12 replies to this topic

[Ari]

Buying my first set of screw drivers.  What sizes are used the most common?  What is a set that I should look at as a new guy. (With no money left LOL)  I am looking at these, I know they are not Bergeons but I just do not have money for Bergeons right now.

Linkage

[Mod_It]

Ari,

I actually got mine from eBay.  I made sure to get the kind with replaceable tips.  I plan to buy Bergeon tips soon.  Total cost for me was $5.  The Chinese blades don't take torque very well in my experience.  The ones you have linked look like the replaceable kind, which is cool.  In terms of size I go .5mm - 1.2mm.

[Mod_It]

Ari,

Another thing you should know... the tips on these screw driver tips degrade over time. You use them, sharpen them, etc... so no matter what kind of screw drivers you buy, you will need replacements.  This is why I went with the cheap eBay drivers and am planning on the Bergeon tips.  Also... for $23 you can get the drivers and a nice stand off of eBay...

Something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item27b1c54cda

[kew]

They look like a good set in your link.  I did buy a five piece Bergeon set in sizes 50/60/80/100/120.  With my extremely limited watch repairing skills they seem to be a good choice.  The tips are very good.  I did read somewhere that it is a good idea to get full stainless tips rather than chrome covered brass as the chrome can peel off and find its way to where it should not be.

[Ari]

Thank you guys... How important is the .50?  Everything I am seeing on ebay is .65 and up. Most the pretty neat ones are .80 and up.  The ones I bought the other day are those standard ones you find at lowes. They were to thick for my screws on my movement. Finding the right thing on a limited budget is tough.

[kew]

In the experience I have had, not very important.  One can only see that it is a flat bladed screw driver when it is under a loupe!!

[Ari]

Thank you everyone this really helped a bunch. I have my kit coming. I ended up getting the kit you suggested.

[Ari]

Ari, on 20 May 2010 - 01:40 AM, said:

Thank you everyone this really helped a bunch. I have my kit coming. I ended up getting the kit you suggested.

My new kit got here and I must say it sure is nice, makes things much easier.  I also got some Dumont #3 tweezers and they sure are nice too.

[kew]

Ari, on 03 June 2010 - 01:59 AM, said:

My new kit got here and I must say it sure is nice, makes things much easier.  I also got some Dumont #3 tweezers and they sure are nice too.

Excellent.  Good tools make the job much better.  I'm yet to buy tweezers.  I struggle with the free plastic ones that came with a battery change.

And I've been able to find every part that has dropped from their grip.

[Ari]

kew, on 03 June 2010 - 02:13 AM, said:

Excellent.  Good tools make the job much better.  I'm yet to buy tweezers.  I struggle with the free plastic ones that came with a battery change.

And I've been able to find every part that has dropped from their grip.

I had what I thought was some pretty ok tweezers.  But I did have a few parts pop away from me, most of the time I could find them again.  Once I got the new tweezers I took apart the area of the watch I had just put back together.  It was the main wheels and wheel bridge. (Sorry still learning the nomenclature) The new Dumonts made the parts much easier to hang onto. I was surprise that there was that big of a difference, but then it might be the new tool placebo effect LOL.

[Flaxmoore]

Sears also carries the very fine screwdrivers you would need for working on watches.

If you want a really superb set of tweezers, get a set of jeweler's tweezers (no connection to site, found via Google). The ones with a sliding latch are great for maintaining a precise grip on very small parts- I use them all the time as a locksmith.

[kew]

Flaxmoore, on 30 June 2010 - 01:10 PM, said:

Sears also carries the very fine screwdrivers you would need for working on watches.

If you want a really superb set of tweezers, get a set of jeweler's tweezers (no connection to site, found via Google). The ones with a sliding latch are great for maintaining a precise grip on very small parts- I use them all the time as a locksmith.

I haven't seen those before but I can see value in having one with a sliding latch.  

[Flaxmoore]

kew, on 30 June 2010 - 01:35 PM, said:

I haven't seen those before but I can see value in having one with a sliding latch.  

Once you try it, you'll never go back. Grab the piece, slip the latch, and you can work with much less hand fatigue.