Rolex back tool, which one?

[Diver Dave 0]

I had a good bench tool for a while but it's been packed away in a move and I can't access it. Bought one of the EBay cheapie kits and the dies are so badly made that they are worthless. Esslinger, Otto Frei, etc... all fairly big $$.

 

What are guys using for openers? Just need 29.5mm (Submariner & GMT size)

[FoxWilde 155]

DUCT TAPE!!

[Diver Dave 0]

.

 

Turns out you can buy JUST the one die you need as a Burgeon part number from any of the suppliers and the T-wrench that comes with the shitty Chinese eBay kit fits it perfectly. Cost about $20 and was well worth it. I think I got mine from Esslinger.

 

 

Bugger me... even Walmart has the Chinese one. Go figure... Walmart sells watch tools?

 

https://www.walmart....-Kit/631327836?

 

 

 

 

Dave

Edited July 10, 2017 by Diver Dave

[Monkey_Business 0]

I open mine by making duct-tape balls.

 

Basicly, you take a round squishy object. Wrap the duct tape around it "inverse". With that, I mean that you keep the sticky end OUT from your ball etc.

 

This gives you momentum to open up basicly any screw-in caseback.

[Diver Dave 0]

Here you go: $28 for the good die that fits the Chinese wrench. Works a charm. Otto Frei is where I got mine.

 

 

http://www.ofrei.com/page1307.html

Edited July 10, 2017 by Diver Dave

[Diver Dave 0]

I open mine by making duct-tape balls.

 

Basicly, you take a round squishy object. Wrap the duct tape around it "inverse". With that, I mean that you keep the sticky end OUT from your ball etc.

 

This gives you momentum to open up basicly any screw-in caseback.

 

 

Have never been able to open a Gen with one of those.....

 

Reps yes, but Gens are torqued a bit harder "I guess",

[fatarms 7,759]

I had a good bench tool for a while but it's been packed away in a move and I can't access it. Bought one of the EBay cheapie kits and the dies are so badly made that they are worthless. Esslinger, Otto Frei, etc... all fairly big $$.

I went thru the same thing justa few weeks back. My good one is packed away and I too bought the shitty ebay one, the dies suck, I complained and was given a refund and was told to keep the set, and I then scratched my head.

 

Turns out you can buy JUST the one die you need as a Burgeon part number from any of the suppliers and the T-wrench that comes with the shitty Chinese eBay kit fits it perfectly. Cost about $20 and was well worth it. I think I got mine from Esslinger.

 

 

[Diver Dave 0]

I had a good bench tool for a while but it's been packed away in a move and I can't access it. Bought one of the EBay cheapie kits and the dies are so badly made that they are worthless. Esslinger, Otto Frei, etc... all fairly big $$.

I went thru the same thing justa few weeks back. My good one is packed away and I too bought the shitty ebay one, the dies suck, I complained and was given a refund and was told to keep the set, and I then scratched my head.

 

Turns out you can buy JUST the one die you need as a Burgeon part number from any of the suppliers and the T-wrench that comes with the shitty Chinese eBay kit fits it perfectly. Cost about $20 and was well worth it. I think I got mine from Esslinger.

 

 

 

 

Yeah... my brain engagement cam was slow today... Just wandering off in space...

 

 

In any event, it turns out that the way to go is to score the shitty Chinese set from eBay and then toss most of it out and buy the one good die from good old Otto. It's a pleasure to use a good tool. Hate scratching things.

 

I did try the duct tape trick BTW... no joy on the Gen I needed to open. But thanks for the advice, using it on the reps and Seikos

 

 

>back to my regularly scheduled afternoon nap now.... :suck: <

 

 

It sucks to get old.

 

Dave

[Genius 281]

Chinese sticky ball only failed me once, I wrapped it with sticky side out packaging tape and then it worked

[TRANSPORTER 1]

Yep those chinese openers are seriously lacking aren't they, I got a full refund on my first one, thought about maybe heat treating the dies and quenching then to harden them up, but went the bergeon die only route in the end.

[GenTLe 1,492]

Recently I discovered a freezing spray. That's what made me able to open a too strictly closed case, by bringing the caseback at -40°C.

[Diver Dave 0]

Yep those chinese openers are seriously lacking aren't they, I got a full refund on my first one, thought about maybe heat treating the dies and quenching then to harden them up, but went the bergeon die only route in the end.

 

 

I bitched and they refunded my money and told me to keep the tools, which worked out well after I ordered the Burgeon die for $28 bucks. Works great. I do have to say however that a few of the rep backs aren't sized and made precisely enough to work perfectly with even the good die, so.... just use care.

 

 

 

Recently I discovered a freezing spray. That's what made me able to open a too strictly closed case, by bringing the caseback at -40°C.

 

 

That's a good piece of information, thanks. Sort of the opposite of heating with a torch, which works poorly with watches!

 

dave

[greg_r 81]

Agreed with Dave - sticky balls don't always work.

 

My fallback is a little out of left field and a bit crude, but it works.

 

Hotglue a steel rule or a file with a decent handle to the caseback. That will give enough leverage to open just about anything. Peel off the hot glue when you're done and the caseback will be unmarked (at least I've never yet damaged a watch in any way doing this). Don't try it on display backs, though. That would be.... uh.... bad ;)

[Diver Dave 0]

Agreed with Dave - sticky balls don't always work.

 

My fallback is a little out of left field and a bit crude, but it works.

 

Hotglue a steel rule or a file with a decent handle to the caseback. That will give enough leverage to open just about anything. Peel off the hot glue when you're done and the caseback will be unmarked (at least I've never yet damaged a watch in any way doing this). Don't try it on display backs, though. That would be.... uh.... bad ;)

 

 

Excellent.... out of the box, but I love it.

 

 

Dave