Watch Hand Removal - Tool & Technique Choice

[64americandeluxe]

1)  I was wondering what tool people prefer to use to remove hands; presto lifter or levers?

 

2)  Is best to remove each hand individually or to remove them all at the same time?  Are there pros to either method?

 

Thank you!

Roger.

[Mark]

For me - I prefer hand lifters as I feel I have more control. I do use the presto for certain watches and sometimes for chronograph runner hands.

It depends on the watch as to wether I take them off at once or individually. This is mainly governed by the distance between the hands.

[64americandeluxe]

Thanks for your input.  I have the Presto type (made in India) but I just ordered a pair of Horotec removal levers.

Cheers!

Roger

[Mark]

Thanks for your input.  I have the Presto type (made in India) but I just ordered a pair of Horotec removal levers.

Cheers!

Roger

 

The Horotec are very good hand levers - good choice!

[64americandeluxe]

I used my new Horotec hand levers last weekend and they worked beautifully.  A painless experience for this newbie!

Roger

Edited February 8, 2014 by 64americandeluxe

[Dwdrummer97]

I am looking into purchasing a set of these levers but am unsure of what size to get. Any advice?

[64americandeluxe]

In the Horotec catalog they only show one pair for wrist watches, but they also have levers for wall clocks and alarm clocks as well as a pair for sweep second hands and small counter hands on chronographs.  The tips on mine are 2.5mm. I have used them a couple of times and they work well for me.

Cheers!

Roger

[SeikoWatch]

I don't have a hand lever or a lifter but, using with a very small plastic bag on the hands.. it's better and you don't lost the hands :D... just my humble opinion.

Edited February 19, 2014 by SeikoWatch

[Odyseus]

I have the Horotec and a Bergeon Presto puller. The other day I was lifting a hour ,minute and chrono second hand all at the same time with the levers, only to find that the tube was stripped of the chrono second hand and still on the pinion :(

I managed to press the hand back onto the stuck tube but not an ideal solution. This has happened a few times on the centre second hand now!

[SeikoWatch]

Hi Odyseus and welcome to this forum :)...I understand your problem. yes because I have a watchmaker friend who has already had this same problem and this is nothing of obvious no more... sometimes he was forced from almost all removed the portion of the train's wheel to remove the piece... :(

[Odyseus]

I am looking into purchasing a set of these levers but am unsure of what size to get. Any advice?

I got the 2.5mm size for normal watch hands and the 1.2mm size for removing chronograph subdial hands.