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Cheap watch repair kit--review

LittleWatchShop
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LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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I bought this kit to take with me when I am "junking" with my wife, so I can open a watch that I might find to see if it is worth purchasing, or perhaps to install a battery or some other small task.  Of course, I have a copious amount of quality tools, but do not want then to take them out of the LittleWatchShop!  So, since this kit is under $20 with tax and everything on Amazon, I bought it.  Here is my initial review.  A correction for the video: I paid $29 for the LG back wrench.

Firstly, the back wrench is an actual asset to my tool drawer.  The reason is because of its greater span than my regular wrench.  I felt this was important enough to make a short video to describe this.

The rest of the tool kit is a "mixed bag."

The screwdrivers are very similar to the classic Bergeon driver.  I illustrate a visual comparison as well as show the driver set that my Dad gave me for Christmas about 50 years ago.  The blades from the cheap kit are horrible "out of the box" so they must be dressed before use. 

The tweezer is very basic and just borders on usability.  I don't know the correct term for the "squeezability" of a tweezer, but compared to my Dumonts, the squeezability is pretty bad.  I had no expectation here, so am not really disappointed.  I will pack a Dumont tweezer (I have many) with the kit for better performance when necessary.

The bracelet pin remover stuff is OK at best.  I have one I had purchased separately and the quality of the metal is poor--bends easily.  The springbar remover tool is horrible--I show pictures of the end.  Not sure it will even work.  In TheLittleWatch shop, I use a "non-precision" screwdriver for removing spring bars.

The watch case holder is actually pretty nice.  I will find use for that...even here on the bench.

The bracelet holder is a nice idea.  I do not have one and I think it is useful enough to get one for the bench.

There are two "snap-back" removers.  Not sure why...perhaps to accommodate prying angle.  At this point, I have no opinion about them...until I try them out.

The kit comes with a little hammer that is kinda cute.  It is used for pounding in bracelet pins.  Has a metal and plastic head.

At then end of the day...it is worth the $20 I spent if only for the back wrench, movement holder, and bracelet holder.  The drivers are usable and the folding case is a compact way to carry a small number of tools.  As I actually use this kit, I plan to report back.

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jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Firstly, the back wrench is an actual asset to my tool drawer.

My experience. Cheap wrenches do mostly work, but loose pins (years ago I used silicon grease to keep them in place), and the wobbly handle screw are unpleasant to use.

 

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The screwdrivers are very similar to the classic Bergeon driver.

Minus the roller bearing probably, I don't know if "classic Bergeon" have that.

 

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The blades from the cheap kit are horrible "out of the box" so they must be dressed before use. 

I'd rather buy 3 sizes of the "unbranded A*F" drivers.  Even my set of Chinese drivers is better than that.

 

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The bracelet pin remover stuff is OK at best.  I have one I had purchased separately and the quality of the metal is poor--bends easily. 

I bought various cheap ones for gifting, and kept the less horrible. It still plastic, but has few spare tips inside and it works.

 

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The springbar remover tool is horrible--I show pictures of the end.

You can buy Bergeon original (wow) screw-on tips for it. 

 

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The watch case holder is actually pretty nice.

Yes it's of the sturdy breed. There is another type like that, uglier but even sturdier.

 

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

There are two "snap-back" removers.  Not sure why...perhaps to accommodate prying angle.

These are copies of Seiko which makes four types. What for each type is meant exactly is a Japan's trade secret.

 

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

 the folding case is a compact way to carry a small number of tools. 

We all like these cases as we had them since primary school except they were shaped like Mikey's head and the like. My other memory about that early "kit experience" is that the eraser was either rock hard and ripped the sheet right away, or smelled like sweets - probably harmfuls chemicals.
Not having anything less intelligent to add here, I wish you fun using it and leave a link which may be appropriate sometime

 

 

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LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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Posted

I improved the back wrench by replacing two of the spacers with this which I designed and 3D printed.  The central adjuster is very tight now...very nice.

One of these fits on each side of the adjustment screw.

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