trying to figure out where to buy a reasonable priced Beregon tool and at this I can't really justify $30+ dollars at time, but it's wait and see. I found out Grainger doesn't sell these though.

Shoturtle: What size Precision Slotted screwdriver would you recommend? For example 1/32 or so. Thanks though for the help as well.

 

[shoturtle]

T1r2u3s4T: I own only one watch and if you count a alarm clock, then maybe two. I am not really much of a watch guy and I just use mine to tell time and the date.

I am still trying to figure out where to buy a reasonable priced Beregon tool and at this I can't really justify $30+ dollars at time, but it's wait and see. I found out Grainger doesn't sell these though.

I got as set for free, it came with a watch I got that had a leather strap as well as a bracelet. But that was the least they can give you for a 2k watch.

 

[shoturtle]

Titanium steel,

a wiha 2,0x100 would work

 

[Titanium Steel]

Shoturtle: So a Wiha 2.0X 100 okay. I for a minute thought you were going to say Wiha 2.0 X 40mm, but looks like I was incorrect.

I just got off the phone with a friend and he told about this spring bar tool being sold on Ebay and he said that might work, but in your or anyone else's opinion should I stick to Shoturtle's plan of a slotted screwdriver or go with this link?

Here is what my friend is talking about. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spring-Bar-...Band-Spring-Bar-Tool-/200736573262#vi-content

As well as this link. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Watch-B...358?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2312657ce6 I've found a great deal of these on Ebay though as well. Can't tell which one is better than the other though.


What is anyone's thoughts?

 

[shoturtle]

It does not require allot of weight to dislarge the spring. The el cheapo will work. It is cheaper then the wiha.

 

[Titanium Steel]

Shoturtle: I've been told by some real ******** watch fans they would trade a top of a line for their wife sometimes.

I've found some Spring bar tools that ship from the United States for low price, so I might check those out, after I locate the average cost of a Wiha 2.0 X 100 slotted screwdriver.

 

[ffemtdisp]

I never thought this subject would appear in this forum. I posted not long ago about what I inherited from my Grandfathers, tool wise.

Strangely enough, I inherited my Grandmother's watch and clock tools. I never learned when/how she learned to fix clocks and watches. She would work at her desk at home. Worked on watches and clocks for "pin money". Got referrals from the local jewelers that couldn't be bothered with Timex and other "lower end" watch repairs. She also (I guess the modern word is networked) with two other independent clock workers in the area. Dad and I were her "transportation" department.

I have her tools, somewhere. I wished I had learned more about the trade, but I was too young. It was cool though, I ALWAYS had a watch at school (1970s). Usually was a watch that the owner thought it was too much to pay for and abandoned at her house.

Old clocks and watches are an interest, but I havent gotten into the high end ones. Yet.

To keep this on topic, as someone posted above, Grandma used a precision screwdriver, slick as you please to get those spring bars out. I have tried many times, with little success to duplicate that skill. I have to look for that tool now in her kit.

 

[shoturtle]

spell check is sometime a pain.

But yeah, a lange and sohne skeleton watch is 195k. All hand made and they are pretty much one of a kind. And if the marriage is not on strong ground. The 195k watch would look to be a better deal then the wife.

 

[Titanium Steel]

Ffemtdisp: Sounds like your Grandmother was exceptionally brilliant and would probably have made a exceptional engineer of sorts.

My Timex is lower end, yet for what ever reason, I don't think this watch was made 100% in you guessed it, China but who knows.

On topic: As for a screwdriver, I've used a Phillips, slotted and one time even a needle nose piler and X-Acto knife I was given for free. No luck any of those times.

For some reason though, the fork end of those Spring Bar tools look very similar to my Wiha notched pry bar, although mine is much more dense and has a handle.

Interesting story though man, I am really glad I created this thread now.

 

[djkeev]

I was taught by my Dad back in the 60's to use the business edge of a sharp knife to remove and reinstall those spring bars.

This technique has served me well for way to many decades!

Dave

 

[darkk]

I usually just use a quality pair of fine point stainless steel tweezers.

 

[jeffmoss26]

my grandpa was a jeweler so he has the tool for this, he adjusted a watch for me the other day! one end has a v-notch in it, the other end is pointed to remove the pins.

 

[Vvmvbb]

...

I am still trying to figure out where to buy a reasonable priced Beregon tool and at this I can't really justify $30+ dollars at time, but it's wait and see. I found out Grainger doesn't sell these though.

...

$20 on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Bergeon-6767-Springbar-Tool-19-95/dp/B001IZT8R2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S?ie=UTF8&colid=UOLA020AGPTG&coliid=I2AL8KORHP9LRX

 

[Titanium Steel]

Vvmvbb: Thank you for that link, although the final price of that item is $26.70 though. To bad that item isn't shipped and sold by Amazon either.

I'll probably buy myself a spring bar tool on Ebay, as I do like Begeron, but wow they are not cheap.