Removing the back from an Elliot Brown Canford

[Canford]

I need to remove the back of my Elliot Brown Canford in order to replace the battery - something I've done many times before with other watches. I realise that this will mean the watch is no-longer sealed to the original spec, but I don't need this.

The back appears to be attached by 6 socket-headed screws which are less than H1.5, so possibly H0.7 or H0.9. Can anyone confirm the size and/or suggest a source for a good-quality hex bit, or set of bits, to fit them?

[AndyGSi]

Welcome to the forum.

Photos would help confirm your thoughts.

[tomh207]

I can’t vouch for the quality but there is a good chance one of these will fit

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364026749226?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D273427%2C272190%26meid%3D40cee5f1d4014606ae25c2f93e7e6689%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D202828913732%26itm%3D364026749226%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQueryRecallAndCPCKnnRecalls%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p4429486.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A36402674922640cee5f1d4014606ae25c2f93e7e6689|enc%3AAQAJAAABMPDQzHdIMm2YTLpV6XbSp86hh8RU43sWhV5EZzZaPfadRVxWNwVBQ%2BYNEWSecm7LRhBnCGf%2F1eJ6%2F7xVuHv4m12Yc6cu32qxZ%2FJU0%2BGswzk4w8fppmtB%2BjkoDB6nUjZODLHs96pTeks3kA8FFuP65PfBdSfBNh71LlAKq0PeDcawUYYZp2srZPgi3BmdmlSgTPQEwT6OjAzLSbGVhebQbg3KO3flppnEXqq69%2FSw5rkHJ3a5ToedshNX6OW61HfkZCio9q2Q052oCyoFOq6UF7DukNITXGeTZ6AtfWGlTD0G0v8o5eksKUuvq7jmQFKg%2BbeYwHQZJ%2B0c2lhHcslRyIT9y7WH%2BY2bPAQf21W%2BnL0bDmqIfn9UCP3hL4GAb9oBo941LobxoiXxsnFLH8brANA%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A4429486&itmmeta=01J8AFZ80EM2YRKEE6TK2Z7H3Q

Tom

[Canford]

Here's  a picture of the back (from the E B website): 

Thanks for the link to the Allen keys but, TBH, there's no shortage of suppliers advertising these keys. I was hoping to find a good quality screwdriver bit (or a set) with the appropriate hex ends, but my google-fu has failed me so far. (BTW, there's no need to post the whole link string - everything after "?" is related to tracking.)

[Nucejoe]

Googled for it, browsed images, shows tons. 

[Canford]

There are not so many that go down to H0.7, and at that size the steel and fabrication need to be good so I'm wary of buying "Chinesium". In the absence of other info, perhaps the answer is to buy a cheap set to find the correct size and then buy a Wera of that size ...

[tomh207]

13 minutes ago, Canford said:

There are not so many that go down to H0.7, and at that size the steel and fabrication need to be good so I'm wary of buying "Chinesium". In the absence of other info, perhaps the answer is to buy a cheap set to find the correct size and then buy a Wera of that size ...

If it’s any help I just measured my iFixit bits and the smaller ones are 0.7 and 0.9 mm. If they would fit they are a bit better than the butter steel so many of the cheap sets are made of.

 

Tom

[Canford]

Thanks! I hadn't heard of "iFixit", but I see they have an interesting website. A recommendation (even from a stranger ) is better than none, so I've ordered an iFixit set and will report back in case anyone else is interested.

[Canford]

A follow-up, in case it's of interest to anyone.

The back of the Canford is held on by the 6 hex-headed screws. They need a 1.5mm key, but the sockets are very shallow so the key end must be absolutely flat and that's what caught me out.
I had forgotten that my watch was still under warranty, which would be invalidated if I were to change the battery, so I'll be sending it back to EB this time

The iFixit "Mako" set arrived quickly from Amazon and has a useful collection of pieces that appear to be well made - only time will tell.

Edited September 23, 2024 by Canford
To add the name of the iFixit set