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Tool Suggestions.....

mcass
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mcass WRT Addict

mcass

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I have always wanted to tear a watch down and restore (repair) it but never have. It has always seemed intimidating. I recently found a Bulova 333 M9 Oceanographer at an estate sale though and am dying to give it a shot. Could anyone give me a list of tools that are a must have to work on a wrist watch? Are the generic looking kits offered on eBay sufficient for a beginner?

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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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Welcome to the forum and enjoy the advice and all the support that is offered. Have a look at this topic Question For The Watchmakers. All sorts of advice there including mine. I have around 30 years asa watch/clockmaker but now retired.

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Geo Distinguished Member

Geo

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Welcome to the wacky world of watches! As Micky said above, search the forum and you will find lots of info on the subject. Have a look at Mark Lovick's repair videos and start on something that you are prepared to destroy first.

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clockboy Distinguished Member

clockboy

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Welcome to the forum. There are lots of guys here to advise. A starting point is some good quality screwdrivers & you will need a movement holder/s.

As Geo suggests your first watch should be a watch that does not matter, perhaps a cheap watch for repair off eBay.

Enjoy 

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jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

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To add on the good advice I'd recommend your shift focus from repairing a watch you like, value or is of value, to very simple and cheap watches you can practice one first.

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  • 2 weeks later...
mcass WRT Addict

mcass

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Thanks for all of the replies. I ended up doing like a lot of others I, sure and just picked up a $9 watch repair kit off eBay. I figure that while the quality of tool might be lacking they will at least let me get my feet wet. I did like many of you suggested and did not start with the Bulova. Instead I chose another watch I had in my drawer which while it does mean more to me simply because it was a gift, it hadn't worked in several years. I knew what the problems were which should (I would have thought) made this simpler. 

 

The watch is a Relic ZR77206, skeleton automatic. Two of the 5 minute markers (not sure the correct name) had come loose from the watch face years ago and had fallen into the movement. On top of that the crown stem gone missing and I wasn't sure why. So with all of that this is the one I chose for my first attempt.

 

I thought it would be as simple as opening the case, removing the movement, and the markers would just fall out. Not the case. After disassembling the movement about 3/4 of the way I finally found one of the markers. It doesn't appear to have done any damage to any gears or anything, just lodged where it shouldn't have been, near the main spring. I haven't torn it down any further just yet as I haven't had the time (no pun intended). 

 

A couple of revelations about the experience thus far: 1) the parts are about 100x smaller than I ever could have imagined....holy cow, 2) while disassembling, two pieces were not removed intentionally but rather fell out on there own while I was trying to take a closer look. Who knows where they go...LOL? I'll figure it out though. 3) If my complete lack of experience wasn't enough part of me thinks the Bulova movement would have been simpler  for one reason and one reason alone. This Relic movement has all sorts of engraving on it which actually makes it more difficult to things and identify them, such as screw heads. Its almost like playing "Where's Waldo?".

 

So as soon as I get the chance I look forward to tearing it down even further in search for the other marker. I am not positive yet what happened to the crown but it looks like the stem my have broke. Ill have to see for sure and find another crown for it.

 

I have watched many of Mark's videos which are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and are enough to at least give a guy confidence to try it on his own for the first time. I will say though that they aren't so good that after you get the movement torn down as far as I have that there is still the thought, "What in the hell have I just done".

 

Oh and yes, the screw drivers that came in the eBay kit are indeed horrible! I'll update when I have jumped in feet first again!

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bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

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Excellent account mcass! I enjoyed every bit of your splendid narrative and yes, the first experience does give you many surprises! We are looking forward to hear more about your watchmaking exploits!

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

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  • 2 weeks later...
Vich Distinguished Member

Vich

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Hello mcass,

 

Welcome !

Don't recognise your Clan but I bet the tartan is interesting :cool:

I am by no means an expert and fall into the "tinkerer" category but my two penneth is to use your phone or whatever to take a photo of the watch movement before and after you dismantle every single part paying attention to the small stuff and zoom in as far as possible on the tricky bits ie the ones your eyes blur over on (if your sight is like mine).  You can then work backwards through the photos to put it back together again.  So my useful tool would be a camera.

 

Some magnification will be needed for most watches - again, a forum search will give info on headgear etc and it does not have to cost a fortune.

 

As you have found, bad screwdrivers can be used sometimes but you will probably have to keep going back to the oilstone with them with monotonous regularity, I gave up on them quite quickly if the steel is too soft it is a nightmare only fit for the bucket.  One of the things to look at on a watch is the drive or slot on the screw heads and if it is chewed up then it has been out before and gives a hint about previous problems with the movement as well, you dont want to do that sort of damage really.

 

I look forward to reading about your progress and you will get loads of help here, I know because I have been helped on numerous occasions.

 

Cheers,

 

Vic 

Edited by Vich
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