Cheap watch tools suck (eBay crystal press)

If I am going to mod I need better tools. I hate junk tools, tossed them all in the trash.

[@jdelaney9325]

And I was thinking of buying one of these presses! I lost a bezel pip, waited until dark and turned out all the lights then swept the area with a flashlight. When I turned it off the tiny pip glowed nice and bright making it easy to find. I was lucky. I didn’t know they came out so easily.

[@RandomRobReviews]

Great idea. My watch room is always fun to look at in the dark. Lume all over the place it’s crazy. Many use the eBay press for modding with good results. I am being really critical and want tools to correct. Cheap tools are almost always junk and that is what I think these are.

[@jahvaults6500]

I think these are for watch snap backs not crystals . Mine works just fine use it all the time after changing watch batteries

[@xavierayayaell546]

I have a blue one that looks identical to yours and it's been fine and served me well as a hobbyist... Changed many a crystal and bezel using it. It cost $15 delivered from Aliexpress.

[@gregrepac6654]

Same

[@khronokraze]

I agree. Those cheap presses are crap but they work. Granted they don't press flat, but at a slight angle. What I did was slowly press, check, and rotate, press, check, and rotate, etc.. It's a slow process, but u can get a "square" even fit when pressing crystal into case. As with bezel adhesive, I just used the 3M ring tape that usually comes with it. It's a bitch cause once peeled off the backing, it starts to twist a bit. But just place down lightly and push and pull it till it's even on the bezel. But, u are committed to placing the insert precisely right. Can't really move it and adjust if off. People use contact cement from DAP. Brush it on carefully and lightly. It has time for you to adjust placement if needs be. I wouldn't worry about the pip. It should fit and hold ok in the bezel insert as you place it onto the bezel. The the insert and pip will be adhered together at the same time on the bezel. For my SRP Turtle bezel mod, I just placed the pip in the bezel insert and used the 3M tape and it was fine. Just take your time and use care and it should work.

[@waktosha7378]

Wing Yip No they do not workat all on driver's watches!

[@RandomRobReviews]

That’s the technique I used to get crystal right this time. Press and spin little at a time.

[@khronokraze]

exactly. yes, it sucks that the crystal press is not perfectly straight/leveled, but it can be done with care and attention, if not efficiently. As to what the other commenter wrote, not sure what he means by "driver's wathches"? typo? diver watches? if so, NO, it DOES WORK. You proved it can and I have done so with my SRP via the slow incremental press and spin technique. If by "driver" he means like in driving or motorsports.. I can't comment, never done on such a watch, but I can't imagine it would be any different.

[@timothythomas1626]

@@waktosha7378 Did you mean a Diver's watch or a Chrono ? In your comment on the Watch Press wherein you commented Driver's watch .

[@leroyusa935]

It is so sad that the term precision or military grade is so often used for items that are produced in China. When the price seems like an excellent bargain, you can bet that China's cheap labor won't even come close to precision. Those identical presser looked to be casted from the same source, but with a different color paint. Just like those benchtop vices from China, they will fracture under normal use. Glad you found that model you liked, and your review was extremely helpful to those on a budget.

[@triples4good]

Hey Rob, thanks for the heads up on this. I really appreciate the recon and saving us money and aggravation. Cheers

[@RandomRobReviews]

For sure. Maybe there is a cheap good one out there? Maybe I should just buy a good one or make my own.

[@triples4good]

Random Rob I think with tools, probably, the really good tools just cost a lot. It would be interesting to see one you made. Maybe a future video.

[@sailwesterly5444]

The wobble is there so that the die addresses the glass dead flat. You're overtightening as well. Everything should be loose. These cheap tools are perfectly fine for the job if the operator is competant and understands how to be flexible with them.

[@Gorilla.Guitar]

this ^^ response rings true. the dies need to float so as to self center under pressure. i use a couple of small wood blocks & c-clamp to a bench for added rigidity.. if someone was going to machine one of those press/arbor assy's with enough accuracy to ensure the dies wouldnt need to float?. most likely a few thousand dollars. & then youd need dies made that were perpindicular in regards to ram vs supprt.. its an old video, whatevers happened, did & you sounded pretty aggravated with it all anyways.. hope it all worked out for ya.

[@dodgydruid]

I bought one of the blue die sets and came up against something it fails on.... A Poljot Sturmanskie Gagarin which is a "top loader" kept in place by a bezel also holding the crystal. So in true fashion and not buying useless tools I don't need, I have been working with my forstner bits to create my own simple die to enclose the crystal but bear down on the bezel... its kinda there but put me tools away for the day. I did try with a sheet of .5mm steel but nothing in my die set could reach around the crystal. The Gagarin is working beautifully and is very old and I don't want to break a irreplaceable crystal.

