Quality Chinese Tools

[gpraceman]

I'm curious if all of the Bergeon 8935 clones have a cap on top for storing extra tips or is it just some of them?

[GuyMontag]

I have the Ruipai version and while the cap on top screws off, there isn't any room to store extra tips.

[gpraceman]

I received the hand presser.  I was surprised at how heavy this thing is.  It is solidly built.  No slop with the pushers that I have heard about with the cheap cheap hand pressers.  The extra tip storage is nice.  Though, I'm not sure that I will be needing extra tips.  It came with a set of plastic ones and a set of metal ones.  I'll be using the plastic ones to help protect the watch hands. 

I'd like to remove the lettering on the head.  Maybe acetone?  I'll try a bit on the underside to see the effect on the gray finish.

Tried it last night to finish off my latest project and it worked quite well.

I paid just under $100 for it, which includes shipping and tax.  This one looks to be a good budget alternative to a Bergeon 8935 at less than 1/10th the cost.  Better option than the version of the Chinese Horia that comes with the hand pressing tips.

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by gpraceman

[Waggy]

On 12/1/2023 at 2:52 AM, gpraceman said:

I'm curious if all of the Bergeon 8935 clones have a cap on top for storing extra tips or is it just some of them?

Had no idea the cap came off, I will check mine out when I get home!

[iwillnotsaveyou]

I have ordered (or at least I think I've ordered) the 130pc staking set, and the 6175A from Kwong Yuen. Will report back when I receive in hopefully a month or so.

[Bonefixer]

I've ordered the cloned Bergeon 4x hand pusher - will report back.

I've already got a clone of a Horotec bezel/snap on case removal tool - the MSA07.119.  New price on Cousins is £424 plus VAT, I got it from eBay for £59.  Can't fault it.  Extremely well made, feels solid/weighty, and for everything I've used it for so far it's been fine. I'm thinking about getting the Horotec bezel blade inserts for it - I assume they'll fit.  Can't find a clone of them.

[mikepilk]

On 12/14/2023 at 5:26 PM, gpraceman said:

I received the hand presser.  I was surprised at how heavy this thing is.  It is solidly built.  No slop with the pushers that I have heard about with the cheap cheap hand pressers.  The extra tip storage is nice.  Though, I'm not sure that I will be needing extra tips.  It came with a set of plastic ones and a set of metal ones.  I'll be using the plastic ones to help protect the watch hands. 

I'd like to remove the lettering on the head.  Maybe acetone?  I'll try a bit on the underside to see the effect on the gray finish.

Tried it last night to finish off my latest project and it worked quite well.

I paid just under $100 for it, which includes shipping and tax.  This one looks to be a good budget alternative to a Bergeon 8935 at less than 1/10th the cost.  Better option than the version of the Chinese Horia that comes with the hand pressing tips.

 

Let us know how you get on with it. I bought a cheap one, and hardly ever use it. Unless you can hold the movement perfectly flat, there's no point using an expensive hand press.  If you use proper movement holders, then it makes sense, but using normal movement holder, it's often hard to get the movement flat in the holder.

I have no problem using hand tools under the microscope.

[gpraceman]

1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

Let us know how you get on with it. I bought a cheap one, and hardly ever use it. Unless you can hold the movement perfectly flat, there's no point using an expensive hand press.  If you use proper movement holders, then it makes sense, but using normal movement holder, it's often hard to get the movement flat in the holder.

I have no problem using hand tools under the microscope.

So far so good with using the hand presser.  I use this holder with it.  It is really just a platform to set the movement on and fits perfectly into the cup of the hand presser.  It does have an adjustable central pin to support the center jewel.  Though, you have to adjust it from under the holder, which isn't ideal.  It would have been better if you could spin the top of the holder and that would adjust how much the pin protrudes.  I thought about modifying it to do so, but had not gotten around to it.

[iwillnotsaveyou]

Very impressed with the quality of the Kwong Yuen tools at initial glance.

first the staking set:

 

I also purchased the screw down case/crystal press 

 

Edited February 6 by iwillnotsaveyou

[GuyMontag]

Any idea what this tool is for? The description says, "Movement Adjustment Quick And Slow Tool Spoon".

[mikepilk]

33 minutes ago, GuyMontag said:

Any idea what this tool is for? The description says, "Movement Adjustment Quick And Slow Tool Spoon".

 

It's for regulating free sprung balances on the likes of Rolex and Omega. You do it with the balance mounted. The little bit on the left sits on one of the balance screws, and the pointer on the cylinder shows how much you have turned it. I'm surprised there's no scale there.

