Torques Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 I just got my replacement crystal for a Rolex replica whose face was smashed in. I don't have a press yet but am so tempted to try and just press it in by hand. Can I do it that way with the heal of my hand with a terrycloth towel over it without breaking the crystal? The old gasket is still in there, is it glued or will it pop out if I use a very small screwdriver? Thanks for all your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haveblue Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 it really depends on the type of crystal. if it is a sapphire (which i'm sure it is not cuz the original one wouldn't have smashed if it was) then hand pressing is easy for some cases. if it is an acrylic (vintage), then i'd use a rubber block.....some people use a hockey puck with the correct size of hole hollowed out......and a vice to tighten things down, instead of using your hand. you will want to put even pressure on the plastic crystal and the ball of your hand might not apply it evenly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torques Posted December 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 it really depends on the type of crystal. if it is a sapphire (which i'm sure it is not cuz the original one wouldn't have smashed if it was) then hand pressing is easy for some cases. if it is an acrylic (vintage), then i'd use a rubber block.....some people use a hockey puck with the correct size of hole hollowed out......and a vice to tighten things down, instead of using your hand. you will want to put even pressure on the plastic crystal and the ball of your hand might not apply it evenly. The one in the watch that broke was glass for sure, I took the pieces out. The replacement is supposed to be sapphire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I wonder if you could get the job done with this thing? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=91621 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I wonder if you could get the job done with this thing? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=91621 For what you need done, that one will work just fine... By hand is next to impossible. RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torques Posted December 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I wonder if you could get the job done with this thing? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=91621 That looks perfect, thanks for the link. But I'd still like to do this tonight. I will most likely never replace a crystal again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Not to crap, but I wonder how good that HF press really is... I have had a lot of HF stuff blow up on me one way or the other... but the price on it is very tempting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torques Posted December 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Not to crap, but I wonder how good that HF press really is... I have had a lot of HF stuff blow up on me one way or the other... but the price on it is very tempting... I decided to go with the press from Findingking, hopefully it will work. The crystal I received already has the cyclops fitted to it, hope that is not a problem. I got this one: http://www.findingking.com/StoreFrontProfi...&i=58098396 Tell me if it will work, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Hmmm, that one is less aesthetically pleasing but I like the screw method rather than direct pressure method for some reason... I am intersted in how it works as I would like an inexpensive crystal press, especially considering the possility of AR coating comming up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 I've been using the Harbor Freight press for quite some time, and it is a fine tool. (In fact, I just finished pressing on a Panny bezel with it). It is ideal for acrylic crystals, and most bezels. It is not the best for sapphires, though, as it is difficult to exert enough pressure in a controlled manner. I also have a screw press, like the one from Findingking. This one is not very good, for one reason: the dies are all flat. (When you are pressing in a domed crystal, you want to apply the pressure to the edge, and this requires a concave die. A flat die will press on the center of the dome, which risks cracking the crystal.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Hmmm... that's a good point... but the screw one linked above seems to have hollow ones.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 I've been using the Harbor Freight press for quite some time, and it is a fine tool. (In fact, I just finished pressing on a Panny bezel with it). It is ideal for acrylic crystals, and most bezels. It is not the best for sapphires, though, as it is difficult to exert enough pressure in a controlled manner. I also have a screw press, like the one from Findingking. This one is not very good, for one reason: the dies are all flat. (When you are pressing in a domed crystal, you want to apply the pressure to the edge, and this requires a concave die. A flat die will press on the center of the dome, which risks cracking the crystal.) So, which one do you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Bump for any more reviews or suggestions on cheap crystal press... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 So, which one do you like? I like the Harbor Freight press. When it can't handle an installation, I use the dies in a bench vise. If I could only pick one low-cost crystal press, the HB would still be the one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torques Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I like the Harbor Freight press. When it can't handle an installation, I use the dies in a bench vise. If I could only pick one low-cost crystal press, the HB would still be the one... Well, when you press the crystal into the opening how in the hell hard do you do it? Everyone talks about what they use and not how hard to press. I don't want to smash the replacement, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I would guess the answer is... as hard as you have to... and I think the unfortunate truth is you risk breaking your crystal every time you mess with it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted January 2, 2007 Report Share Posted January 2, 2007 So did you get your press? How do you like it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torques Posted January 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 So did you get your press? How do you like it? If you are talking to me, it is ok, although the crystal I had received was a wrong one sent in error by Krysworks. They sent a real Rolex crystal with the cyclops already attached. I cracked the edge of the crystal trying to press it on without touching the cyclops. I have a replacement now that I haven't taken out of the package yet. Hopefully it will fit. The cyclops is separate so if the crystal is the right size the press should work. Then the only thing left is to glue the cyclops on. I hope I don't mess that up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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