Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi all.

Hope this is ok, I did search first but found no similar threads.

Given that many of us are not blessed with high salaries or pensions and cannot afford to buy high value tools from the Swiss makers, we only have what China offers for our hobby and as many have found a lot of what is sold on the likes of eBay turn out to be just rubbish and not even worth the low prices asked.  After buying a few useless tools I started to look at some of their better quality offering, which although quite a bit more expensive, were still miles cheaper than the Swiss tools, sofar the few I have tried turned out to be of excellent quality.

So to help others less well of could we have this thread for people to post about their quality Chinese Tools, for others new to hobby but put off buy high prices might find a better tool at a more appropriate price.

If this is OK I will start it off with some of my recent acquisitions.

Thanks.

Paul

 

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 2
Posted

It would be hard to give general recommendations as the quality varies from seller to seller and even from batch to batch.

For example, it has been mentioned several times in the forum that mainspring winders from China vary in quality, from to good to rubbish. And price cannot used as an indicator of quality as there are vendors who sell junk at premium prices.

I bought a pretty good Presto style hand remover several years ago. But when I bought 2 this year, they were rubbish.

But there are good quality Chinese made tools and equipment. I've seen them. They are not sold on AliExpress. One of our new members from China mentioned this before too. We haven'theard from him lately, I hope he's ok.

The only recommendation I can safely give right now is a timegrapher. Most of us have a timegrapher from China and I haven't heard much complaints. 

As for hand tools, most of them are rough. But if you are willing to put some man hours into improving the finish, they are usable.

Good luck in your foray into the Chinese market.

  • Like 1
Posted

So here we go with the first tool in this series

The obquous mainspring winder ser.

This set came from Aliexpress and the price seems to fluctuate around £150

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002838742309.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef1802uk2ABx

A set of 20 winders with lrft and right hand sizes plus one handle.

With this set the important Arburs are all steel and they are sold steel throught the range even some of the bergeon ones use a brass core with steel sleeve on the larger sizes, these are all steel.

Construction and machining is all to a high standard 

Now to the handle which is often a point of critisism in these Chinese sets as there is often only a right handed handle included which can make using the left handed winders a trifle fiddly which is why Bergeon supply two handle in their kits.

The handle in this kit is actually cut for both left and right hand use so only one is needed.

So on the whole a high quality tool that works well and well worth the average asking price of around £150.

Photos below, more tools to follow.

 

Spring Winder 01.jpg

Spring Winder 02.jpg

1442209749_SpringWinder03.jpg

585178860_SpringWinder04.jpg

Spring Winder 05.jpg

Spring Winder 06.jpg

Spring Winder 07.jpg

Spring Winder 08.jpg

Spring Winder 09.jpg

Spring Winder 10.jpg

  • Like 4
Posted (edited)

Next up is a Basic Staking set again found on Aliexpress

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000394566891.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef1802wHIXpx

A well made tool with 50 Stakes and 10 Anvils, all machines to a high standard with size code etched on each stake, codes seem to match those supplied by Bergeon etc.

Only used it a few times sofar but it did everything expected without any issues.

The only thing to note is that the Stakes cannot be used inverted, if that is an issue than something from Bergeon etc may be your only option.

Another Chinese tool I am happy to recomend.

 

_1010741.jpg

_1010742.jpg

_1010743.jpg

_1010744.jpg

Edited by Paul80
  • Like 2
Posted
5 hours ago, Paul80 said:

Next up is a Basic Staking set again found on Aliexpress

The main tool looks good, that is true.

But the stakes? I can see only few usable ones. Looks like they copied but had no idea what to do with those. There seems to be no system of stepped sizes.
And 50 pc. is a very small quantity.

You would be much better off with a used non-chinese tool. For that money good, really usable ones with more stakes will be available.

Frank 

Posted
9 minutes ago, praezis said:

.ut the stakes? I can see only few usable ones. Looks like they copied but had no idea what to do with those. There seems to be no system of stepped sizes.

Sorry, how you can tell from a picture? OP said sizes are copied from Bergeon. 

