Does anyone recommend a certain maker of spring bars. I was looking at the pair on my transitional, which was on a cheap strap also and they seem rather flimsy compared to the 71 speedmaster.

 

The Omega bars at Ofrei are nice but a bit pricey.

 

Ok, thanks. I'll check it out

 

check out the Swiss spring bars 1.8 mm double ended Ofrei about a $1.15 each when you buy 12 or more

"Swiss Made 1.8 mm Thick Double Flange 18 mm Spring Bar
100% Stainless Steel these Swiss made spring bars are assembled by hand in a small village in Switzerland. When you want the best spring bars in the world made from the best materials, then you buy these Swiss made bars.
Double Flange Spring Bar fit 18 mm case lug. Bar diameter is 1.8 mm, which is considered the standard thickness and should be used when a 2.0 mm diameter bar is too thick to go the thru pipe on metal bracelet. The pivot diameter past the double flange tip is 0.90 mm and the length is 1.0 mm"

 

So, when measuring a spring bar, where do you measure to determine what length spring bar you have?

 

The spring makes it complicated, you have to measure with it compressed to make sure it's smaller and fits the size you want, then measure uncompressed to make sure it's not too small. If you buy them, no need to measure.

 

I have bought spring bars from this seller on Ebay . You can find exactly the right spring bar the watch need . It's necessary to find the right dimension for the ends . If they are to small you could damage the holes in the lugs .
http://www.ebay.com/sch/twente(o)/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Always buy in bulk and my personal choice is to keep spring bars with the band. The thinking in this is to have three or four less used than one heavily used spring bar

 

ok, thank you guys. i was wanting to buy a bulk pack in various sizes and i wanted to be sure i could measure them correctly if they ever got mixed up (kids playing with them).

 

When you buy them, get the thickest ones that fit within the holes in the strap and the length to buy would be the width of the opening between the lugs. If the lugs are pierced - holes all the way through - go for bars without flanges. If not, then I prefer the double flanges because they are easier to remove.

 

ok, are the spring parts that go into the lugs of different size or are they the same if you order ones that are thicker in the middle? thank you

 

That's a fair question so I have just measured one random example of each from my selection - all bought from Cousins. I guess there are manufacturing tolerances but the results were:

1.8mm thick bars 20mm - 0.80mm dia. ends; 19mm - 0.79mm ends; 18mm - 0.81mm ends
1.5mm thick bars 20mm - 0.78mm dia ends; 19mm - 0.805mm ends; 18mm - 0.79mm ends

I hope that helps.

 

Ok, that kind of answers my question. Thank you for taking the time to do that.

 

If your trying to buy in bulk StarTime Supply has good prices.
http://www.startimesupply.com/merch...CTGY&Store_Code=1&Category_Code=12-Springbars

 

I bought these springbars and found them OK. I recently received some of the OME-Spring-bar-03 which to me are better, the ends just seem straighter and less wobbly even though the main tubes are a little smaller than the other 2mm width.

 

where did you buy them from? that's kind of what I'm after, the ones that are stiffer and less wobbly on the ends. thank you

 

I also have bought Omega spring bars (OME-Spring-bar-03) from Ofrei, Wien I bought my shark mesh. The best ones I have tried yet but Ofrei's shipping prices for Europe are the same whether you place large or small orders. Too bad really that one has to pay $50 for shipping when buying $50 worth of spring bars.

 

There's a little exception for small watch part orders under $52.50, where you can request Register Air Letter Mail for $22.40.
http://www.ofrei.com/page731.html

 

I've found that spring bars are 3mm longer than their compressed length. e.g. 18mm spring bars to fit an 18mm lug width measure 21mm. Same applies to other lengths. However sellers specify that they are selling 18mm spring bars or 20mm spring bars, etc.in order to simplify for you. So adding 3mm is really only useful if you spill your bulk container of them, or somehow mix them up.

 

As per Togri & Tritium Got mine from Ofrei, request Reg Air Letter Mail at @ US$ 22.40