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javier · 20 April 2020, 11:59 PM

Hi
I have a problem with my oyster bracelet. I need to reduce a link but it is very tight and I cant do it. I do not want to spoil the screw making force. My question is if there is any method to unscrew it.
Thanks for you valuable advice

rodo · 21 April 2020, 12:02 AM

Heat it up first

jamesthejeweller · 21 April 2020, 12:08 AM

Soak in boiling water for a minute or two.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

danny1305 · 21 April 2020, 12:11 AM

Use a blow dryer to heat it up, it will remove very easily

Annan · 21 April 2020, 12:11 AM

This usually works for me: Turn the screw firmly (but carefully) as though to tighten it first. Then turn back the other way to loosen. Quite often this will break things loose.

RoscoPico · 21 April 2020, 12:13 AM

drop of WD40 down a toothpick ?

sp006 · 21 April 2020, 12:15 AM

Heat always does the trick

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Flyingpig698 · 21 April 2020, 12:20 AM

Probably due to Loctite. Some heat should melt it down.

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g-boac · 21 April 2020, 12:40 AM

As stated, heating the link to loosen the loctite adhesive should work and is likely the issue. Which is in turn was likely caused by overapplication of loctite. I'll caution that typical home hair dryers (compared to actual heat guns) may not put out enough heat to loosen the loctite, and a heat gun has tips that allow you to focus the area you're heating vs covering most of the bracelet with a hair dryer, or boiling the bracelet (both of which could collaterally weaken the loctite on adjacent screws that you are not trying to loosen).

I can also share that one time I had an exceptionally stubborn screw, I asked an AD by me for help. Note this is a larger AD whose AD brands include Rolex, with a large in-store service department where they service as well as send to RSC - not a shopping mall "fast fix" booth or a shopping mall chain jewelry store. The AD was more than happy to help, and offered the service at no charge (a courtesy gesture, to in turn invite back more business). The watchmaker got the stubborn screw out in probably less than a minute from the time I handed my watch over and he took it to his workbench. Just took heat; there were no issues with my screw and in fact they offered me two additional as a spare. This was for an oyster bracelet on a Sea-Dweller.

RobotDoctor · 21 April 2020, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodo

Heat it up first

Heat the link, not the screw.

subtona · 21 April 2020, 12:46 AM

Heat

AND

A proper screw driver!

javier · 21 April 2020, 12:53 AM

thank you all
Now it is ok with the heat, but the unscrew procedure is immediately, or I have to let the link cooled ?

SPMN · 21 April 2020, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javier

thank you all
Now it is ok with the heat, but the unscrew procedure is immediately, or I have to let the link cooled ?

Do it immediately while hot before the adhesive has a chance to set up and tighten again.

slus · 21 April 2020, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javier

thank you all
Now it is ok with the heat, but the unscrew procedure is immediately, or I have to let the link cooled ?

Do it while the link is so hot that it is burning your fingers

javier · 21 April 2020, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slus

Do it while the link is so hot that it is burning your fingers

ok, ok,

tks

lowmandfl · 21 April 2020, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtona

Heat

AND

A proper screw driver!

100%. I have made the mistake of a bad screwdriver before, and the links took a beating. Worth the small investment for a Bergeon.

t60 · 21 April 2020, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-boac

Just took heat; there were no issues with my screw and in fact they offered me two additional as a spare. This was for an oyster bracelet on a Sea-Dweller.

For free? That's fantastic. When I got my Sub it was brand new and one of the screws got completely gummed up by yours truly. Went to the RSC which was close to me at the time and they charged me 20 to replace it. Just the screw..

m j b · 21 April 2020, 11:01 PM

I guess by now the OP has removed the screw. I use a heat gun, but I've also read that a soldering iron would work, and (I presume) has the advantage of focusing the heat better.

cop414 · 21 April 2020, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtona

Heat

AND

A proper screw driver!

This

barneb10 · 21 April 2020, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javier

Hi
I have a problem with my oyster bracelet. I need to reduce a link but it is very tight and I cant do it. I do not want to spoil the screw making force. My question is if there is any method to unscrew it.
Thanks for you valuable advice

Hair dryer

gummy · 21 April 2020, 11:20 PM

Hair dryer and Bergeon screwdrivers.

javier · 22 April 2020, 12:02 AM

Someone told me that if you put the bracelet into coke, the liquid can make the task. Is that true ?

Brian Page · 22 April 2020, 12:35 AM

Hair dryer works great

Greg 59 · 22 April 2020, 01:56 AM

If all else fails you could always drill the bugger out.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

scurfa · 22 April 2020, 02:21 AM

I find the screw driver you get with the sea dweller 16600 is the perfect one for the job

alphasports · 22 April 2020, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtona

A proper screw driver!

Absolutely this.

jamesthejeweller · 22 April 2020, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphasports

Absolutely this.

Yep, horofix do an all in one tool with parallel blades. You can get it on esslinger.com for £50. Or if you want a full set of parallel Bergeons it'll be £300ish from Cousins.

