Should I grind the tips of my hands removal kit?

[BFernandes]

Hi gents,

So I got a cheap set of 2 hands removal thingies from Cousins. I think the tips are too thick compared to other brands. I suppose these couldn't lift, for example, a GMT hand.

What do you think?

[AndyGSi]

If you look at the listing they're designed to be finished by the buyer.

Edit

Before and after finishing. I've got another set that are slightly thinner too.

Edited July 6, 2024 by AndyGSi

[rjenkinsgb]

The first set I got were like that - a total waste of space.

I found some cheap ones on ebay that were far better, with very fine tips.

They are no use as they are so try grinding them!

 

[praezis]

Once those were really good. You can make everything even a bit cheaper and worse.

[RichardHarris123]

I have two sets, one very cheap, one cheapish. I dressed the very cheap ones and they work great. 

[BFernandes]

Thanks gents.

So, it's time to get my hones busy.

[BFernandes]

Hi gents, so I managed to grind the tips of the hands removal levers.

I borrowed some LEGO pieces from my kid and built a small cart to keep the angle when I'm honing the tips.

I honed enough, in my opinion, to be able to lift the hands. I didn't want to grind too much and get them too thin, I'm afraid the tips could bend or snap.

Below the "toy" I built and final result.

What do you think? 

What is the thickness of your tips, by the way?

Edited July 7, 2024 by BFernandes

[AndyGSi]

Mine from the photo are 0.3mm at the tip going to 0.5mm over about the first 2mm.

The other set I've got at work are like a razor on the tip but I don't use them that much.

[mikepilk]

I struggled with the cheap ones. I changed the shape many times, but I never managed to get them as I wanted.

So I bought some Horotec ones. They are so much better to work with - polished to the perfect shape. They aren't cheap, but as you use them on every watch, I think they are one of the list of tools (screwdrivers, tweezers, movement holders etc) where it's worth spending extra.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2024 by mikepilk

[eccentric59]

1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

I struggled with the cheap ones. I changed the shape many times, but I never managed to get them as I wanted.

So I bought some Horotec ones. They are so much better to work with - polished to the perfect shape. They aren't cheap, but as you use them on every watch, I think they are one of the list of tools (screwdrivers, tweezers, movement holders etc) where it's worth spending extra.

 

 

I've got the Horotec set as well. I don't think I've touched the presto tool for hands since.

[BFernandes]

I think I'll grind the tips a bit more.

Considering that the GMT hand is really low at around 0.2mm, there's no way mine can take it out.

I'll keep the LEGO cart around and next week I'll hone some more to see if I can achieve a thinner wedge.

[rjenkinsgb]

These are the second pair I got - very cheap and excellent quality for the cost!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225754317003

 

[oldhippy]

What the hell is the point of buying unfinished tools. 

[VWatchie]

12 hours ago, mikepilk said:

So I bought some Horotec ones. They are so much better to work with - polished to the perfect shape.

I got them too and I'm very happy with them.

13 hours ago, BFernandes said:

Hi gents, so I managed to grind the tips of the hands removal levers.

I borrowed some LEGO pieces from my kid and built a small cart to keep the angle when I'm honing the tips.

That was very resourceful of you. Skilled watchmakers are good at improvising and finding solutions outside the box. I'm not very good at it, but I'm practising it and getting better and better. It's an important part of watchmaking.

Perhaps I had tried to polish the hand levers using a polishing machine, starting with a 1st stage Gialla mopping wheel and orange Dialux. Not sure how good of an idea that would be though but perhaps worth a try.

[BFernandes]

On 7/7/2024 at 8:31 PM, oldhippy said:

What the hell is the point of buying unfinished tools. 

I didn't know these were so thick at the tips. Luckily I have some tools to grind some steel off if I need, so no big deal.