Watch Repair Tools for the Servicing Professional
The intricate components and other delicate parts inside an electro-mechanical or a purely mechanical watch require the skills of a servicing professional that is well trained in handling such delicate work. These professionals make use of precision watch repair tools that would help him perform this intricate job correctly and avoid costly and possibly irreparable damage to the watch.
The following is a brief introduction of various tools of the trade used by professional watch servicing and repair personnel.
* The first thing that any watch service personnel should have would be a proper work bench where he can operate and work on repairs. The workbench should be clean and well lit and it should have specific sections where watches, components, parts and watch repair tools can be properly placed or stored.
* Anti-magnetic or nylon-tipped tweezers are used extensively to remove, handle or install parts and components into a watch. These handling tools make it possible for moving intricate components that would be impossible to process using only the fingers.
* Hand drivers with nylon-coated tips are used to facilitate the removal of hands from the clock mechanism. The nylon tip is required in these watch repair tools to prevent possible scratches on indentation on the hands and in any other surfaces on the watch.
* The hands of a watch can be safely detached from the main watch dial or from the smaller dials used in more sophisticated chronograph watches using a precision hand removal tool. This tool is necessary to facilitate the removal of the hands, cannon pinions, driving wheels and sweep wheels from the watch without making any contact with the dial surface.
* A hand fitting platform on the other hand facilitates the fitting of the hands back into the dials. These watch repair tools are usually composed of a top platform that has spring suspensions and holes for protrusions.
* Watch service technicians may sometimes be in need of filing tools, and due to the intricate and delicate nature of watches, a precision needle file set is available to handle all these filing needs.
* Water proof watches usually have caps that are fitted with rubber gaskets that would require sealing grease before installation. A gasket silicon grease applicator is needed for this purpose.
* Watch servicing does not only focus on making repairs or adjustments but also to restore aesthetic conditions of the watches. Watch repair tools for this purpose would include valeting, polishing and buffing of watch surfaces to bring out that sheer satin finish back into the watch again. Before subjecting the watch to the buffing wheel, the glass and other delicate surface need to be covered with a kapton valeting tape for protection against heat, friction and abrasion.
Watch servicing is a skilled profession and requires a certain degree of technical knowledge as well as the proper watch repair tools in order to perform the job right.