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gmtbatman · 22 April 2020, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javier

Someone told me that if you put the bracelet into coke, the liquid can make the task. Is that true ?

only on models with red and black bezels

SearChart · 22 April 2020, 04:28 AM

Hairdryer (and boiling water?!) is too much effort, just use a torch lighter. and hold the bracelet with an old rag so you don't burn yourself.

05carbondrz · 22 April 2020, 04:29 AM

Small Butane Torch,Can heat the exact screw head.You can get them from most hardware stores.

20 April 2020, 11:59 PM	#1
javier "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Argentina Posts: 774	Is there any "method" to unscrew a link when it is very tight ? Hi I have a problem with my oyster bracelet. I need to reduce a link but it is very tight and I cant do it. I do not want to spoil the screw making force. My question is if there is any method to unscrew it. Thanks for you valuable advice

21 April 2020, 12:08 AM	#3
jamesthejeweller "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: James Location: TAX EXILE Watch: PLATONA Posts: 637	Soak in boiling water for a minute or two. Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk __________________ Stay Cool J-T-J

21 April 2020, 12:11 AM	#5
Annan "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Real Name: Ron Location: Arizona, USA Watch: 116233 Posts: 3,177	This usually works for me: Turn the screw firmly (but carefully) as though to tighten it first. Then turn back the other way to loosen. Quite often this will break things loose. __________________ *so many Rolexes.....so little time*

21 April 2020, 12:46 AM	#11
subtona "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: gus Location: East Coast Watch: APK & sometimes Y Posts: 26,054	Heat AND A proper screw driver! __________________

21 April 2020, 11:01 PM	#18
m j b "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Real Name: Michael Location: RTP, NC, USA Watch: ♕& Ω Posts: 5,120	I guess by now the OP has removed the screw. I use a heat gun, but I've also read that a soldering iron would work, and (I presume) has the advantage of focusing the heat better. __________________ Enjoy life - it has an expiration date. Disclaimer: Please note that the avatar is not an accurate representation of how I look. The camera adds 10 pounds...

21 April 2020, 12:02 AM	#2
rodo "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 640	Heat it up first

21 April 2020, 12:11 AM	#4
danny1305 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: US Posts: 117	Use a blow dryer to heat it up, it will remove very easily

21 April 2020, 12:13 AM	#6
RoscoPico "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Real Name: Chris Location: USA Watch: ingMe,WatchingYou. Posts: 1,462	drop of WD40 down a toothpick ?

21 April 2020, 12:15 AM	#7
sp006 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: New York Posts: 699	Heat always does the trick Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

21 April 2020, 12:20 AM	#8
Flyingpig698 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Real Name: Danny Location: Singapore Watch: Rolex 1675 Posts: 141	Probably due to Loctite. Some heat should melt it down. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

21 April 2020, 12:40 AM	#9
g-boac 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: N/A Posts: 343	As stated, heating the link to loosen the loctite adhesive should work and is likely the issue. Which is in turn was likely caused by overapplication of loctite. I'll caution that typical home hair dryers (compared to actual heat guns) may not put out enough heat to loosen the loctite, and a heat gun has tips that allow you to focus the area you're heating vs covering most of the bracelet with a hair dryer, or boiling the bracelet (both of which could collaterally weaken the loctite on adjacent screws that you are not trying to loosen). I can also share that one time I had an exceptionally stubborn screw, I asked an AD by me for help. Note this is a larger AD whose AD brands include Rolex, with a large in-store service department where they service as well as send to RSC - not a shopping mall "fast fix" booth or a shopping mall chain jewelry store. The AD was more than happy to help, and offered the service at no charge (a courtesy gesture, to in turn invite back more business). The watchmaker got the stubborn screw out in probably less than a minute from the time I handed my watch over and he took it to his workbench. Just took heat; there were no issues with my screw and in fact they offered me two additional as a spare. This was for an oyster bracelet on a Sea-Dweller.

21 April 2020, 12:53 AM	#12
javier "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Argentina Posts: 774	thank you all Now it is ok with the heat, but the unscrew procedure is immediately, or I have to let the link cooled ?

21 April 2020, 11:20 PM	#21
gummy 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Thomas Location: Midwest USA Watch: AP PP Rolex Posts: 3,314	Hair dryer and Bergeon screwdrivers.

22 April 2020, 12:02 AM	#22
javier "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Argentina Posts: 774	Someone told me that if you put the bracelet into coke, the liquid can make the task. Is that true ?

22 April 2020, 12:35 AM	#23
Brian Page "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: USA Posts: 6,540	Hair dryer works great

22 April 2020, 01:56 AM	#24
Greg 59 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 876	If all else fails you could always drill the bugger out. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

22 April 2020, 02:21 AM	#25
scurfa "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sunderland Posts: 1,264	I find the screw driver you get with the sea dweller 16600 is the perfect one for the job __________________ Instagram @scurfawatches

22 April 2020, 04:29 AM	#30
05carbondrz Banned Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: USA Posts: 2,030	Small Butane Torch,Can heat the exact screw head.You can get them from most hardware stores.

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