As a professional watch repairer I've been using one of these everyday for ages and they are fabulous, they are well made strong and easy to use. The space underneath the bottom die holder is there to slip the bracelet under. I've not had any issues of the press flexing the rear columns or the bottom die holder in fact if you ever got to the point of causing distortion of the press you will also have a very badly damaged watch case.
Bought one of these after watching your video. I was not happy about the bottom die holder flexing, albeit very little, so I made a simple mod that seems to work fine. From the underside of the bottom plate I released the 2 screws that hold the die holder bridge in place and removed the bridge. In the centre is a 6mm taper headed screw that protrudes the bridge and becomes the threads for the bottom die, I removed it. I then replaced the screw, after cutting it to length, with a longer 6mm cheese headed screw. Replace the bridge with the original screws. Now unscrew the replacement cheese head screw until it touches the base plate, this will stop the die bridge from flexing. Make sure the new screw isn't too long as to stick through the die. You can also square up the 2 dies by watching the slack as you tighten the screws to reassemble. I don't normally replace crystals with the strap on but it's simple to swap the screw back when the need arises.
that's so nice....good presses are a must. I've learned the hard way in the past by using cheap tools - it typically ends up costing you a lot more. You should always invest in good quality tools, especially to work on watches (or knives). Thanks for the opportunity sir Rob!!
I have made a piece of wood that fits just under it, so it can only pivot up a bit but I don't apply as much force as Rob does so it doesn't really pivot at all.
I paid a lot of money to have my SKX009 crystal swapped out after sourcing my own sapphire and wish now that I had done it myself. I love buying watches from Antique stores and flea markets that are often damage and restoring them as best as I can. I have several watches that need new crystals and it'd incredible to do it myself, particularly a cute little Seiko that bought for my wife for $20, it's a datejust homage with the day and date. She loves it for work, but it's so scratched on the crystal. Thanks for the engaging content and congratulations to whoever you pick! :)
I started on the crappy blue level press and the cheap hollow aluminium handle bent so you couldn't leverage it anymore, bought this red one and never looked back, it's great
I currently own the blue one and also have issues getting my crystals square with the case, the red one you show would definitely be an asset to my personal watch modding hobby! I have an arbor press in my garage and have used it once with success but it's not something I feel comfortable using regularly! Thanks for the opportunity to win this one Rob! Good day!
The red one looks very well constructed. I've been using the cheap press and it always took me 4-5 attempts before I got the crystal in nicely balance.
Thank you for the insight. I have one of these on the way as I write this. My attempts to get a crystal and bezel seated on a Seiko using the lever type resulted in unsuccess and a couple of cracked dies that are extremely cheap.
Rob, ... not 100 % sure, but I think the cantilevered piece on the bottom is to prevent the shock of the crystals seating from causing them to shatter or crack. Kind of a shock absorber.
Thanks for the tutorial ! I think the ability to properly remove and install the crystals is what has kept me from trying my hand at “moding”. Win the give away or not, you’ve helped to inspire me 😃👍.
Thanks for the video. I had a blue one up until this past summer when the small metal “link” broke in half while I was trying to pop a domed sapphire back in. I was researching these on EBay and Amazon. Now that I’ve seen you actually use it I think I’ll make the switch. Thanks for the great vids!
Thanks for doing a giveaway Rob, I know all of us appreciate the time you give! I fortunately already got one of these exact presses based on a recommendation from you from a Monday Stream. But good luck to whoever wins this! It opens up so many opportunities to having fun with watches.
A shameless plug to pick me! My son got me into this hobby a couple of years ago. It's been bloggers like yourself that have made this journey a doable and fun hobby. Just Watch and learn. I have one of those crappy presses from eBay, and have to screw it down so it doesn't flip over. This one is on my Christmas list. Anyway, thanks for all you vlogs. Ed
I have been wanting to try nodding my Orient Mako II and even some watch restoration. This would be perfect for that. Definitely looks like a better design than the clamp style.
Great tutorial on the use of a very unusual tool! I am currently looking into a Seiko save the ocean watch that belongs to my son. He wants a single domed sapphire with A R coating. This press and your tutorial would sure come in handy!!!
Thanks for posting this press video Rob, I'm just getting into modding & hunting down tools, I was looking at getting the blue style lever press but I'll hold off & get one of these red presses instead as it's looks to be a stronger press. Also thanks for the parts list / links you also added this also is a great help. Enjoying your videos
I have a skx that needs a new crystal, it's my daily i wear it to work everyday and over the years has gotten banged up. Would be fun to swap it myself. Thanks Rob for the opportunity to win this....
Thanks for the great video as always Rob! I've been shopping for a press as I want to mod my SKX009. Now I know which one to buy, making my life and decision much easier!
Think i should start changing my own crystals instead of sending them out to be repaired. As for me who's just starting watch collecting, this would be an awesome tool to have to get me on my way with doing my own repairs.
Thanks for the review, Rob. Been putting my tools together to build my own pieces and see what I can come up with. I've seen good and bad about these presses but these seem superior. Thanks for consuderation!
Okay! I've gone ahead and ordered one! My "Collection" is only about a dozen, mostly Seiko. So it will NOT just sit and gather dust. THANKS FRIEND.....
Thank you for making this video. I've been looking on Amazon for a reliable watch back press to replace watch batteries for family and friends. The Walmart stores in our area have closed down the watch repair department. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about watch repair. If you have any advice please share it in the comments. I'll bet there are others who would appreciate your input. Thanks, again.
