devilseam Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 Hi fellas, Im sure I saw a tutorial on how to fit a crystal without using a press, but im struggling to find it again. Does anyone have any tips or should I stop being so impatient and order a press? Thanks in advance.
sgtguk Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 Searching for you now mate, is it a sapphire or plexi ?
sgtguk Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/147633-popping-and-re-installing-the-crystal-on-the-42mm-exp2/?hl=crystal+press bugger this is with press still looking .... http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/143557-alternative-to-crystal-press-for-ap-that-works/?view=findpost&p=1077341&hl=crystal+press for an AP though
devilseam Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Posted June 4, 2013 Cheers Sgt, I found a couple of horror stories of smashed crystals etc, so im going to buy a press. Took me far too long to source and I would be gutted if I buggered it!
SSTEEL Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 Presses are not that expensive, but make sure the one you buy has the correct size dies for what you plan on using it for.
panermaniac Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 Presses are not that expensive, but make sure the one you buy has the correct size dies for what you plan on using it for. Cheap at under $20 http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=380653665015&index=18&nav=SEARCH&nid=87118511046
devilseam Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Posted June 4, 2013 Cheap at under $20http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=380653665015&index=18&nav=SEARCH&nid=87118511046 Cheers, I just bought something similar. Hopefully it gets here soon!
panermaniac Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 I can't believe how cheap some of them are. Let us know how it turns out. Whatchya working on?
devilseam Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Posted June 4, 2013 Yea you can do it no problem, if its sapphire i would say it would be alot easier but the plastic crystals might be alittle harder to do. If its sapphire buy a pvc tube thats alittle smaller than the crystal and use that to put even pressure on it. To be honest a decent crystal press can be bought for 25$ so i would say just buy a press that way you'll have it for other projects if needed. Good luck. Thanks for the tip Mike, I did bite the bullet and buy the press as I may also have a Datejust project starting soon so It will be useful for that also. I can't believe how cheap some of them are. Let us know how it turns out. Whatchya working on? My franken UPO, just sourced a Sunnydale crystal.
flyr Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 You are going to be happy when you do the replacement Sunnydale, mine went in with no problems! Looks like this!
devilseam Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Posted June 4, 2013 You are going to be happy when you do the replacement, mine went in with no problems! Looks like this! Sweeeeeeetttttt! Bloody hell I might use Mike's tip afterall! Dont know if I can wait!
freddy333 Posted June 4, 2013 Report Posted June 4, 2013 I have 2 crystal presses, but I usually use the hobby vice I got from Sears, which allows for much more accurate/even installation. This tool is 1 of those must-haves that come in handy for a variety of tasks You will need a set of delrin dies to set/hold the crystal/case in place, which are available from all the watch parts houses.
devilseam Posted June 5, 2013 Author Report Posted June 5, 2013 Well, I got home last night and couldnt resist having a go. This may be useful for other members but as you can see from the pics above of Freddy's awesome setup is not a 'professional' way of doing things! If I had the slightest ounce of patience I would have waited a week for my press to arrive, but im not so here goes................ I used a variation of Mike's tip with the tube, I actually found a plactic cap that was about 2mm smaller in diameter to the crystal, the cap came from a small leather dye I had lying around and the good thing was it was shallow and looked similar in size/shape to the dies that come with the presses. Once i had removed the old crystal I sat the Sunnydale place and I could push it in fairly tight with my fingers to hold it in place. Then I put masking tape over the crystal and around the case to avoid any marks. With a pen I made small marks on the masking tape in the centre of the crystal and around the diameter, just to show where the crystal was located under the tape. I then taped two pieces of thick leather to one side of a vice, the side that the caseback would be placed against, then placed the case and the cap roughly in place inside the vice, although im sure that that would have worked fine, I had a thought that maybe I should cushion the cap against the vice, so I found a 2cm think piece of rubber that I put inbetween the cap and the vice, I have no idea if this was required or not but it just felt 'better'. Now everything was in place and I slowly, very slowly in fact! turned the handle on the vice, I felt the crystal move and pop in to the case, maybe I was lucky but when I removed the case and took the tape off, it was seated perfectly! I then greased the case back seal, put everything in place and had a look, wow this crystal is awesome! The next jobs on the list is a gen pearl that I have on its way to me, the gen caseback I have on order and the gen rubber that should be with me today! It never ends does it! 1
flyr Posted June 5, 2013 Report Posted June 5, 2013 Great job there! It really makes a difference, keep it up !
SSTEEL Posted June 5, 2013 Report Posted June 5, 2013 Congrats on tackling the job DIY style I have a baby vice, but it won't fit my desk, so just ordered a vacuum vice like the one Freddy linked to
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