Jump to content

Is the Horotec Watch Tool Hand Press any good?


Recommended Posts

Hi all, I'm contemplating the purchase of a "Horotec Watch Tool Hand Press" after damaging a few too many watch hands. I'd appreciate any advice the group might be willing to share.

\\\

I connection with my fordite watch dial project, I've been swapping around a lot of watch hands. This practice has been really good for me, and I'm now a lot better about working with watch hands than I have ever been.

I'm currently using Rodico, the Bergeon 7404 Set of 3 Watch Hand Install Setting Tools, and a pair of Horotec Aluminum Tweezer with Delrin Tips. I'd say that I can successfully install hands 90% of the time without any damage to the hands or dial. This isn't a great success rate, but it's a heck of a lot better than I was earlier this year.

Unfortunately, I've been consistently struggling with some specific watch hands. I'm having a lot of trouble cleanly installing watch hands from the Seiko SRPD## ("5KX" series). The minute hand in particular has been giving me fits. Unlike other hands I have experience with, these minute hands are very broad and thin near their pipe. As a result, it's trivially easy for me to bend these hands during installation which (at best) leaves a slightly visible crease/mark, or at worst results in the total loss of the hand.

SRPD81.JPG.c85b99f5c8e9d1aab5faa6220a9f39ca.JPG

I have thought about shaving down one of the Bergeon 7404 hand tools -- the root of the problem seems to be that the diameter of the nylon tips on the Bergeon 7404 tools is wider than the area on the watch hands that I'm trying to apply force to, which leads to damage. This would be a cheap solution.

I'm also thinking about buying a $99 Horotec Watch Tool Hand Press Single from Esslinger. Does anyone have any experience with this tool? I know that there are cheaper tools that look similar, but I'd be paying the Horotec premium for their precision of manufacture. I'm also specifically considering this tool because it looks to me like all of the interchangeable delrin tips have different diameters, unlike the one-size-fits-all approach of the Bergeon 7404 hands.

horotec-delrin-tips.thumb.JPG.579449cc9063183893248fa4fdb04e6f.JPG

If the Horotec hand press isn't any good, can anyone suggest an alternative?

Thanks in advance for any advice or feedback the community can share with me.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have A-F install tools similar to the ones you have. 

The “trick” such as it is, is to select a tool whose bore is just big enough for the next pinion- I.e. the hour hand install tool should just clear the canon pinion and the minute one should just clear the seconds pinion. And be close to flat. 

Mine are slightly domed at the tip, and I “roll” the tool around to be sure the hand fully seats. I have polished the plastic tips of course and one of them I opened the bore on a bit. 

I’ve had good luck, even with Rolex white gold hands, which are mirror polished, curved on top, and soft. 

I’m sure that tool would be great; but with any tool- make sure the tips are polished, square(ish) and the bore is appropriate. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ever contemplate these?

www.esslinger.com/bergeon-7026-watch-hands-installing-tweezer

45 bucks at Esslinger, 41 bucks at Ofrei. Horotecs version is astronomical! again, I'm still deciding if I'm more comfortable with the hand tools or the cheapo hand press. I like that the press keeps things perpendicular. That seems to be key for me. between Rodico and these tweezers tho, they have helped. another thing I use is a tiny bit of rodico attached to the end of the tool tip that holds the hand. I get it to the pinion to get it started. pause, remove the bit of rodico then continue the install.  so many different things-still trying to find a consistent trick. I'm all over the board. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, MechanicMike said:

ever contemplate these?

www.esslinger.com/bergeon-7026-watch-hands-installing-tweezer

They seem nice, but I'm not having trouble holding the hands or positioning them over the pinion -- I'm struggling with pressing them down onto the pinion with enough force to get a good fit but not so much force that I bend certain hands.

@Tudor -- Thanks for the tip! I'll make sure to polish the tips.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/24/2020 at 1:09 PM, watchweasol said:

I have the chinese version of the Horotec tool, comes with five interchangable tips,  although not finished to the same quality it is capable of doing the job.   £40 as opposed to £100 or more.

I too have that. How do you like it? Mine is a little wobbly and I was thinking on getting a heavier spring to put in it. I think I'm leaning towards liking it better than the hand tools. Thinking of getting the Horotec one...thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Mike   Mine was a bit stiff in the plungers but dismantled and polished up they were ok and is seems to work fine for the price   although Cousins uk do it for £69 there is not a lot in it , The Horotec one will have a better quality and build level. If you find you are using the tool a lot probably the Horotec wins out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Put the movement in a movement holder and it will be supported as you push down on the setting lever post to release the winding stem. Make sure the post is over the shoulder of the movement holder so what you are pressing down on is supported. As a general rule, hold the movement and not the movement holder. Replace the hands when the movement isn't in the case and support the centre jewel (if it has one) on a hard surface or staking block when replacing the hands to stop the jewel accidentally moving or even coming out. A dedicated movement holder with a central jewel support is even better, but pricey
    • It might help us if we knew which watch like model number.
    • Hi, guys I have a bit of a predicament and hopefully, somebody can advise. I'm working on a Roamer MST 521 where the movement is extracted from the crystal side. I'm now at the final hurdle where I need to replace the movement back into its case but I'm not sure of the correct procedure. I still need to fit the hands but that's where the problem lies. If I insert the winding stem to test the hands for correct alignment I will need to turn the movement over to release the stem again it's the spring-loaded type and needs a small bit of force to push down but with the hands fitted, I don't think I can do this on a cushion without causing some damage to the hands and that's the last thing I want to do, this watch has already been a love-hate relationship and I'm so close to boxing this one off which I'm counting as my first major project.  The other option is to case the movement then fit the hands and hope everything is okay. I've already broken the original winding stem but managed to find a replacement, the last one in stock, so I'm a bit reluctant to keep removing it. Any suggestions would be appreciated. 
    • I would go for the dearer spring. You won't need to remove the spring from the carrier ring and then use a mainspring winder to get it into the barrel, for a start. Also that spring is closer to the needed dimensions, especially the length. The length plays a part in the mainsprings strength. If you double the length you will half the force (strength) of the spring and vice-versa. A spring with 20 mm less length would be about 7% shorter, so technically would be 7% more strength, but I find halving this number is closer to real-world findings, so the spring would be about 3 to 4% more strength/force. On a mainspring that ideally kicks out 300 degrees of amplitude, a 3% increase in amplitude would be 309 degrees. Increasing or decreasing the length of the mainspring will affect the power reserve to a greater or lesser degree. It depends how much shorter or longer it is. I've attached a lesson regarding mainsprings, focussing on the size and strength of the spring within the barrel, you might find helpful. Unfortunately it is a PDF converted from a PowerPoint presentation, but only a slide was lost that was originally a video of fitting a mainspring   Lesson 5 The mainspring.pdf
×
×
  • Create New...