Caveman's Watch Forum

Watchmaking tools - The basics.

August 10, 2010 09:19AM

Basic Watchmaking tools

Note: the links in this article will lead to www.watchbitz.com.au, a watch parts shop from Australia with special discounts for PMWFers (see end)
As I said I would do a tute on basic tools here it is.
To me a basic set includes all the tools necessary to remove a MVT (movement) from the case, change a battery on a quartz watch and do basic repairs. I consider that the basic requirements are what is set out below.

Screwdrivers – the most base of tools needed to work on a watch. If all you do is occasionally change a battery and adjust a bracelet a basic set will be fine. If you intend to go further with watchmaking get a good set from the start. A cheap set can be had for under ten dollars:

A better set is not that much more however, about $13 to $22 for good

and best.

Look almost the same yes? There is a difference in quality tho. We were presented in GZ with a line of eight different driver sets, all looked the same at first look but had differences in build and quality, we chose two for our mid range and deluxe sets and then specified Horatec blades fro them. Horatec are currently the only decent blade on the market. To be honest IMHO the blades currently being sold by Bergeon are crap.

Screwdriver Sharpener: If you have good drivers there is no point unless you keep the blades in good condition. One of these:

will do the job nicely. Clip the driver in and roll on a piece of fine grit wet&dry or an oil stone to keep your blades dressed to perfection.

Case opener – You will need at least two case openers, a blade for snap backs and a tool for screw backs. For snap backs this is ideal:

This Seiko style case back opener will open 90% of snap back cases with little or no effort. For difficult backs you may eventually need something like this:

The Seiko case back tool. It makes removing even the most difficult of snap backs a breeze.

You will also need a screw back remover and I recommend two tools, first the simple crab claw opener:

This will open 75% of screw backs quickly and easily and is great to keep in your pocket on market trips! For those where a little more leverage and/or care is called for my pick is the dumbbell style opener.

This is a relatively new style in the west but has long been the opener of choice in the east. I find it a better tool than the traditional Jaxa style opener in almost all situations:

Combined with a decent bench or vice mounted case holder there is nothing that these will not open.

To effectively hold a watch to open it you need a case holder. There are many styles from the normal size in ally and plastic:

To bench mounting models:

but I prefer the oversized plastic model: It is large enough to grip in your hands without needing a vice to hold it, great at markets! For those who prefer metal this is also available in ally:

MVT Holders: Just as important is some method of holding that MVT once it’s out of the case. Yes, eventually the time will come where you will be able to pick up a MVT without having to think about how to grab it without crushing the balance but until then you will need a set of MVT holders such as these:

The other popular style is the spring loaded version:

Blower: A dust blower along with a soft brush and Rodico is a vital tool to ensure your work is clean. Nothing spoils a repair faster than dust on the dial. A blower with a metal nozzle such as this:

has a nozzle suitable for inserting in a crown tube to assist in blowing out a stubborn crystal as well as blowing out dirty quartz hack switches. At less than six dollars it’s a must.

Tweezers: Every one needs tweezers and good ones at that! A pair in size 12 and/or 14 along with a pair of plastic tweezers should do it. Yo will need the plastic ones for battery changing and hands installing.

Hammer: There are two basic styles, I would recommend a nylon head, essential for bracelet adjustment. You will also want one of these sooner or later:

the wooden handle gives better control and a bit more heft when a solid whack is required.

Springbar Tool: The most essential tool for a watch enthusiast, every body needs to change a strap every now and again. Many variants but make sure you can get the replacement tips for the tool you buy as you will be breaking them! This is the WatchBitz version:

Bracelet Pin Press: A must, so much easier than a block and pin punch. You still need a block and punch set, there are things only a punch will do but for 80% of bracelets this is the go:

Block and Punch Set: Not just for bracelets, there are other jobs you need these for, cheap (under $5) and handy:

Loupe: Even if you have a headband mag or a desk mag you need a loupe. I use a 6x and a 10x. Any more than 10x and the depth of field is too small for me.

Basic loupe:

You can get them for eyeglasses too:

Headband Magnifier: If you are going to be half way serious about the hobby you really need either a desk or headband magnifier. I use a desk model but many prefer the headband style.

Desk:

Head:

Grease: You will need some case back seal grease. Either a silicone based grease or an automotive rubber grease will do the job, we use this:

Hands Puller: If you are going to do much work on a watch you are going to have to get the hands off so one of these becomes necessary:

This style of puller is the easiest to use. For very small hands you may need to put a chamfer on the face of the feet, even the Swiss ones are made to be dressed to the desired angle.
Don’t forget to protect the dial while using a puller, a piece of paper witr a slit and a hole for the pinion will do the job in most cases.