I have one of these and my only concern was the alloy piece that holds the bottom plastic piece has a gap under it and if you screw down hard enough you may bend or distort the alloy holder. i milled one of the alloy pieces that screw on during shipment. i milled it to the exact size drilled a hole through the centre so it fits over the screw and put it all back together virtually eliminating any further problems.
Hey Rob! Thanks for posting great informative videos consistently. I love following your channel to find out about new watches you feature and your honest opinion. Thanks for the chance
Why not add a Metal shim on top of the Base under the holding platform to fortify that area in the front ? Those are way better than the atypical blue ones . Nice giveaway Rob.
Nice! I never win the lottery, so why should this be different? Just an observation... Those two alloy pucks, being same od and mounted on the upper and lower studs respectively could be rudimentary alignment gauges. You could sight a discrepancy with a small straight edge. Even cooler- a cleanly milled ring, with an id to tolerance of the puck od and dropped onto the lower puck should be able to slide up to the limit of the top when the press is closed if both posts of the tool are aligned. I do think the two mating surfaces of the pucks should be flush regardless. You can check this with a feeler gauge.
Solid design, and good quality build. I have similar to the blue one, but a cheap version. I bought it to modify Vostok watches i have. So far only took out glass one, waiting for the watch case to be completed to put everything back. So not sure if the blue one will be a good press.
I really need one of these. The first press i bought had an semi-hollow aluminum lever/handle, that quickly bent. So i bought a second one, with a solid steel handle. Unfortunately the top and bottom dies/posts don't line up, so it only presses crooked crystals. Hook a brother up please! P.S. Thanks for all the videos, they really helped out a lot for a novice modder like me. D.H.
I just got one of those red presses and I’m trying to learn how to use it. I’m a reseller and I like Watches and I discovered that I can’t put a lot of the watch backs on and they won’t just pop on with your thumb
I have the blue one and it's ok but I'm scared to use it sometimes because I damaged a watch crystal once. I had to remove my watch bezel yesterday that was stiff and grease the o ring and when I was gonna put the bezel back I was worried I was gonna damage something so I put some cloths in between the watch and the press. Turned out good. Definitely need to upgrade to one of these.
Looks like a pretty good press to me, I like that you have more control over the amount of pressure that's exerted by using the screw down and also if something starts going wrong you can catch it faster and easier it seems to me, with a lever style press I doubt you would catch a mishap as easily and by the time you did it might have already done irreparable damage. As for the bottom part of the press where the bottom dies go you could get a chunky piece of aluminum and cut it to just slide under that ledge that way when you press you have a much more rigid shelf that won't canter over on you. As for the top you could get some heavy walled brass, steel, stainless steel etc tubing just big enough to fit over some long bolts with some nuts and washers, cut the tubing to where it just slides between the upper and lower plate, drill holes for your bolts through the upper and lower plate(I would take the thing apart so that you can put the upper plate directly on top of the lower plate flat and use a drill press to drill through both plates at the same time) then counter sink the holes so the bolt heads and nuts and washers are flush and bolt it together. Then I'd cut the bolt threads to be flush also. Put the press back together and slide the tubing where your bolts go, throw your bolts down through the top plate and down through the tubing and through the bottom plate, put on your washers and nuts and that press should be a lot more rigid when your done. There's probably a simpler method to do it the way I said but it's an idea 💡.
In all of the time I have used mine I have not had any issues of flexing or distortion of the press and if you did manage to cause the press to flex you will also have a badly damaged watch.
Thanks again for another good video and also for doing something that you don't have to, now about how, when, where, etc I think all the comments going to be about the same. We all want to do what we see you doing on your channel you're an inspiration to us all and winning that press machine would help me or anyone to accomplish that and what makes it more important is that comes from somebody that we admire. We are looking forward to see you doing more mods a more 🌞 sales. Take care.
Thanks for all your great content Random Rob and thanks for this video! It’s cool to see one of these presses in use. I don’t know much about moding at this point but am intrigued by it for sure. Thanks for doing a giveaway!
I've always wanted to start modding watches. Making sure I have the ideal equipment would be great. I have a seiko snk803 that I have been wanting to mod for a while.
Hi Rob , I bought a similar but cheaper model from Ali Express...😩...my vostok watch is still stucked in the press... 😜🤣... thank God it was just a Vostok case....but that one looks robust and you demonstrated it. If win this one i swear I’ll be destroying mine; I will gladly document the destruction 🤣.
I have an inexpensive blue crystal press. Iv'e used it once on a skx 013. I'm surprised nothing broke and would love to win this model for future mods.
Going to get one, I've run into a lot of watches where the case back needed a ton of work just to replace it. This tool is going to be a big help. Did you give away your press yet? If not, I'm your Huckleberry. LOL
Hi Rob, I would love to have a press like this! With Christmas around the corner it would be a great gift to a regular channel viewer, I am 😉🤞 Keep up the good work, thanks Rob!
I've been looking at these for a while. Now I know how to use them and it would ease my stress level when setting my crystals. I've been building a lot of watches lately and this would be a nice addition to my work shop.
I've got one of the blue types of presses. Been wanting to swap to sapphire on a Citizen Nighthawk, but am nervous about using the cheap blue one I have.
Always appreciate your videos. I try to catch your sundays ones but miss them. I would love that press so i can stop breaking the crystal times mineral crystals when i press them :(
As always thanks for the video. Using the 'blue' press now - starting to build watches for gifts and such. This screw style press does look like the way to go.
Thank you for your time and help. A Q. For you if i may: When turning the handle, does the plastic die turns with the handle? In other words: i i use aluminium dies, will they be turning and scratching the glass? Thank You very much.
I have an Orient Blue-ray II that I am planning to install a double domed sapphire crystal in, this would be a big help and very much appreciated. Thank you Rob.