Hi folks,

I regularly like to swap out the leather straps on my watches depending on mood.

I like to think that I'm now I'm mostly competent on using the spring bar tool - although I will admit I have scratched a decent amount of rear lugs whilst getting the knack.

Then I find Barton and the quick release spring bars. And I like em. So much so that I'm wondering if it's possible to retro fit them to 'standard' leather straps that don't have a cut out for the spring bar.

Anyone tried to 'cut out' on a strap, insert a quick release and call it a success?

I have my Stanley knife on standby.

 

And a glass of wine - so this obviously ends well.

 

What's the forum's position on quick release spring bars? I have some and can't decide if they are safe or not. I use them but I do worry more about the strap popping off.

 

I would look for an oval punch at a leather store. And a round piece of brass or plastic to put on the inside, so you don’t punch through.

 

Probably a better approach than my Stanley knife - but how the h$ll do you get them into the strap - the 'bobble' sticks out massively.

 

I find that Xacto knives go better with a nice Speyside single malt.

 

I recently decided quick release were a liability. Don’t trust them.

 

Am assuming it snapped and got stuck?

 

Scratching lugs


Plastic springbar tools


Or

 

Nice one.

 

Yah - very annoying but at least I only swap the straps on 2 of my modern speedys. My older stuff is on bracelet and will remain so!

 

Tha plastic tool looks a great option.

 

No ... just let go. Barely snagged the watch before it hit the sidewalk.

 

The horror!
BTW, Good reflexes!

 

I once saw my strapmaker friend fit those quick release spring bars onto the straps he had made. I wasn't paying too much attention, but I saw him use some Bergeon hammer-looking tool and hit it gently on the spring bar. It looked like really delicate work. Perhaps you can send your straps to a strapmaker to have them retrofitted?

 

Aw jeez! Glad you managed to catch it!

This is food for thought.

 

Very easy to retrofit.

 

Personally I would rather see people become more proficient with a spring bar removal tool. For me something that compromises the ability of the watch to stay on my wrist is not worth it.

 

I guess so, but it just seemed like a pretty difficult thing to do as a non-initiated! Great to hear if it's a pretty straightforward job though. I'd like to know more, what is the hammer tool thing I saw?