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Bow tightening pliers and how to use them "Click" to Login or Register 
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
I thought I would show something that a lot of people have asked me how to do, and that is how to use bow tightening pliers. So here goes!!

The important thing to remember is, to stay to the corners of the bow as much as possible. If you think about it there is much less pressure required to tighten it this way as you are putting the pressure where it should be, and that is on the side of the bow pushing it in to the tower of the case.

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
Try to work both sides the same, as you can distort the bow if you stay to just one side.
I can see that on this picture I was a little turned toward the top of the bow, and not enough pressure to the side. It is a little hard to keep it where I want it and take pictures, but I hope you get the drift of what I am trying to say.

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
The other very important thing to remember is, you need something between the anvil and the bow. The anvil is brass but, "trust me", it will leave a mark on the bow.

You will also notice that I use as much of the pliers as I can so as not to bend the bow, and also make it easier to put the proper pressure on the bow. That is why it is always better to remove the movement, if you can, and to take the case completely apart to give yourself more room to work with.

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
You will notice that the bow still has the proper shape.
You CAN use the center of the bow, and will have to at times with different bows, but again just be careful that you go slow and keep checking that you are not bending the bow in a pear shape! It is best to stay a little to the left, and to the right of the center of the bow as much as possible.
Also you will need to use a LOT of pressure on some of them, so start working out!!! Smile

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
This as you can see is the Hamilton Model #6 case which is an easy one to work on. Some of them can be a litle hard to do, but it can be done. Just take the time to try to understand a little how metal works, and what you can do with it. Understanding the pressure points will help you a lot.

It may take you some time, so use a case that is not one of your better cases to start on.

You can also reshape a bow that has been bent out of shape pretty easy with these pliers. Once you have worked with them you will see what I mean.

Well I hope this helps.

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
Site Administrator
IHC Life Member
Picture of Phillip Sanchez
posted
Wow Larry thank you so much. This will help a lot
 
Posts: 4975 | Location: North Georgia Mountains in the U.S.A. | Registered: March 31, 2006
IHC Life Member
Picture of Tom Weinstock
posted
agree with Phil! thanks, Larry!
 
Posts: 496 | Location: Wisconsin in the USA | Registered: March 10, 2012
IHC Member 1291
Picture of Buster Beck
posted
Very nice of you Larry to take the time and explain a very important "work detail".

regards,
bb

 
Posts: 6376 | Location: Texas in the USA | Registered: July 27, 2009
IHC Life Member

Picture of Jerry King
posted
Good job Larry....This will help a lot of folks and you are a very good illustrater....

Regards,

Jerry
 
Posts: 2828 | Location: California in the USA | Registered: June 23, 2008
IHC Life Member
Picture of Tom Weinstock
posted
I was always under the assumption that the bow got mashed into the little peg holes. That doesn't appear to be the case. For lack of a better way to say it, it looks more like a diagonal pressure fit.
 
Posts: 496 | Location: Wisconsin in the USA | Registered: March 10, 2012
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
Thanks Guys!

Thomas, they do have little pins in them, and that can also be something to think about.

If you look real close at the bow straight on, you'll notice that the right side of the bow is just a tad higher on the frame that the left side. That is because the little pins have worn the hole in the tower, and bow, a little more on that side. Maybe from a fob and pulling the watch out of the pocket over the years.

I have tightened some really loose bows that you can see the pins, they were so loose. Like on the Hamilton #A, or even the #11 case, and it went really well. Once in a great while I have had to reset the pins, as they will come out and hit the crown.

Regards,
Larry
 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
Picture of Richard Romero
posted
Great Presentation Larry,

The pliers I have look just like the ones you’re using but it never occurred to me to use them on the sides of the bow. Also, I’ll be using paper to protect the bow from now on.

Thank you,

RR
 
Posts: 1413 | Location: Fremont, California in the USA | Registered: February 06, 2010
posted
Excellent pictorial, Larry. Smile
 
Posts: 2962 | Location: Western New York in the USA | Registered: March 24, 2008
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
Thanks Richard and Eric.

Hey Richard, I guess we can thank William White for the protection! I use the envelops that his crystals come in to protect the bows. I just fold them over as you can see and they work great.

I have been told that an old leather belt will work pretty good also.

Regards,
Larry
 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
Picture of Gary E. Foster
posted
Thanks Larry, would you post a pic of the pliers, never know, might run across a pair and not know what they are.

Gary
 
Posts: 1012 | Location: Western Pennsylvania in the USA | Registered: February 17, 2007
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
These are the pliers that I use to remove the bows if I have to, and to reinstall them.

Regards,
Larry

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
These are them Gary.

If you look close you can use them to remove the bow also.

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
Julis Borel & Co. also have them now.

They were out of stock for a long time, and when they got them back in they look a little different than these. The spring is different. AND they are a lot cheaper!

 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
Picture of Gary E. Foster
posted
Thanks Larry, the few times I've replaced a bow, I used a pair of snap ring pliers.

Gary
 
Posts: 1012 | Location: Western Pennsylvania in the USA | Registered: February 17, 2007
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
That sounds like it would work Gary.

Hey we do what we have to right? Smile

Regards,
Larry
 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Member 1357
posted
Just got a pair of these.A little different
than Larrys but they work. I did 3 bows in about 10 minutes. I found a used pair on ebay half price of new. Thanks Larry for the excellent
pictorial!
Roger

..
 
Posts: 4094 | Location: Carbon, Texas in the USA | Registered: January 24, 2010
IHC Member 1959
posted
Thanks Larry, this is really good stuff and I can tell you spent some time and thought on it. I can only say, MORE, MORE, PLEASE!!!!
Thanks again from all of us. JMF
 
Posts: 340 | Location: Omaha, Nebraska in the USA | Registered: June 28, 2014
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