Big Dazza Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 Hey guys just wanted to share a type of firm putty I found which I use to open up screw type casebacks. I found the advantages were: Doesnt scratch the casebacks (pretty important for fussy people like myself) Works far better than the Horb balls because you can squish the putty down onto the caseback and it gives it a better surface to surface contact and since the putty is slightly sticky it grips well to the caseback No need for special dies for Rolex or Breitling casebacks So far I've managed to open all the watches I have that are the screw down type casebacks and found it very useful for checking if the movement is the movement stated in the watch or general watch repair. What do you guys think? I've asked Nanuq for his blessing and can offer this to members. See sales section please.
Big Dazza Posted June 10, 2014 Author Report Posted June 10, 2014 Yea I've tried all sorts of putty and some were just too soft or too hard to get enough friction. This one seems to work really well. Unless the caseback was put on by Chuck Norris this stuff should open them all
GenTLe Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 How does it work? Is it a kind of paste that sticks to the back?
Big Dazza Posted June 10, 2014 Author Report Posted June 10, 2014 Its like a sticky firm putty that you roll into a ball, you press it against the caseback firmly so it moulds to the caseback shape, then grab the putty and twist anticlockwise and the friction between the putty and the caseback grips enough to turn the caseback
Guest REPPIN Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 Thats cool, kind of like Rodico putty.... But I would just use a s Screwball....just sayin : http://www.ofrei.com/page1226.html#18114
Big Dazza Posted June 10, 2014 Author Report Posted June 10, 2014 Yea its kind of like rodico putty but firmer and slightly sticky. I found that the screwballs dont work all that well unless the caseback isn't screwed tightly to begin with. I had a one of the balls and it never worked that well.
fraggle42 Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 I find there's a slight technique to using the balls. Take the ball so about 2/3rds or 3/4 of it is in your hand, use your fingertips to squeeze the remaining ball so that you get a small bulge out of the bottom of it, press this onto the back and turn. Without doing this i've found that too much of the ball touches the case, lugs, crown, and it doesn't work to unscrew the back. 1
dusk Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 I find there's a slight technique to using the balls. Take the ball so about 2/3rds or 3/4 of it is in your hand, use your fingertips to squeeze the remaining ball so that you get a small bulge out of the bottom of it LoL
Big Dazza Posted June 10, 2014 Author Report Posted June 10, 2014 I find it too dangerous squeezing balls etc
jpz5142 Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 I find it too dangerous squeezing balls etc Maybe we should be asking our wife's to squeeze the balls and see how many watches we can open up then?
Big Dazza Posted June 10, 2014 Author Report Posted June 10, 2014 Lucky for me I dont have a wife so I get to do my own ball squeezing although I find the putty works better than the balls I had in the past
freddy333 Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 I would not trust any type of putty/clay to provide sufficient torque to make a waterproof seal. Even those soft balls that are made to close casebacks may be insufficient. Just sayin'.
automatico Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 I have used balled up rope caulking stuck to a case back to start stubborn threads but it leaves a residue. I never tried to remove a case back with it though. Rope caulk comes in rolls at hardware/paint stores and is about 5mm in diameter. It's sticky as dammit.
Big Dazza Posted June 10, 2014 Author Report Posted June 10, 2014 Ive always used the putty and i havent had any problems with waterproofing I suppose it depends on how firm the putty is and how much torque it provides. This one seems to work really well
GenTLe Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 I'd give a try to my stock of unused sink mastic:
Eschenpod Posted June 10, 2014 Report Posted June 10, 2014 (edited) Duct tape doubled over works really well - read about this technique on one of the forums. A guy mentioned that he uses duct tape to open all his watches. He visited a jeweler one day who was having difficulty unscrewing the back of a watch. The guy went to his truck, grabbed some duct tape, back inside the shop and opened the watch. Jeweler was amazed, so the guy hands him the roll of duct tape on his way out the door. Funny story. Edited June 10, 2014 by Eschenpod
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