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gearjockey
·Hello everyone.
I’ve always been fascinated by these Forstner bracelets, and finally decided to purchase one. I ended up getting the 1450 president for my Speedmaster. It’s a very nice bracelet by the way, screwed links, adjustment tool included, pretty high quality in my opinion.
I had an 1861 which was recently serviced, and polished to almost factory new (not including dial and hands).
After installing the new Forstner bracelet and changing it out again, I noticed that it had scratched the hell out of the back of the lugs. Now I’m not someone who constantly thinks about these things but it was a little irksome after having it essentially returned to factory spec.
My advice to anyone who attempts to install these Forstner bracelets is to “dehorn” the end-links. I have a few photos showing how I did it. I used a small jeweler file (available in scale modeling stores) and slightly rounded off the edges, which contact the lug rear.
I also included a picture of how I use a hand clamp to create a “third hand” for use with the springbar tool, to avoid further scratching the rear.
Forewarned is forearmed and hopefully you can avoid the same issue I had.
Cheers.
I’ve always been fascinated by these Forstner bracelets, and finally decided to purchase one. I ended up getting the 1450 president for my Speedmaster. It’s a very nice bracelet by the way, screwed links, adjustment tool included, pretty high quality in my opinion.
I had an 1861 which was recently serviced, and polished to almost factory new (not including dial and hands).
After installing the new Forstner bracelet and changing it out again, I noticed that it had scratched the hell out of the back of the lugs. Now I’m not someone who constantly thinks about these things but it was a little irksome after having it essentially returned to factory spec.
My advice to anyone who attempts to install these Forstner bracelets is to “dehorn” the end-links. I have a few photos showing how I did it. I used a small jeweler file (available in scale modeling stores) and slightly rounded off the edges, which contact the lug rear.
I also included a picture of how I use a hand clamp to create a “third hand” for use with the springbar tool, to avoid further scratching the rear.
Forewarned is forearmed and hopefully you can avoid the same issue I had.
Cheers.
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