[GuyMontag]

Thanks, that makes a bit more sense than "Quick and slow tool spoon "

[VWatchie]

On 1/25/2024 at 9:44 PM, iwillnotsaveyou said:

 

I'm trying to locate the press and the die set. I think I found the press, but not the die set. Alibaba, right? Any chance you can provide links? Thanks!

On 2/6/2024 at 2:24 AM, iwillnotsaveyou said:

 

What's this for? 

[Knebo]

19 hours ago, GuyMontag said:

"Movement Adjustment Quick And Slow Tool Spoon".

 

19 hours ago, mikepilk said:

It's for regulating free sprung balances on the likes of Rolex and Omega. You do it with the balance mounted. The little bit on the left sits on one of the balance screws, and the pointer on the cylinder shows how much you have turned it. I'm surprised there's no scale there.

More specifically, the one that @GuyMontag has posted would be for Rolex microstella screws (not Omega co-axial). The code 03.670 on the packaging gives that away.

[iwillnotsaveyou]

1 hour ago, VWatchie said:

I'm trying to locate the press and the die set. I think I found the press, but not the die set. Alibaba, right? Any chance you can provide links? Thanks!

What's this for? 

I think you have a few routes if you want the press and die set. It looks like you can purchase it via aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805193943005.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.17.7172vBFIvBFIE2&algo_pvid=36d147b7-c85a-4e96-98c3-91f5811bfcf3&algo_exp_id=36d147b7-c85a-4e96-98c3-91f5811bfcf3-8&pdp_npi=4%40dis!USD!137.00!137.00!!!137.00!137.00!%402101d69a17073978872681499e2fa2!12000032818712504!sea!US!4296785206!&curPageLogUid=ltM7m3b9GVRw&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch|query_from%3A

I wanted two tools and wasn't happy with the shipping cost, so I ended up going a more convoluted route. 1688.com is the internal chinese version of alibaba. (It's owned by alibaba just like aliexpress is). Unless you're in China you can't order from them, you have to go some other route. Sugargoo is a 'forwarder', you put in the purchase order and they buy it from the Kwong Yuen factory via 1688, it gets shipped to them (for free) as their warehouse is in Shenzen, CN. They inspect, and then repackage together all items, and reship it using UPS or whatever from China to you. I had a good experience, but I'd hardly stake my reputation on anyone else going through this process. It takes a bit of a leap of faith.

Here is a link to the factory store direct on 1688.com, sometimes theres more pictures and better descriptions here (I use google translate on chrome to understand the page): https://shop9984n72151764.1688.com/page/index.html?spm=0.0.wp_pc_common_header_companyName_undefined.0

Here is a link to the factory store (routed through Sugargoo), they will translate it for you.

https://www.sugargoo.com/#/home/shopProducts?source=1688&shopId=2200742215132&sellerId=b2b-220074221513217c67

Here is a direct link (via Sugargoo) to the press, I added "6175A capping machine (green machine)" and "Additional 31-piece die set", https://www.sugargoo.com/#/home/productDetail?productLink=https://detail.1688.com/offer/701338329712.html

And here is a direct link (via Sugargoo) to the staking set, I added "130 punch set GY0295 (green)" : https://www.sugargoo.com/#/home/productDetail?productLink=https://detail.1688.com/offer/732431432684.html
 

As for what that tool is, I believe its used to punch out pins to remove links in a steel bracelet.

Hope that helps.

[VWatchie]

I wouldn't be one bit surprised if the screw-type crystal press I have made an overview video about has already been covered in this big thread, but I thought I would contribute to it by linking to my post about the video.

[gpraceman]

1 hour ago, VWatchie said:

I wouldn't be one bit surprised if the screw-type crystal press I have made an overview video about has already been covered in this big thread, but I thought I would contribute to it by linking to my post about the video.

I had one for awhile.  I ended up selling it.  It is actually quite a good press for the money.  But I bought a vintage Robur press for a good price, so it became expendable.  However, I was way too premature on selling that Chinese press.  The Robur press got lost in the US Postal system and never arrived (it's been several months now).   I at least got my money back from the seller.  I've been using a cheaper Chinese press.  I'll likely eventually buy a new Robur press from Cousins (just the press) and 3D print an adapter so I can use my screw on dies.

[iwillnotsaveyou]

I went ahead and made another order for some more tools from the Kwong Yuen factory. 

Main purchases were Case Opener, Bezel Lift, Strap Puncher, Tube Remover, Jewelling Set, and a set of screwdrivers. Some pics below, happy to take some more pics of anything if someone wants more details.