Hands installers: A simple set of installers is enough for starters:

later you may chose to make the modest investment in a press:

Rodico: Jeweler’s blu tak, invaluable for cleaning and holding parts.

unlike blu tac Rodico does not leave marks when used to clean a surface of dust etc.

Polishing Cloth: I use the well known Cape Cod Cloth for polishing, just don’t use one on gold plate! It will remove it in no time.

Great for keeping things nice and shiny tho. Use with caution on brushed finishes (I will do a tute on re-finishing brushed surfaces when time permits). You will also need a micro fibre cloth for general cleaning and polishing. I keep two at the bench, one clean, one for cleaning. The clean one is used for a final polish of the outside of a watch before returning it to it’s owner and for cleaning the inside of a crystal.

Dust Cover Tray:

Very important to keep all those bits in one safe dust free place and this parts tray makes it so much easier.

That covers all the basics you need to remove a MVT and do a dial or MVT swap or a hands change along with battery changing or even a simple crystal replacement.
We will cover bench tools and the more advanced stuff in a later post. All the above are available from Watchbitz including most of them in a beginner’s tool kit here: Tool Kit don’t forget you need to log in to get the forum member special prices. YOU MUST ALSO BE A REGISTERED MEMBER OF PMWF!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2010 12:52AM by Reto.

Messages In This Thread

Watchmaking tools - The basics.	trailboss99	1665	August 10, 2010 09:19AM
Great post, thanks, Col. (n/t)	Anonymous User	129	August 11, 2010 06:15AM
Re: Watchmaking tools - The basics. Go for it reto, pics are linked to the shop so they won't be changing any time soon. Ricky: You have to try a Dumbbell style mate, we sell Jaxas as well but these are truly awesome devices. JohnnyT: Yup, more advanced tool are coming in the next tute, you can't cover everything and I wanted to give folk an idea of what they could start off with as the basics. Tools like verniers are handy but you can live without them. Col.	trailboss99	146	August 11, 2010 02:24AM
Only thing I'm missin' is the high-zoot Seiko style case back opener. OK, OK, I'm improvising a wee bit. I use good ol' Tupperware® for dust-free storage. And I do fine with handheld handsetters, don't feel the need for the high-falutin' press at all. And I like me Jaxa opener! But other'n, that.. Spot on, cobber!	Ricky Lee	140	August 10, 2010 05:45PM
Great post Thanks for a good post.	dgolden	149	August 10, 2010 05:03PM
Great post. Thank you! (n/t)	Mark C.	101	August 10, 2010 03:53PM
Cool post, Col. I have most of the things you mention and keep them in an easy. mobile box from Tap Plastics. This shows many of the tools in mine, but not all. I would add a few things to your list: A small set of pin pushers A rubber ball or sticky "jar lid opener" to remove Rolex style casebacks. A digital caliper I also have varieties of spring bars and batteries in there all the time.	JohnnyT	135	August 10, 2010 12:06PM
What I found out about cheap dust blowers >> >> when using them for digital camera sensor cleaning, is that any cheap blower is pointless, even likely to make things worse. The blower I have now has a special intake valve equipped with an air filter. Only clean air comes in, hence clean (dust free) air comes out. Highly recommended, probably for work on watches, too. Your post is a great resource for starters! Thanks!	Dave Murphy	121	August 10, 2010 11:24AM
Thanks great post. (n/t)	sharkfin	124	August 10, 2010 11:19AM
Very informative. (n/t)	Paul J Costa	106	August 10, 2010 10:48AM
Admin should keep your post in the Resources/How to. How do you close a snap back ? >>> I tried twice, could not close it back by hand	JP	157	August 10, 2010 10:14AM
I will do that. All I need is Col's agreement and that he will keep the pictures at the same location (n/t)	Reto	115	August 11, 2010 12:00AM
Re: Admin should keep your post in the Resources/How to. How do you close a snap back ? >>> With a case back press: Smaller hand held versions can be found on eBay, we will stock one as soon as we find a good 'un at the right price. Col.	trailboss99	126	August 10, 2010 10:22AM
wowow Thank you so much! Great break down of the parts and their qualities...I've been looking for an up-to-date, comprehensive list of watch tools and VOILA! Thanks again!	yuta	101	August 10, 2010 09:59AM