GETTING STARTED
Obviously you can't just start turning screws...there are a number of things you will need to do (and get) in preparation. You
will have much better results, and a much more enjoyable experience if
you take the time, effort, and expense to get most of the items listed
below BEFORE starting. Keep
in mind that these are just the bare essentials... a serious repair
person has hundreds of other specialized tools... but we'll save that
for another discussion. The bottom line is that preparation and having the right equipment is vital to success of any repair job!.
Work space
Set up a well lit work space with a clean, flat surface. For a beginner a kitchen table will do just fine, but as you become more serious you may want to consider a watch bench made specially for repairing watches and a good fluorescent lamp which is easier on the eyes. A watch bench has small built in drawers for all of the tools and parts you are sure to accumulate over time. The
design is tall, with a surface that (when sitting) is close to the face
so the repair person doesn't have to slump over when working. Some repairmen will put cork or linoleum on the surface. These soft materials stop parts from bouncing away, and aren't hard enough to damage anything dropped on them. Some benches even have a slide out "parts catcher" that presses against the belly when sitting. Mine is a wood frame with a loose piece of canvas tacked to the bottom. When a part is dropped and goes "over the edge", this brilliant contraption catches it!
Most beginners will (as mentioned above) begin at a kitchen table. A
good tip for working at a table is to lay down a fine piece of white
fabric (like a plain white pillowcase or cheesecloth) to do your work
on. The main advantage for doing this is if you drop one of the parts, it won't bounce away and become lost. I suggest white because tiny screws (etc.) are easy to locate. This practice will also save your table from scratches, and protect your watch from the tables hard surface. To keep it from shifting, you might want to consider taping it down with masking tape as well.
Screw-driver set
You WILL need a good set of watchmakers screwdrivers. This is a MUST. The sets found at the department store for working on eyeglasses etc. will cause more trouble than they are worth. They are not precision made and you will easily damage or strip the highly polished screws found in most watches. The keen eye of a serious watch collector will pick this up immediately; it detracts from the look of the watch thus reducing value of your watch. Track down and buy a set of watchmakers screwdrivers. Even a beginners set will be much better than anything you can find at the dollar-store.
The
proper way to hold it (Right Below) is to grip the screwdriver shaft
between the thumb and middle finger, with the index finger on the cupped
end (which rotates). Press down on the top of the screwdriver and swivel it between your thumb and middle finger; turning the screw.
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