 

 

I measured the jeweling set, and I'll say the sizes seem consistent, but a little small compared to the printed numbers. Pushers seem to come in about 0.04mm less than marked (220->216). As far as I'm concerned that shouldn't affect its effectiveness much. The actual pushing edge looks decent, but could be dressed to a mirror finish. They come apart and back together without any issues.

Here is one pusher out of the box.

and after a little dressing.. (first time trying, and probably needs a bit more):

[Neverenoughwatches]

53 minutes ago, iwillnotsaveyou said:

I went ahead and made another order for some more tools from the Kwong Yuen factory. 

Main purchases were Case Opener, Bezel Lift, Strap Puncher, Tube Remover, Jewelling Set, and a set of screwdrivers. Some pics below, happy to take some more pics of anything if someone wants more details.

 

 

I measured the jeweling set, and I'll say the sizes seem consistent, but a little small compared to the printed numbers. Pushers seem to come in about 0.04mm less than marked (220->216). As far as I'm concerned that shouldn't affect its effectiveness much. The actual pushing edge looks decent, but could be dressed to a mirror finish. They come apart and back together without any issues.

Here is one pusher out of the box.

and after a little dressing.. (first time trying, and probably needs a bit more):

How did you tidy up the ends of the pushers ?

[JackH]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

How did you tidy up the ends of the pushers ?

Alex has a good video on polishing pushers and stumps.

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

27 minutes ago, JackH said:

Alex has a good video on polishing pushers and stumps.

 

a great way to keep the ends square and true

[iwillnotsaveyou]

Yes, exactly... followed alex's video.

 

I have an older favorite set, but I bought this set because it was cheaper than replacing the few missing pushers, and I figured I'd get a whole set of stumps as well. That set cleaned up great following Alex's instructions.

[Michael1962]

Looking at the cost, I can only presume that these are Made in China.

I presume that that the business bits that interact with the spring bars may simply be soft and will fail quickly.

If the sizes match though, possibly getting brand blades may be an option? I'm not about to pay $425 for a Bergeon one which in pictures looks no different whatsoever. Would the Chinese one be using Bergeon pictures and hiding the Bergeon imprint?

Has anyone had any experience with these?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/315298640563?itmmeta=01HVNSDFG86JHXKRY96EWESS4T&hash=item49694372b3:g:nEEAAOSw2~ZmHply&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwKlDwtkPKr8E7rM5o4bY%2B%2FzzJR2ZkK0%2BnlnLnjSf1RqeESbFS%2BtSYvQexZbvKO3NzgDIh%2BVsxbp8DlexObh4eXahdEHk0EUY7yAEfD1gzfBhqutjLbccWnX0sbon0dU36xUqUvfxfHxa0%2FllXq5CEjggqo5FQmt3uON7sxfSidsauTODup%2BhK%2BR%2F6J1VMN4gt6BTsyzrIyenQiQvSGYR5OjCdatPuNcNazHaAYP5VdWQLuu1RWLUv5TXrmMtq5y14g%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5j4tbndYw

[HectorLooi]

1 hour ago, Michael1962 said:

Looking at the cost, I can only presume that these are Made in China.

I presume that that the business bits that interact with the spring bars may simply be soft and will fail quickly.

If the sizes match though, possibly getting brand blades may be an option? I'm not about to pay $425 for a Bergeon one which in pictures looks no different whatsoever. Would the Chinese one be using Bergeon pictures and hiding the Bergeon imprint?

Has anyone had any experience with these?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/315298640563?itmmeta=01HVNSDFG86JHXKRY96EWESS4T&hash=item49694372b3:g:nEEAAOSw2~ZmHply&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwKlDwtkPKr8E7rM5o4bY%2B%2FzzJR2ZkK0%2BnlnLnjSf1RqeESbFS%2BtSYvQexZbvKO3NzgDIh%2BVsxbp8DlexObh4eXahdEHk0EUY7yAEfD1gzfBhqutjLbccWnX0sbon0dU36xUqUvfxfHxa0%2FllXq5CEjggqo5FQmt3uON7sxfSidsauTODup%2BhK%2BR%2F6J1VMN4gt6BTsyzrIyenQiQvSGYR5OjCdatPuNcNazHaAYP5VdWQLuu1RWLUv5TXrmMtq5y14g%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5j4tbndYw

Many of us have one of those in our drawers. Total waste of money.

[clockboy]

I have said this before and repeat the BHI has researched this subject and published their findings. Overall the biggest difference between the Chinese and Swiss tools is the quality of the materials used. So for an amateur the Chinese tools are OK but I have found the build quality is not as precise as the Swiss. Also for example I had purchased for me a hand lifting tool.See link below; the pusher just did not align correctly so it’s  very fiddly to use but works.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004261155255.html