Watch Strap Pin Removal Help

[Paul]

Can anybody recommend a specific tool, or a good method for getting out  links on 'them' type of watch straps? - the one's which have a direction arrow on the inside to show which way the pins slide out. Seen a couple on Amazon, but some have dodgey reviews and seem prone to snapping. My wife has bought one of those unisex colourful watches and is not keen on letting me use a drawing pin on it. 

[jzmtl]

1. tape up band around the pin
2. place band on block of wood
3. place a thumb tack on pin
4. lightly tap with hammer
5. when there's 1 or 2 mm of pin exposed on the other end grab it with pliers and pull it out.

Word of caution, some type use friction between pin and link to secure it, but some others (i.e. citizen) use a tiny collar nested within collar, don't lose that!

[gunga]

How about re-installing the pin?

Nice tips!

[jzmtl]

Just flip the band over and lightly tap in the pin with hammer, when there's 1 mm left place the same thumb tack on top of it and continue.

[Benner]

I cut a leg off a safety pin and tapped it out with a hammer.

[Zed]

i use this to show people how to remove a ss bracelet 

[nuphoria]

I have one of those cheap tools, and they are indeed rubbish!

Thanks for the tips and vid - maybe I shall attack that virgin Watchadoo I have hiding in the watch drawer 

[Paul]

Thanks to you all for the tips 

[markn951]

My father had a small screwdriver years ago that he broke the tip off of. He filed down the front so now it's the perfect watch pin removal tool. I use that to push the pin out however many mm, and then use a small pin (like sewing pin) to poke the little opening at the end of the pin and pull it out. That or pliers. Pliers work too 

Also, the video was extremely helpful when you showed it to me before Zed, now all I need is the darn band from CountyComm! You'd think with shipping prices so high they would ship somewhat quickly!!

[Paul]

The 'pin remover'  would be a good addition to include on a multi-tool I think. Not as standard, but the odd SAK with one included would be in my collection

 

[markn951]

The 'pin remover'  would be a good addition to include on a multi-tool I think. Not as standard, but the odd SAK with one included would be in my collection

 

Victorinox Watchmaker

[ICanFixThat]

The Wenger Minathor (aka Micro Technician) is a nice set of watch tools.

The 'cheap' pin removal tools are mostly perfectly fine and work well if the bracelet can be positioned correctly.  My favorite is the one with the spring loaded base that allows different bracelet thicknesses to be aligned with the pins.  Never broken a push pin with them and have done many removals.  Be careful and you'll be ok, if you're using a lot of force the pin is not aligned correctly or it's the wrong size.

The citizen watches need the smaller pin (0.8mm I believe). Citizen makes their own tool which would be handy if you did a lot of that one brand, but a proper pin-pusher and a hammer works very well.  With Citizen, and probably others there are VERY small metal bushings in the holes.  only remove the pins with very good light and a bright surface so you can find the bushings that will almost certainly fall out.  They are needed to get a proper hold on the pins.

The hammer and a pin-block (block with holes, some hold bracelet as well) probably is the esiest if you have a good pin-pusher.  They sell those on Amazon as well. As such the do-it-yourself solution above basically mimic this approach and would be fine if your improvised pusher is the right size and you have a suitable base.

As be on the lookout for and careful with a few weird brands which have the arrow reversed.