Help for a novice - fused spring bar

SamLiddle · May 5

Hello all,

This is my first proper post after my intro post. I'm new to the hobby and have been learning and messing around with cheap old watches. I've serviced up a couple of old Smith's pocket watches, but this is the first project I'm proud of: a Hafis watch from the 40s. Barely running when I bought it. Fully stripped, cleaned, reassembled and lubricated, and running now amazingly well. It's a worn old piece of junk, but one I've become highly sentimental about. I'm going to replace the crystal, get it on a strap and wear it with pride. Here it is without the crystal:

IMG20240505205223.jpg.999cbefd6b68f9d8502fd8caab95b758.jpg

The problem:

I can't get the spring bar ends out. They originally looked like this:

s-l1600.jpg.18c3ab231658dbb9a02e0630cc877d78.jpg

They were kind of 'fused in', and I had to cut them off. I managed to work one 'end' out, leaving a normal spring bar hole as you'd expect:

But the others have left stubs like this:

Which refuse to come out, despite firmly pulling/twisting with pliers. It's almost like they are welded in.

What are my options? I know this watch isn't 'worth' the effort, but I've become very attached to it, and want to get a strap on it! Should I file it down and drill the holes? If so, how does one drill when there is so little space? (the other lug will get in the way of any hand drill I might use for example).

Your ideas and wisdom is most welcome!

Thanks,

Sam,

RichardHarris123 · May 6

It might be soldered in, try applying heat.

SamLiddle · May 6

2 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

It might be soldered in, try applying heat.

Good thought.

I've tried this, but no solder. Stuck fast still.

oldhippy · May 6

Looks like it was part of the case. Old watch cases never had those spring bars. The only thing you can do is drill the holes so it will take spring bars.

SamLiddle · May 6

2 hours ago, oldhippy said:

Looks like it was part of the case. Old watch cases never had those spring bars. The only thing you can do is drill the holes so it will take spring bars.

Thanks for your response, I feared as much. Any easy way for an amateur to do this? I suppose drilling from the outside in is the only option?

watchweasol · May 6

Hi as said by @oldhippy it will need to be drilled out. Try usin£ a drill bit in a pin vice, it will be slow but doable. The other way is to drill from the out side of the lug a nd plug and polish when finished.

Waggy · May 7

Drilling is going to be difficult, firstly because the drill bits are so thin and brittle, expect to break a few. The second issue is access to the 'hole', as the other lug will be in the way, meaning that you will have to drill at a slight angle, putting a bending stress on the drill bit and with the slightest drop in concentration .... and back to my first point.

I would be tempted to grind them flat with a Dremel type tool or small jewelers file, and then put a center punch in the center of the bit to be drilled so the drill bit doesn't skip around and break... but expect this to be slow and frustrating work.

By the time you have done 4 of these you'll be an expert and can come back and tell us all the best way to do it if you go down this route. However, I would seriously consider What @watchweasol said and drill from the outside-in, this will ensure straight holes without having to work around the other lugs. It may be worthwhile making yourself a simple paper template so you can be sure to match the position of each hole before drilling. In the end you will be left with 4 holes on the outside of the lugs, but many cases are made this way and unless you are looking for it you probably won't notice or realise that it's not the way the watch was meant to be in the first place.

SamLiddle · May 12

Alright, the job is done. I first filed down the stubs flat. I then used a Proxxon hand drill first with a 0.5mm bit to score a point to work from, then a 1mm drill bit to properly drill out some lug holes. I just went slowly, checking the depth as I went. I drilled the inside of the lugs, leaving the outsides unblemished. I was worried that drilling at an angle might be a problem, but it turned out fine. Lug holes don't need to be very accurate, so it was actually easy to create holes to easily accommodate a spring bar.

The result is a 'good enough' outcome that worked for me.

Thanks for your help everyone, loving the hobby so far. I learn so much with each project.

Neverenoughwatches · May 12

1 hour ago, SamLiddle said:

Alright, the job is done. I first filed down the stubs flat. I then used a Proxxon hand drill first with a 0.5mm bit to score a point to work from, then a 1mm drill bit to properly drill out some lug holes. I just went slowly, checking the depth as I went. I drilled the inside of the lugs, leaving the outsides unblemished. I was worried that drilling at an angle might be a problem, but it turned out fine. Lug holes don't need to be very accurate, so it was actually easy to create holes to easily accommodate a spring bar.

The result is a 'good enough' outcome that worked for me.

Thanks for your help everyone, loving the hobby so far. I learn so much with each project.

Well done Sam, you've successfully completed a tricky piece of work there

watchweasol · May 12

Nice one Sam. Chalk that up as a winner.

rossjackson01 · May 12

6 hours ago, SamLiddle said:

Alright, the job is done. I first filed down the stubs flat. I then used a Proxxon hand drill first with a 0.5mm bit to score a point to work from, then a 1mm drill bit to properly drill out some lug holes. I just went slowly, checking the depth as I went. I drilled the inside of the lugs, leaving the outsides unblemished. I was worried that drilling at an angle might be a problem, but it turned out fine. Lug holes don't need to be very accurate, so it was actually easy to create holes to easily accommodate a spring bar.

The result is a 'good enough' outcome that worked for me.

Thanks for your help everyone, loving the hobby so far. I learn so much with each project.

Photograph? Please.