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Old 7 November 2018, 08:55 PM   #1
Reinhard in SA
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Case back tool for 90's Tudor Submariner

Can anyone recommend a case back opener for my Tudor Submariner?

Would something like this suffice?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Watch-maker...Cpgi:rk:1:pf:0

This is the case back in question:
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Old 7 November 2018, 09:58 PM   #2
keepitsimple
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They aren't the best quality (I have one to open my cheapo "gardening" Parnis) but they are designed specifically for oyster cases, so pretty sure one of the dies will fit.

That back is llikely to be pretty tight though, so it would need careful use to avoid slipping.

In my case, the tool is probably worth more than the watch, so I don't worry.
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Old 8 November 2018, 12:51 AM   #3
Valenciawatchrepair
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This is a good choice.

https://www.esslinger.com/made-to-fi...xoC3-kQAvD_BwE

Provides a nice even pressure while you unscrew or screw on the back. Will need to be mounted to a bench though.
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Old 8 November 2018, 07:35 AM   #4
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+1 Cheers. -Norm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair View Post
This is a good choice.

https://www.esslinger.com/made-to-fi...xoC3-kQAvD_BwE

Provides a nice even pressure while you unscrew or screw on the back. Will need to be mounted to a bench though.
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Old 8 November 2018, 03:23 PM   #5
Reinhard in SA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keepitsimple View Post
They aren't the best quality (I have one to open my cheapo "gardening" Parnis) but they are designed specifically for oyster cases, so pretty sure one of the dies will fit.

That back is llikely to be pretty tight though, so it would need careful use to avoid slipping.

In my case, the tool is probably worth more than the watch, so I don't worry.
Thanks for the informative reply. I'd hate to damage the case back.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair View Post
This is a good choice.

https://www.esslinger.com/made-to-fi...xoC3-kQAvD_BwE

Provides a nice even pressure while you unscrew or screw on the back. Will need to be mounted to a bench though.
Thanks for the link! That looks the business.

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+1 Cheers. -Norm
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Old 14 November 2018, 03:05 AM   #6
Richard Carver
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The LG Openall is a good one. Get the 4 post case holder (6.95) to fully protect your watch and if you buy the base (14.95) there is no need to attach it to the bench vice.

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Old 14 November 2018, 07:05 PM   #7
ROLLiWORKS
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Silly question. What's your plan after it's open?
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Old 15 November 2018, 02:45 AM   #8
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Silly question. What's your plan after it's open?
You read my mind, michael h
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Old 15 November 2018, 05:19 AM   #9
mhunt1014
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You read my mind, michael h
I think we are all eagerly waiting to here what to do next here lol.
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Old 15 November 2018, 09:08 AM   #10
Richard Carver
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You tawkin to me?? you tawkin to me?? (movie reference, extra points for identifying) I put clear casebacks on everything I could find one for which was a bunch.



More seriously, as prices climb ever higher on vintage it has become very important to check every one for case corrosion. A watch can look perfect but have terminal rot in the gasket channel.

Terminal


Good
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Old 16 November 2018, 03:54 AM   #11
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Nice work!


All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.
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Old 16 November 2018, 04:10 AM   #12
Richard Carver
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Nice work!


All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.
Two different watches, showing a bad one and one that shows what you want to see when you take the back off.

Do you guys tackle channel rot? Good vintage are disappearing into collections and there are a ton of these diseased ones floating around. What would something like that cost?
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Old 16 November 2018, 07:49 AM   #13
OysterBracelet
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Let me get this straight, you warn others of corrosion in a case yet you go about fitting your watches with dodgy case backs?
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Old 16 November 2018, 11:39 AM   #14
Valenciawatchrepair
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Let me get this straight, you warn others of corrosion in a case yet you go about fitting your watches with dodgy case backs?
The rot like the photo he posted come more from the watch never being opened for long periods of time. Sweat, salt, and moisture get in there and just sit and "eat" the metal. If he keeps his gasket changed regularly with fresh silicone, he should have nothing to worry about, even with aftermarket case backs.
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Old 17 November 2018, 08:54 PM   #15
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Two different watches, showing a bad one and one that shows what you want to see when you take the back off.



Do you guys tackle channel rot? Good vintage are disappearing into collections and there are a ton of these diseased ones floating around. What would something like that cost?


We have the tooling but not the time at the moment. We’re moving to our new shop in Jan. Cant wait to post photos of our new facility. We hope to take larger number and more interesting jobs by Feb or Mar.


All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.
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Old 17 November 2018, 11:45 PM   #16
Richard Carver
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We have the tooling but not the time at the moment. We’re moving to our new shop in Jan. Cant wait to post photos of our new facility. We hope to take larger number and more interesting jobs by Feb or Mar.


All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.
Just thinking about the staggering amount of work repairing one of those would be. Have to drill out the pockets of rot, take the channel down to clean metal and still have to deal with the potential loss of the threads.

What would be the possibility to tool a new channel including screw threads and just grind the pitted case down to clean metal and weld the new channel on? There's only a few sizes you would normally have to deal with.
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Old 23 November 2018, 04:10 PM   #17
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Correct. Basically the same as repairing work case threads with the extra step of removing some old material beforehand. The weld then mill and cut threads on our cnc mill.
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Old 25 November 2018, 11:23 PM   #18
jaisonline
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Originally Posted by Richard Carver View Post
The LG Openall is a good one. Get the 4 post case holder (6.95) to fully protect your watch and if you buy the base (14.95) there is no need to attach it to the bench vice.


Thanks for the recommendation
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