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Removing a strap with a shoulderless spring bar from a no-holes case

john_coburg
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Greetings all,
I've been an idiot and fastened a leather strap to a watch head without drilled lug holes using a spring bars without shoulders. The leather is really thick and rigid, so there isn't much wiggling around.
What are my options? Are there any clever tricks i'm missing, or is a hacksaw the best bet? And if so, why type is best for the job?
Thanking you in advance.
John
 
Spruce
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Pliers? Twist, bend and pull?
 
marcn
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Do you need to save the strap?

If not, with something comparable to a scalpel, carefully cut the strap along the axis of the spring bar. Replace those spring bars with ones with proper shoulders, and buy a new strap.
 
Evitzee
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An X-Acto knife with a new #11 blade will allow you to slice the strap off. Better to sacrifice the strap than risking damage to the lugs or case.
 
john_coburg
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Spruce Spruce
Pliers? Twist, bend and pull?
well i thought of that, but what are the chances of damage to the Speedmaster in question?
 
john_coburg
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marcn marcn
Do you need to save the strap?

If not, with something comparable to a scalpel, carefully cut the strap along the axis of the spring bar. Replace those spring bars with ones with proper shoulders, and buy a new strap.
i do need to keep the strap. obviously the spring bars can go..
 
Evitzee
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You can try dental floss....it sometimes works.
 
Dan S
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You can keep trying with a sharp knife and other tools and hope you get lucky, but to my knowledge there is no reliable way to do it without cutting away the strap.
 
Spruce
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john_coburg john_coburg
well i thought of that, but what are the chances of damage to the Speedmaster in question?
Regular spring bars are nowhere near as solid as a stainless steel case
 
eugeneandresson
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Bernstein-3-0641-30123881-01.jpg
(making certain the sharp points dont touch the case)
 
marcn
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There’s maybe merit to trying the flush cutting nipper like eugene showed (getting in between strap and lug by compressing the strap down and carefully cutting the spring bar) but personally—sacrifice the strap and move on.
 
Syzygy
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It's tricky, and I was not successful in my attempt because the springbar had rusted/fused in to the lug hole....ultimately I ended up snipping the spring bar (wear safety glasses!), but a trusted collector suggested a razor blade to possibly slip in between the springbar and the lug. You may be able to work it and compress to get it free. I'd also suggest wearing gloves with rated cut protection in case you slip!
 
john_coburg
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eugeneandresson eugeneandresson
Bernstein-3-0641-30123881-01.jpg
(making certain the sharp points dont touch the case)

I used a hacksaw to weaken the spring bar end, and then twisted out. Saved the lugs and the strap. Thank you all for the suggestions...this Bernstein solution would have saved me half an hour, but cost me fifteen quid.
 
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