 

9 minutes ago, praezis said:

And 50 pc. is a very small quantity.

It is a small set, these have always existed, target not too demanding professionals or people able to make their own stakes. 

Posted
1 hour ago, praezis said:

The main tool looks good, that is true.

But the stakes? I can see only few usable ones. Looks like they copied but had no idea what to do with those. There seems to be no system of stepped sizes.
And 50 pc. is a very small quantity.

You would be much better off with a used non-chinese tool. For that money good, really usable ones with more stakes will be available.

Frank 

How about posting some links to the better sets, that would be helpful 😉

  • Like 1
Posted

I suppose if it had been the near identical Bergeon set that costs nearly £600 there would be no complaints.

Don't forget the idea behind these posts is to highlight quality tools for those of us less fortunate in our financial situation.  Just because some of us are poor does not me we have to use rubbish tools.

Am I wrong for doing this, if yes then could a mod lock the thread and I will not say any more on the subject.

  • Like 2
Posted
13 hours ago, Paul80 said:

Don't forget the idea behind these posts is to highlight quality tools for those of us less fortunate in our financial situation.  Just because some of us are poor does not me we have to use rubbish tools.

I forgot this not a second, Paul. Hence my advice above.

Do you own that staking tool or did you judge by pictures? 

13 hours ago, jdm said:

Not really cheap, not Chinese, but looks good and no money goes to the Swiss

I knew these Indian ones, but don't know if still available. They are well made and usable, but stakes differ from the usual 4.7 mm - a drawback:

PunchBox.thumb.jpg.7b8b8ff1218df2725346f1129fd9bb96.jpg

Frank

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, praezis said:

I forgot this not a second, Paul. Hence my advice above.

Do you own that staking tool or did you judge by pictures? 

 

Frank

All the tools I will be showing have been bought and owned by myself

  • Like 2
Posted
1 hour ago, Paul80 said:

All the tools I will be showing have been bought and owned by myself

That is good to know.
Maybe you can post pictures of the stakes faces? As said, the Aliex pictures of them were not convincing to me.

Frank

Posted (edited)

Not easy to photograph just showing the tips so here is a list of the 50 included, the numbers match the Bergeon List

200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 211, 212, 214, 215, 
217, 218, 220, 223, 225, 226, 228, 230, 232, 237,
242, 245, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 
263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 272, 273, 
275, 278, 279, 283, 285, 287, 290, 290, 292, 293,
 

Regarding the picture you posted above, not seen those listed anywhere and looking at the prices, how old is that picture ? prices look like they are from quite a few years ago 😉

Edited by Paul80
Posted

£280 with 120 punches is good value but so was mine at £155 with 50 punches.

The important thing was I had £155 to spend I didn't have £280.

Anyone ever seen the likes of those seen in the picture above at anything close to $95 with 120 punches.

Punches or stakes what is the correct term as they seem to be interchangeable with some sellers ?

Posted
17 hours ago, Paul80 said:

Regarding the picture you posted above, not seen those listed anywhere and looking at the prices, how old is that picture ? prices look like they are from quite a few years ago 😉

From the 2007 catalog of a Mumbai wholesaler who supplies Cousins and US sellers.

Frank

Posted

Next up is a cheap but still quality tool

A Crystal Press found at the link below for only £38

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32974408612.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.666c5b22pOlc91&algo_pvid=89ce2c17-ff1a-437d-9412-8c071e9cdb4d&algo_exp_id=89ce2c17-ff1a-437d-9412-8c071e9cdb4d-1&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id"%3A"66707322604"}&pdp_pi=-1%3B38.01%3B-1%3B-1%40salePrice%3BGBP%3Bsearch-mainSearch

A very well made tool especially given the price, comes with a good selection of plastic (Dies/Dyes) and is of a very solid construction, offering a two speed screw system which quickly opens or closes the press until pressue is applied it then switches to the finer tread to applie the required pressure.

My copy is in full allignment and because the vertical polls are so thick at approx 20mm there is zero flex when pressure is applied.

All Chromes Steel or Red Anodised Alluminium.

