imajedi Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Hey guys, can anyone recommend a good case back opener for our rolex subs, particularly TC's. I purchased an opener off Amazon for about $50 and it sucks. I couldn't open TC's sub or a noob sub with it. The product seems like good quality except the die's don't really fit very well on the baseback so all it does is slip and scratch. It's more of a caseback scratcher instead of an opener. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptTripps Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Buy one of the rubber ball things. I've not found a screw-back that they can't open. Impossible to scratch anything too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erict719 Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 The gen opener works on wm9.. Why doesn't yours work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imajedi Posted July 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 @cpt - thanks for the advice. I just did. @Erict - the teeth of the die's don't seem to mesh very well with the teeth of the caseback. Accordingly, it slips before ever opening the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSTEEL Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Where did you get your case back die set from? The one I got from AceTimer rocks, fits like a glove, no scratching. Its a Bergeon clone that I have, but quality is not cheap crap like the majority out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Go to Ofrei, Jules Borel here in the USA and probably CousinsUK if you are in the EU and buy a Bergeron case opener set. It has all the openers for every size except the very newest models. The Bergeron case openers are pretty expensive, around 166.00 USD and they do not include the opener die for the larger cases like the DSSD and the newer subs and GMT's. Here is a link to the watchbiz store, operated by one of our members offshore. This is the opener set I have and have never had a problem with it. When you use the tool, you have to be very careful to press straight down and turn, even the best openers will slip if you have it at a slight angle. Very well made and from his description, he tried out a bunch of these sets before he found one that didn't slip. Link:http://watchbitz.com.au/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSTEEL Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Here is a link to the watchbiz store, operated by one of our members offshore. This is the opener set I have and have never had a problem with it. When you use the tool, you have to be very careful to press straight down and turn, even the best openers will slip if you have it at a slight angle. Very well made and from his description, he tried out a bunch of these sets before he found one that didn't slip. Link:http://watchbitz.com.au/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=50 That has to be the same one I have the quality is top notch, and the dies fit perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacher62 Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Sometimes it's not the die that is off but the replica case back. Remember, the wrench was made to open a gen Rolex. Your die might fit a gen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imajedi Posted July 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Here's a pic of the one I have. As mentioned it's a case back scratcher not a case back opener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toocan Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 (edited) A screwed up ball of duct tape worked like a dream for me today Edited July 6, 2013 by toocan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ephry73 Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 I feel you were sold a dud. The TC case back should fit the 295 die with no issues. Return to amazon for a full credit. Get one from ofrei or the RWG store. E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSTEEL Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 Looks like a completely different die set mate, bin it and get the RWG one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gplracer Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 I got mine from offshore here on the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irolexu Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Rubber ball is only good for opening but you can not torque the back down properly. I would only use a ball if I was buying a watch and wanted to make sure the movement was in good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Looks like a completely different die set mate, bin it and get the RWG one I agree, invest in a better one, you will be glad you did. Crappy tools make a job 10X as hard, and you end up buggering something up that ends up costing you more than the good tool would have!!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneed12 Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Rubber ball is only good for opening but you can not torque the back down properly. False. I have done a number of dives wearing watches that were closed with rubber balls. They are not the ideal or the best tool, and I recommend using a proper caseback wrench if you have one, but torque is torque and if the rubber ball is all you have and you're careful, you can seal a watch to be water-resistant just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klocklind1 Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 I have never used a steel toll only the rubberball and that has ALWAYS been working for me, also for saune combined with ice bathing without any problems with condensation:) But it is VERY important to use a good silicon grease on ALL the seals in the watch to be sure it will be waterproof:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ephry73 Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 What Sneed said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wozntme@msn.com Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 What kind of "rubber ball" are ya'all talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wozntme@msn.com Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Silicone gease. Great tip! Any particular type I should use on watches? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyr Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 "The rubber ball" http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDEo_6sH0jW8&ei=0xTbUff5DMXaygGL4ICIBw&usg=AFQjCNFzc1IqGQBOseDZ7nJA3telBmodqQ&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc Available on Ebay real cheap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imajedi Posted July 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Thanks guys. There is no doubt the tool is a dud. I'm sure it's Chinese crap made to extremely poor tolerances and thus, some work....some don't. I have the grease so I'll lube the gaskets before I put it back together. I'll try opening with the ball when it comes but will consider a better die for closing. Maybe I can just buy a 29.5 die somewhere instead of the entire new set?All this started when I wore the watch body surfing in the ocean over the 4th. It was completely water tight and no issues there but the jarring knocked something loose internally. The watch still seems to work fine but it sounds like the entire movement may have come loose. When you rock the watch back and forth it sound like a giant loose ball bearing is hitting the sides of the case.The bezel also filled with sand and was unmovable. I was easily able to remove that, clean everything and replace. Just need to square away the terrible sound now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wozntme@msn.com Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Just ordered the "ball," and some other items on eBay. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1680 Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Just for the record: Rolex uses Fomblin grease for their gasket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptTripps Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Just for the record: Rolex uses Fomblin grease for their gasket. Are we worried about Genuine grease now? :::ducking:::: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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