Sort the springbars into pairs ,maybe sellotape them together? Nothing more frustrating than having to sort through a bag to find the correct size. Looks a fair bit of kit .Good luck .

 

Wow what a simple but life changing idea , cheers for that

 

…swear box?

Just sayin’ 😁

 

I should have checked for a little box of patience too

 

Anything that gives a good depth of field for working is best. Loupes mean you often have to get very close. A pair of reading glasses is my go to for general work when i need magnification. 3.0 I have found fine. For more delicate work a stereoscope is ideal, but a loupe could be used too

 

I have the same kit from Ali, I mostly use the hammer.

 

I was so happy to use the pin pusher when adjusting a band this evening, and then the hammer putting it back in.
Sure I'm half way to being a watchmaker now 😜

 

Good buy there! You snagged quite a lot of items you'll use often. Here's some things I think you'll also need:

1. A crystal press (for mineral and sapphire). Also useful for putting stubborn snap-on casebacks on with.
2. A crystal lifter.. if you also plan of working on vintage watches. These are for fitting high dome acrylic. You can do low dome with your crystal press.. but not by using it as would be normal.
3. Rodico. (picking stuff up with, and cleaning) This is the only comparatively expensive item on the list.
4. Pegwood or coffee stirrers. (endless uses)
5. bulb syringe (should have been higher up list. For blowing dust off of stuff)
6. A cheap watch hands remover/fixer kit.

That should arm you with enough tools to assemble stuff and do a few fixes, but nothing fancy like rebuilding a movement.

 

I don’t use the tools often but I also have all the tools featured in this thread , I’ve found I’ve had to use quite alot of them and at some point I will probably have to use all of them

they are all very handy guy or sizing bracelets , I believe I have everything to swap a NH35 movement out for a new one but I’m not sure I have the experience to pull it off properly which is a shame because the first thing I would do is put a NH36 in my old seiko 5 swap out the prehistoric 7s26 but it’s the hands that get me every time I’ve bent so many and I don’t think I’ve ever got a seconds hand on properly

 

I've got a similar set of tools, and find they are great for basic tasks like battery changes and bracelet resizing etc

I've added a few tools over the years, all still petty cheap and cheerful, but easily good enough for my needs. The 3 prong case back remover can be a bit small (especially for some of my gigantic watches...) so I've got a few others that fit the larger case backs. One is a small 2 prong version, and I've also got a squidgy ball type, and another that has got a sucker on the end of a handle.

By the way, in answer to your question, the red and yellow tools are indeed press-on case back openers. I find the yellow one better than the red, but you need to take care as that one is pretty sharp.... I've also added another type that has got a curved "hook" on the end, which seems to work effectively as well.

Happy tinkering! 😊

 

It is a slippery slope. Soon you’ll have a staking set, microscope, case and crystal press with more dies that you will ever need, a timegrapher and then will be making your own tools…

 

Before you know it you'll have your own workshop...

ain't that right Ian, Jon 😇

 

Funny you should mention that !

 

Magnification and getting the second hand seated correctly. I'd previously mentioned using a blob of Rodico in the hole of a hand presser, that was a really big AHA! moment for me.

 

I actually got the rodico when you and Duncan both mentioned it to me

not had a reason to really try and tinker with a watch , the NH powered watches I have seem to all be in the list to replace with something different wether that be down to being a bit heavy etc

is it me or do NH powered watches seem a bit heavier

it maybe the thick steel cases

 

Maybe paid $15.00 for all of this. A counter move to Batteries Plus that charges $25.00 to change a watch battery, and $6.00 for the battery. Actually, I got the brass pocket caliper at Home Depot for $6.00. Still cheaper than Batteries Plus.

 

Be careful using the brass calipers because they could cause scratches.

 

Not likely on a stainless case or the like. I agree brass on dials and painted surface isn’t ideal.