- Posts
- 3,998
- Likes
- 9,018
cvalue13
·I’ve been fiddling with watches for some time, but only recently have I come into certain watches that make me nervous when changing straps/bracelets. Perhaps I’m getting more neurotic with age, or simply purchasing things with more market sensitivity to even the finest of hairline scratches to the lugs - or both.
Either way, spring bar tools do look of sharks teeth and Brillo, while spring bars themselves are a close second in terms of potential unfriendliness to lugs.
Then, even after the new strap/bracelet is freshly mounted and all the scratchy-scratchy moments behind, there’s that nagging little voice in my head saying “but is that one funky spring bar end really seated properly in the watch - or will this thing pop off on me in a few hours?”
Accordingly, I’d love to learn best practices, or other’s tips and tricks to changing straps/bracelets with minimal risk to scratching the metal (or having a failure).
As for my contribution (minimal as is): I’ve come to like enough the tiny adhesive “dots” that are placed over the spring bar holes, providing if only psychological comfort that something at all might be between my tool/spring bar and the lugs the next time I’m performing a spring bar extraction. I’m not yet sure how they hold up in the long run, but they’re cheap and (so far) better than nothing.
Also, on certain watches I consider using masking (or scotch) tape over the bottom facet of the lugs (placed before and removed after the ‘procedure’).
As for quieting the tiny voice saying “you know that strap’s not actually attached yet, right, you idiot?” - well, I’ve got little better than the ‘ole tug-tug-wiggle-pray. I’ve also considered having a stock of spring bars on hand and to change them out for new every-other strap/bracelet change, simply to try and preemptively avoid a spring bar failure - but, before such stockpiling, I’ll need to learn more about exactly which brands of spring bars are most trusted in quality.
I’m certain the many more knowledgeable members of this forum have their own tips, tricks, and incantations - and it would be lovely to have a thread full of them for reference (perhaps even a sticky?).
Are there watchmaker-recommended tools that on their own minimize the chance of scratches?
Are there ‘masking’ procedures you follow when hoping to avoid scratches at all costs? Other techniques to the same end?
And on spring bars themselves, is there any consensus of which replacement brands/models are best, or a “maintenance”/replacement schedule to avoid failures?
Best, cvalue13
(PS: I did search for any such threads before making this post, though I admit OF’s search feature leaves quite a lot to be desired - and so missed.)
Either way, spring bar tools do look of sharks teeth and Brillo, while spring bars themselves are a close second in terms of potential unfriendliness to lugs.
Then, even after the new strap/bracelet is freshly mounted and all the scratchy-scratchy moments behind, there’s that nagging little voice in my head saying “but is that one funky spring bar end really seated properly in the watch - or will this thing pop off on me in a few hours?”
Accordingly, I’d love to learn best practices, or other’s tips and tricks to changing straps/bracelets with minimal risk to scratching the metal (or having a failure).
As for my contribution (minimal as is): I’ve come to like enough the tiny adhesive “dots” that are placed over the spring bar holes, providing if only psychological comfort that something at all might be between my tool/spring bar and the lugs the next time I’m performing a spring bar extraction. I’m not yet sure how they hold up in the long run, but they’re cheap and (so far) better than nothing.
Also, on certain watches I consider using masking (or scotch) tape over the bottom facet of the lugs (placed before and removed after the ‘procedure’).
As for quieting the tiny voice saying “you know that strap’s not actually attached yet, right, you idiot?” - well, I’ve got little better than the ‘ole tug-tug-wiggle-pray. I’ve also considered having a stock of spring bars on hand and to change them out for new every-other strap/bracelet change, simply to try and preemptively avoid a spring bar failure - but, before such stockpiling, I’ll need to learn more about exactly which brands of spring bars are most trusted in quality.
I’m certain the many more knowledgeable members of this forum have their own tips, tricks, and incantations - and it would be lovely to have a thread full of them for reference (perhaps even a sticky?).
Are there watchmaker-recommended tools that on their own minimize the chance of scratches?
Are there ‘masking’ procedures you follow when hoping to avoid scratches at all costs? Other techniques to the same end?
And on spring bars themselves, is there any consensus of which replacement brands/models are best, or a “maintenance”/replacement schedule to avoid failures?
Best, cvalue13
(PS: I did search for any such threads before making this post, though I admit OF’s search feature leaves quite a lot to be desired - and so missed.)