A quality product that is well worth the asking price and actually worth a lot more.

 

_1010735.jpg

_1010736.jpg

20220325_124254.jpg

  • Like 5

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

    • If he was much younger and some sort of sports player it wouldn't be a problem. They would be in there and doing surgery and he'd be back on the field in no time. Unfortunately when you get older little things are bad and big things can be really bad so not good at all.
    • Where I work everything incoming watches whatever detailed descriptions are taken entered into a computer program and photograph of each item. Then ideally although it depends on who's doing the paperwork detailed descriptions can be quite good other times there lacking. Like I really like it with pocket watches if they would record the serial number it avoids confusion later on. Then when watch repairs are completed that is also entered in. It's one of the amusements I learned when I was in school instructor had a shop and commented about the important aspect of keeping detailed records of repairs. Because oftentimes a customer who got a new crystal will come back later on when the watch doesn't work and expect you to fix the entire watch for free. Then you can remind them that they just got a crystal. Strangely enough that keeps coming up or occasionally comes up where I work now. One of the problems of using the service marks on the case is that in the case of pocket watches oftentimes that's not the original case. Then case marks? What I was doing warranty work for a company I used to describe a code number in the back of the case and it would tell me the next time I see the watch that basically what I did I made no attempt at keeping track of customers because we had literally thousands of them I think they sold 30,000 of these watches and they would come back by the hundreds because they had a lifetime warranty. Yes that's a story all of itself but I would put a code number that would reference what was done to the watch the last time and think I had a date in there somehow so it did tell a story if you knew the code. Another shop I once worked out the number would reference the page in the book. So other than knowing we had been in there you would have no idea what happened because you have to go look at the page in the book to see what happened. Then the problem of how you examine a watch you should examine the watch in detail every single time to avoid complications. Although on vintage watches and this is a of amusement I have at work when people ask something and I say of the watches done when it leaves. This is because on vintage oftentimes problems won't show up until the watches much farther into the repair like it's now running and you discover things that you can't discover before because it wasn't running to discover them that also become sometimes difficult to have exact rigid prices are estimates of repairs or in the case of a pocket watch you may not find out if a casing problem to later on when you case it up in the watches running. I was just thinking for all those people that would like to leave a mark maybe you should learn to do what some of the past watchmakers did? Leave a mark but leave it in such a way that no one will ever find it? Typically not done for repair purposes but done for other reasons like identifying it's legit. I have a friend with a Gruen watch and one of the Roman numbers the bottom line that just looks like a line under extreme magnification actually says Gruen watch company or something equivalent. So here's a link showing how to mark your watch without being seen although that's not the actual title. So if you can learn micro engraving you can engrave the watch someplace probably just about any place you just have to remember where you put it. https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/obsessions/how-to-prove-if-watches-are-authentic-secret-signatures-182516  
    • I have acquired a Citizen Leopard 36000 watch. My reason for purchasing it was my desire to own a timepiece with a 36,000 BPH movement, and the price was reasonable. Another motivating factor was gaining hands-on experience with the mechanism. The watch is in good condition, but I intend to fully disassemble it for maintenance. First and foremost, if anyone has prior experience with this particular model, I would greatly appreciate their insights. I do not have access to Citizen’s specialized lubricants and will need to use the ones available to me, such as 9010, 8000, and 8300 grease. Additionally, I do not possess the appropriate oil for the pallet jewels and will only be able to clean them.
    • Hello all, I am working on an older Valjoux Chrono. It doesn't have a stamp on the movement anywhere but I believe it is a Valjoux 72. I installed the train of wheels and they will not turn. The problem appears to be the 4th wheel and the escape wheel are not interfacing correctly. I had to replace both of these parts as the pivots were broken on each. I sourced genuine Valjoux/ETA replacements. I think the problem is with the escape wheel as all the wheels turn perfectly if I remove just the escape wheel.  My question to those with more Valjoux experience is am I mistaken? Is this some other model altogether and I have the wrong part or parts?    
    • I would remove the wheels, check for damage and if not damaged, clean. 
×
×
  • Create New...