Necessary Tools For Simple Home Watch Repairs
If you think you might like to make minor repairs on your watch (or watches), it’s important that you make sure you have the proper tools to do so successfully – before you start on your repair project. Labor costs can be very high, and doing some of the simpler, less technical, watch repairs yourself will save you a considerable amount of money. Whether you are interested in home watch repairs for economic or other reasons, purchasing the appropriate tool(s) for the repair job you have in mind is a wise investment.
- The first thing you need of course is a proper place to work on your watch – a workplace. Clear a flat surface (table, desk) and make sure that the area is well lit (a fluorescent lamp is your best option). Spread a light-colored cloth on the work surface (if possible, use thumbtacks or tape to keep it in place) so that you can see tiny watch screws and other parts as you work. A soft, think cloth will also protect your watch if you drop it on the work surface.
- A container for watch parts is essential if you don’t want to loose parts. Any inexpensive compartmentalized container will do. Make sure to place each watch part that you remove directly into one of the compartments. Setting up an order (right to left, or left to right) will help you put the parts back in the correct sequence.
- You’ll need to see what you’re doing. In addition to a good lamp, you should also have some sort of magnifying tool, like a hand-held magnifier.
- A watch case holder, while not essential, will help you to keep the watch in place so you don’t drop it as you work.
- Appropriate size screwdrivers are important for ALL home watch repairs. Watch screwdrivers are available in sets, or they can be purchased as part of a basic watch repair tool kit (these kits can be bought for about $25). Using cheaper screwdrivers could damage watch screws.
- You’ll also need tweezers for handling small watch parts. Any good quality metal tweezers will do, but they should have beveled edges. Clip spring pliers (more precise than regular tweezers) are available for under $10.
- For replacing or repairing watch bands, you’ll need link pin and spring bar removers. A link pin remover is a tool used to push out the pins that hold your watch band together when you want to add or take out links and it costs about $15 or so, but you can also purchase watch band repair kits or pin-removing kits for as little as $20.
- If you’re going to be working on an expensive watch and you need to open the case, it’s best to get the special case opener for you watch model. Otherwise, case openers are usually included in basic watch repair kits.
- The most common watch repair that most people will be tempted to do at home is replacing a watch battery. Purchasing a battery tester for about $12 is well worth the investment. This tool lets you make sure that the reason your watch has stopped is that the battery is dead – before you change it. A small flat head screw driver to unscrew the back of the case is also needed, and in some cases a watch knife opener may be needed as well.
- For cleaning watch parts, you need polishing cloths, scratch brushes (a paint brush with a coarse tip will do as will many of eye make-up brushes) and cleaning fluid such as Naphta to soak small parts in. Once they are clean, let them dry out completely before replacing them in the watch. The fluid will evaporate, but you can use a blow dryer to reduce the waiting time.
Don’t forget to always keep the manual that comes with your watch when you purchase it. It contains important information for the maintenance of your watch. You can also find free online copies of watch manuals on the websites of some better-known watch brands (Casio, Timex …).
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