How to sharpen and shape watchmakers screwdrivers│Horology DIY

[@mohanmanickam6811]

Great tutorial, Nick. Thanks! I'm really liking the background music!

[@bleb87]

Ive paid for courses, and your videos are better than anything iv'e seen. THANK YOU!

[@ROBRENZ]

Nicely done!

[@buzzufy]

Very great demonstration even for new watchmakers can easily do this thing. Thanks for sharing 👏

[@charlesd820]

Excellent video, thank you. Could you do one on maintaining tweezers as well?

[@CharlieboyK]

Thanks for this mate, I have just started the journey of watch making / repairs. This was very helpfull.

[@paulferreira8342]

Excellent channel. Excellent teacher. Thank you!

[@paulwilson3434]

Great video. True pro thanks from Ohio

[@maximf.5537]

great tutorial, thanks

[@valdachef]

Great job, thanks for the tutorial

[@life-onmars8223]

Not really re-sharpening the blade, rather re-grinding the blade. Just semantics of course. I noticed you didn't use the 400 paper - is the full process implied or just 200 & 800 used?

[@walther9161]

Straight to the point… (sorry no pun intended). Thanks for posting!

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks so much!

[@polloloci21]

Awesome. Thank you sir

[@Distoideas]

Thank you very much.

[@1.thomasalmeida]

Subscribed ✅

[@solifidist]

This is a great, straightforward video. As someone who has completed a few basic watchmaking courses and is starting out in the hobby i want to ask one other question about basic screwdriver usage. How tight do you tighten watch screws?

[@MasterWatchmaker]

Excellent question. In general, personally, I go reasonably tight. Most vintage watches and especially pocket watches are well made, with rather robust screws. On the other hand, modern massproduced movements from 1980s and 90s have rather flimsy screws and it is fairly common to snap a screw head. For example I am more cautious with ETA7750 than 60s and 70s Omegas. Of course handling ratchet wheel screws , crown wheel screws and all special screws ( like Rolex date change over wheel which is both left thread and small diameter in relation to head size) takes extra care. The more time you spend working on a particular calibre, the more confident you will be but even the most experienced watchmakers break screws. Good luck with your horology!

[@enriqueruben4891]

instablaster

[@perrybucsdad]

This is informative, but how do I know where exactly to position the screwdriver in the sharpener? You mention sweet spot below in one of the comments, but how do I know when I am in the sweet spot?

[@Patriot-rising]

Makes you wonder why watchmakers screwdrivers are not hollow ground? Great video thank you kind sir.

[@enriqueamador2075]

great!!!!

[@jonanderson813]

Is there a location mark on the screwdriver to align with the sharpener, or a reference to the correct length of the screwdriver to protrude from the front edge of the sharpener? The animation is great, some Technical Teaching colleges would be able to lift their game if they got that advanced.

[@MasterWatchmaker]

Hi Jon - unfortunately no location or alignment marking on neither. Also the blade diameter itself plays a role, so finding that 'sweet spot' is matter of practice. But it is not that difficult. Although clamping the screwdriver too close to it's edge could result in the screwdriver's body being ground. Not pretty.

[@marcn8750]

@@MasterWatchmaker Thanks for the video. Its clear and to the point. Two questions 1) is there a reference guide to figure out what size screws I have on a said watch caseback? I sometimes have watches with missing screws and its a nightmare to try and guess the size. Often I have to order them online and its always a hit and miss game. 2) Stripped heads on caseback screws happen from time to time. Is there a screw extraction tool you can recommend to extract the screw? Thanks and best wishes from Singapore. Marc

[@paulwilson3434]

Sanding strips Where ? Hardware store ?

[@acidfighter46]

I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but being the detailer for Melbourne Bentley I must admit my attention to detail is pretty good so my guess was correct.

[@stagekit4en482]

Hi. What the pepper you use?

[@MrChrissy1r]

Many decades ago I worked for a very well known company , but I am bound "official secrets act" not to disclose. The company had a huge machine workshop with hundreds of lathes from minute to huge, and mills drills etc etc, (when I say drills I mean fully automatic production line machines that drill thousands of holes in circuit boards in one minute) you get my drift, well there was a lady engineering expert over all of the research and development dept, and she had a German counterpart, a guy in the same job but of course in Germany, and they were good friends, anyhow, one day she received a tiny packet in the mail it contained a micro screw, which her German friend had sent her and a note that said , "smallest ever, beat this".. Well she took the screw, drilled and tapped a hole in it, made an even tinier screw and screwed it in, returning it with a note that read , "what like this"? Don't forget, one does not only have to create the screws, but the taps and dies to create the threads!! That was way back in mid 70's.

[@TomRaine]

How do you maintain your sharpening stones?

[@TheTarrMan]

@2:53 where do you get that glass/sandpaper thing? Or what grit sandpaper should I use?

[@tomhill4003]

I need to respectably disagree with you on one key point. Screwdrivers for precision work should have a concave grind in order to have maximum engagement (and less damage) to the screw. Gunsmiths use this type of grind in order to minimize screw head damage.

[@RicardoBirdlegs]

Dear sir, the best shape for a watch screwdriver is the trumpet shape. Especially if you are working on a high end movement. The tip of a wedge shape does not fill the slot perfectly. We can see this in your drawing. A trumpet shape gives you more grip, less horizontal play and undamaged screw heads. Nice clear video though.

[@MasterWatchmaker]

Thanks for comment, but ' trumpet ' requires special sharpening stone and not suitable for novice watchmakers.

[@philipslighting8240]

Great tool. What is the difference between a watch repairer and a watch maker ? Thank you.

[@paulwilson3434]

Watch maker can make gears etc A machinist.

[@cameronmccreary4758]

At 1:01 the screwdriver is NOT hollow ground. Most modern slotted head screws have perpendicular slots; the displayed screwdriver has the wrong geometry.

[@DavidZivic]

I actually noticed what was wrong at the photo 😅.

[@tomthompson7400]

Hi , I repair glasses , but use the same type of screwdrivers , Ive ground some of mine to be parallel with the tip of the blade instead of wedge shape , why do watchmakers use wedge shaped blades which are clearly the wrong shape to start with instead of parallel ?

[@theselectiveluddite]

G'day Tom, In the old watchmaking books I have they demonstrate the wedge shape for screwdrivers. The philosophy behind it is that you dress the tip so that it wedges in the top 1/2 of the slot, but just doesn't quite touch the bottom, thereby creating a lot of friction. This reduces the likely-hood of the screwdriver being able to slip along the slot whilst being used, as can be the case where the screwdriver tip rests on the bottom of the slot and is free along the sides. Cheers.

[@tomthompson7400]

@@theselectiveluddite try a parallel grind on a couple and see ,, you may just like it , spreads the load over the entire area of the slot , wont cam out and leaves no marks ,,,, thanks for the reply , regards t .

[@mesutulutas9063]

When you choose to be a watchmaker. You even have to service your screwdriver sharpening wheels by yourself. 😅

[@Doppelfrog]

Did you really just use a screwdriver as a circlip remover?!? No wonder they need sharpening.

[@MasterWatchmaker]

Of course I do. I also use them to remove spring loaded bars. Actually, I have a video called: "How to remove watch bracelet" - and I do this with ease with a screwdriver. I love my screwdrivers.

[@paulstewart7696]

@@MasterWatchmaker Great answer :)