[@leehenderson5891]

Re the adhesive-as a pro model maker I had some experience with many glues and solvents .I use a contact adhesive ( in uk called evo stick) and dry stick it, coat both surfaces, let it dry then push together, sticks like “5hit to a blanket!” If you want more adjustable stick then coat one side and “wet” stick, takes few hours to go off but you can adjust in that time , any excess rubs off with a finger once dry, if you want to remove later just use petrol/lighter fluid- it dissolves the glue

[@justintonation9726]

Have you tried the press that screws down rather uses a handle and spring? When my blue Ohuhu press like yours snapped in half the first time I used it, I was able to use the bottom portion and a C clamp to construct a makeshift one. I returned the Ohuhu one and they sent me a new one for free. You could always buy a press from them and keep returning it until you get a good one. Their presses aren't the best, but their customer service is. If you're going to do mods it'd be best to invest in a good press down the road. I decided to save my money for watches I like out of the box instead of doing more mods. They are addictive, but not a good return on investment.

[@RandomRobReviews]

I will try the screw press next. I won’t be doing many mods at all but it’s nice to be able to if I want to.

[@drwindsurf]

Thanks for the heads up Rob! I was thinking of getting into some modding and don't want to spend a ton...maybe get it from Amazon -if isn't perfect I'll just keep sending back until it is, or find one locally? Thanks for another great video :)

[@davidhale1591]

Rob I used to work in shoe repairs , carnt remember the stuff think it was 6090 but it was for rubber , you can use a very light dab of bike puncture repair glue it’s almost the same as shoe glue , if you get the right stuff it will stick to any surface just fine , any excess will just rub gently off , and you can buy it cheap and anywhere you get puncture repair kits . Hope this helps anyone . Just take care not to put on painted watch dials as the chemicals might remove some of the paint .

[@elarson312]

I'd throw those presses away too. They would drive me nuts!

[@disowned01]

I have found e6000 glue to be fine if the insert is a tight fit in the bezel. If it wants to fall out on it's own, use the double sided tape ring. They are cheap and easy to remove later.

[@ABGG55]

Hey Rob, that's back case pressing. If you want to press crystal it has screw in type instead of press type. I have tool like this it's good for close snap case.

[@timothythomas1626]

Can you recommend one of these ? Or is what you are referring to a press wherein one turn's or screws down the press? Truthfully I am a Gun enthusiast as well. And a modified reload press maybe the ticket. However I am a total novice in Watches. I believe the error come's in when the pressing isn't level. So this is what needs rectified . A screw down definitely takes away a lot of chance for error.

[@dumptonpark]

I have a black press same as your silver press bought from eBay for £8 and the build quality is great no wobble or wonky . Come with 13 round things with brass centre screws thread. I use it for friends family etc so doesn't really matter if I have to say can't do this one so far managed to do every one. I must add I would only do cheap watches wouldn't dare touch a Rolex etc etc. Good luck.🙂

[@DrFrankLondon]

Dont use Superglue, it is horrible and if you get it wrong, it is even harder to take off again. My watchmaker used something they called jewlers glue, a glue used for setting stones in cheaper rings etc. I modded my SKX007 with a superdome sapphire crystal with blue AR coating, new hands, orange sword hand for the minutes and white for the hours, with a complimentary second hand. The bezel insert was sloped to fit the new crystal so it looks factory. And everything looks factory and the bezel insert with the "jewlers glue " is not going anywhere. BUT I sent it to my watchmaker and they charged me 40$ for the job. And it came out perfect, including regulating the movement and of course pressure testing. After changing to a superdome from crystaltimes the water raiting is now higher than it was from the factory. I like to have that certainty when I mod and watch. Have done it before myself, but I destroyed way too many crystal gaskets and as I couldn't pressure test the watch, I never felt sure if it was going to hold up. So I kept my regulator, my tools and trashed my old cheap Amazon crystal press. #MaybeNotAHandyMan maybe it was me there was something wrong with.😂😂

[@RandomRobReviews]

100% where I am at with modding. I will look into the glue too. I will have these modded Watches pressure checked after I regulate them.

[@daveedwards5951]

The item is FLAWLESS, and works well. The problem is that you are describing the wrong purpose for the device. It's for pressing the metal rear plate on after changing batteries. That is what it was made for.

[@tonyaxeman4381]

I have no idea what glue to use but there are some out there with tiny tips . As far as the press goes they suck for pocket watch crystal installing . It should have a set of rubber plungers which it does not. It did work for a Seiko watch crystal . Its design is ideal for installing the back cover on some watches . There is no sub for pro tools.

