RickFlorida Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 (edited) Hello everyone. After only reinstalling my WSO 580 endlinks for a second time, (every now and then I'll take my Nato off and put on my oyster bracelet), one of the inner tubes that is spot welded or soldered inside the endlink broke off. Upon this happening, I inspected the tubes that are inside of these endlinks and I immediately noticed they are incredibly thin and poorly made. They must be less than .4 mm in wall thickness and they have partial tears in them. (out of all 4 of them (there are two in each endlink), it seems 2 or 3 of them seem ready to come off). Not only do those tubes look weak just by themselves, but I can't even tell if these are spot welded or soldered onto the endlink because I can't even find any joining material at all. i could remove the remaining ones and try to make my own and solder them in properly (I make jewelry as a hobby). But does anyone know of swiss made or any higher grade aftermarket endlinks for fat bar submariner oyster bracelets? Edited September 24, 2017 by RickFlorida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickFlorida Posted September 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 (edited) I'm going to assume the lack of replies means there are no better alternative endlinks than the originals. So... I have one solution that I should I should share.... I realize that if you try to just buy a WSO endlink and knock out the thin tubes, (that came out by accident anyways for me), you can't really add thicker walled tubes without changing how far back the tubes sit inside the endlink. Since these endlinks do have a great fitting overall for the bracelets and the midcase.... The best solution is to simply clean the hell out of the inside of the endlinks when you get them, and then take what we call in America, "Black Flux" which is for stainless steel. Then take a 4 small pieces of quality solder that has some silver in it or there are some other solder types for stainless steel, and then solder those pieces onto both side of each of the inner tubes. This will add more strength to the tubes because as I mentioned, they don't seem to be soldered onto the endlinks really at all to me. I believe they are weakly "spot welded" maybe with a small laser welder. YOu will need to use high heat from a gas torch of some type. Propane will work. You need to wear magnification or just have really good eyes and watch the inner tubes and make sure that you don't add too much heat and collapse the tubes. Maybe I just got a bad batch or something. But if all WSO endlinks are constructed like mine... you will want to beef it up before you drop your watch and destroy the movement and crystal or just lose the whole watch. Edited September 28, 2017 by RickFlorida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prdubis Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 Maybe your TD can you get a pair of Cartel ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickFlorida Posted September 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 (edited) Not a bad idea. But aren't they not hollow and isn't there an incorrect line that goes across them? Edited September 29, 2017 by RickFlorida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobandshawn Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 WSO's are cheaper if you buy them in sets of (3?) I think. Just buy some and then reinforce them like mentioned. Easiest route in my eyes... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 (edited) I've had no issues with either set of WSO Fat Springbar 580's. Maybe you just got a bad set. I guess you could always go gen ... at 10x the price ... Edited September 29, 2017 by tomhorn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calvin951121 Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 Phong have good pair, but it is around 90USD for A Pair. yes , ONE PAIR for that price without shipping. But overall quality and touching is worth. Go to e.bay and hit search: 580 end piece for oyster bracelet vintage submariner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacher62 Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 Another solution...I had the same problem. First, I cleaned the inside of the end link and good as I could, then I took the drill bit that I used to drill the lugs and greased it and then slipped it through the rings. Then, I took JB Weld epoxy and just laid a bead of it across the rings. After it cured you will be able to pull the drill bit out...with pliers. Voila. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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