[@freddyt55555]

The first tool I ever purchased was a $19 watch press from Amazon. It works like a champ. Crystals go in perfectly flat, and I've popped bezels back onto cases countless times without issue.

[@RassBrass]

Don’t get butt hurt. You get what you paid for.

[@freedomvan2970]

If you have any test watches laying around, maybe try a high quality c clamp with a homemade jig?

[@RandomRobReviews]

At the point where I am sure I can make a tool to do this way better. The screw style press kinda makes more sense too.

[@Australia-ky7kx]

Thanks for posting. Another video contributor had the Ohuhu press as working well so you saved me money!

[@lloydinouterspace]

I agree, absolute crap. I've seen other threads/forums where people say they get the job done and that when used correctly work just fine etc etc but personally I think they are useless and that the quality of the tool being mass produced so cheapely means each ones quality differs greatly. Problem is there's no middle ground that I have seen, its either cheap junk or expensive pro quality tools

[@lucacadianalbert]

Rob if you are trow away the dies I'll take them and cover shipping. I've been looking to get some without the press. I'm also super curious as to what adhesive people are using behind the inserts. I've use the peel and stick ones and man those are a pain to get on straight without it showing on the edges. or maybe there is a trick to get them on perfectly centered?

[@RandomRobReviews]

Send me an email, I will dig them out of the trash. I am looking for something other then the peel and stick as well.

[@lucacadianalbert]

Done - thanks in advance!

[@mmacho73]

If you mod or repair watches on a regular basis then these cheap eBay tools are not for you. Invest in a good quality watch tool and it will pay for its self after a few mods/repairs. Cheap eBay watch tools are good for a watch in a collection that may need a repair but that is it. These are not reliable for those who repair or mod has a hobby or business.

[@accutronitisthe2nd95]

Some are good and the dies come together square and centered but it is a crap shoot at best, they are sold as a "crystal press" BUT most of them are junk BUT also a very few of them are not junk and they bring the dies together squared and centered with each other, If the press you have can't do that then the only thing they are good for is snapping case backs back on and that's it... The proof that they are meant for crystals as well is the dies themselves that are tapered on the inside, That taper is meant to squeeze the outside of the crystal making the crystal outside diameter smaller by bulging up the center of the crystal BUT only a press that can bring the dies together squared and centered with each other will work for pressing crystals in properly and correctly without killing the crystal...

[@VWatchie]

I share your experience 100 %! Might be OK for a non-armoured glass, but for an armoured glass, it is unfortunately absolutely useless!

[@waktosha7378]

There is an American made one for around $165 on eBay that is good.

[@RandomRobReviews]

I will look into that one. 165 is doable.

[@melodychest9020]

@@RandomRobReviews Did you find it and is it good?

[@Lex5576]

I was using Gorilla glue on my Vostok Amphibia bezels. It works absolutely fine, but a friend gave me a bunch of those 3M adhesive rings, and I've been using those lately. The key to Gorilla glue is to use it very sparingly, or the chemical reaction that sets it up will bubble it out around your insert, and it'll look like shit. I'll have to remember not to buy the crappy Chinese crystal press, because I've been wanting a sapphire for my SKX. We've got a superb jeweler just down the road, I'll see him instead.

[@Erstwhile.Freeman]

KZbinr minitwatch uses contact cement for his mods I believe. Looks nice and stringy like you could remove it later. Check him out.

[@noreltucker4567]

what's the mod on that watch at the beginning!?!?!? gorgeous!

[@waktosha7378]

Yeah, I have been through a dozen of them and not one worked on my diver watches!

[@timothythomas1626]

I would use epoxy for gluing the Pip?

[@siamwatchaddict9072]

Yes dude the press is shite. you should replace the handle . with a stainless steel handle to get the required pressure. . Same with hand press . the ends are all crooked .But you have to modify or spend massive money... 3m is no hassle...

[@testpiloterb1828]

What about 2 part epoxy ?

[@timothythomas1626]

A reload Press.

[@ReiMonCoH]

Blaming the tool... Yes, you should clearly pay someone else

[@JohnnyParanoid]

See, this is why I'm just going to take my watch to a watchmaker/watch repair guy to do my mod. I don't even want to try to mess it up with cheap tools or spend as much as the watch costs in good tools. Hope the rest of that last mod works out.

[@RandomRobReviews]

Haha. I am learning. Will still push forward and improve. I just want the watch’s I work on to be better then stock.

[@JohnnyParanoid]

Random Rob Hey, you're doing better than I could! Lol