Quality Chinese Tools

[Kalanag]

7 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

You can get 5mm tube with 0.2mm wall and maybe drill that to 4.7mm 

Think you'd be better drilling it out to 6mm, insert a 6mm tube with 1mm wall. then drill that to the 4.7mm

That‘s what I thought about too. But then I found that it is cheaper to just get a vintage staking set with punches.

In the meantime, I have won a vintage staking set on eBay for €91,-. It is a bit stained and is not complete but has about 100 punches in good condition. With a punch diameter of 4.7mm I can buy a new Bergeon punch from Cousins or Boley if it is needed.

[Kalanag]

Youtube review of the Chinese staking set.

“The steel feels heavy…it‘s not a generic high carbon steel…but this is a good steel“ 

Edited February 14 by Kalanag

[Roll1ex]

On 2/12/2025 at 1:23 PM, Kalanag said:

This should be a quality staking set from China. The price is comparable to that of Cousins‘s „value“ version (made in India).

I am from India and have seen both of these in person. The Indian version looks like a miniature in front of the Chinese and you would be better off betting on the Chinese for this one. Also, the Indian set costs around USD 130 here and has and odd diameter for the punches.

The tolerances and quality of the Kwong yuen set seem top notch, will post an update once my watchmaker uses that for a while.

Edited February 16 by Roll1ex

[GuyMontag]

I am very impressed with the Kwong Yuen screwdriver set. It is at least as good as my Horotec screwdrivers. The bearings are very smooth, the feel is just right and the blades hold up well, I haven't seen any issues after servicing a couple of watches. The action of the base feels almost exactly like the Horotec, just bigger. And while not necessary I do like having the sizes on the base color coded with the screwdrivers. I really appreciate having more sizes too. And at less than half of what I paid for my Horotec set it's a fantastic deal.

Edited February 16 by GuyMontag

[Kalanag]

6 hours ago, Roll1ex said:

I am from India and have seen both of these in person. The Indian version looks like a miniature in front of the Chinese and you would be better off betting on the Chinese for this one. Also, the Indian set costs around USD 130 here and has and odd diameter for the punches.

The tolerances and quality of the Kwong yuen set seem top notch, will post an update once my watchmaker uses that for a while.

Thank you for this valuable first hand information!

[Geotex]

When mixing and matching staking sets, watch out for GK tools. Nice vintage staking sets, but at 4.75mm they are the odd man out when it comes to compatibility.

[LittleWatchShop]

I have e so many staking sets and stakes. Have never encountered this oddity. Thanks for appraising though!

[PixelPeeperr]

On 2/15/2025 at 5:14 PM, Roll1ex said:

The tolerances and quality of the Kwong yuen set seem top notch, will post an update once my watchmaker uses that for a while.

Hoping to hear your input soon! I'm considering the Kwong Yuen staking set and I have a watch waiting for it to be used on.

[Kalanag]

Meanwhile the Chinese sell the Indian version too 

[mbwatch]

The tiny plastic ultrasonic cleaner I'd been using for years died on me last week so I decided to order one of the Vevor 3L machines from Amazon that are so common. It failed partway through its first cycle, the heating element was heated far above the temperature I had set, and the control panel went dark, though the power switch remained lit and the fuse is not blown. Boo. One star.

I have this poor suffering Bulova 10BC movement that was in my previous little cleaner when it died, then went into this new cleaner when it died too. Between the two of them, it's had approximately one complete first cleaning cycle but no decent IPA rinse.

[RichardHarris123]

3 minutes ago, mbwatch said:

have this poor suffering Bulova 10BC movement that was in my previous little cleaner when it died, then went into this new cleaner when it died too.

It must be the watch!!!

[HectorLooi]

Check the fuses.

Did the unit restart after cooling down.

I've come across a unit from a Swiss manufacturer where the heaters were connected wrongly and the heaters were on the moment the unit is switched on. The solution becomes so hot that you can't put your hand in.

So, even "Made in Switzerland" doesn't guarantee anything.

Edited February 23 by HectorLooi
Typo

[mbwatch]

51 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Check the fuses.

Did the unit restart after cooling down.

I've come across a unit from a Swiss manufacturer where the heaters were connected wrongly and the heaters were on the moment the unit is switched on. The solution becomes so hot that you can't put your hand in.

So, even "Made in Switzerland" doesn't guarantee anything.

Yeah I checked the fuses right away and they were fine, and I tried it after an hour cooldown. I didn't want to open it all up and jeopardize my return.

I put it in for an Amazon return immediately, asking them to send a same replacement. I will give this model one more chance, and if the replacement  is faulty I will have to look elsewhere.

[Neverenoughwatches]

36 minutes ago, mbwatch said:

Yeah I checked the fuses right away and they were fine, and I tried it after an hour cooldown. I didn't want to open it all up and jeopardize my return.

I put it in for an Amazon return immediately, asking them to send a same replacement. I will give this model one more chance, and if the replacement  is faulty I will have to look elsewhere.

You can be lucky or unlucky with cheap USMs, my first 1.8 litre has been running perfectly for four years. I then fancied a smaller same design one to release some space on a bench, that lasted for 6 cleaning sessions. The transducer detached, shame as it was such a neat little size.

[LittleWatchShop]

9 hours ago, mbwatch said:

Yeah I checked the fuses right away and they were fine, and I tried it after an hour cooldown. I didn't want to open it all up and jeopardize my return.

I put it in for an Amazon return immediately, asking them to send a same replacement. I will give this model one more chance, and if the replacement  is faulty I will have to look elsewhere.

Amazon never balks, will send a replacement post haste!

[spectre6000]

I have a non-Vevor branded 3L. It's worked flawlessly for years. Doesn't get used on a daily basis by any means, but it's been through its paces all the same. Those shops often reduce quality over time as they find ways to save cost though... Hopefully the replacement does you well.

[transporter]

After using my old Bergeon auto oilers I thought I’d upgrade to a new/spare set.
So a quick hunt on Ali and I bought a single auto oiler £16 to see the quality.
Well it’s perfect and measured against a gen Bergeon it’s exact, even the Bergeon needles fit and visa versa.

So I plumbed to by a whole set including base, £72 including postage and under two weeks to arrive. 
there are many on Ali, I just went with most sold with highest reviews.

[GuyMontag]

5 hours ago, transporter said:

After using my old Bergeon auto oilers I thought I’d upgrade to a new/spare set.
So a quick hunt on Ali and I bought a single auto oiler £16 to see the quality.
Well it’s perfect and measured against a gen Bergeon it’s exact, even the Bergeon needles fit and visa versa.

So I plumbed to by a whole set including base, £72 including postage and under two weeks to arrive. 
there are many on Ali, I just went with most sold with highest reviews.

Which one is equivalent to the Bergeon 1A for cap jewels?

EDIT: I think I can just make out the '1A' on the black one.

Edited February 24 by GuyMontag

[JohnL]

I got one a few months ago and the needle doesn't fit into the hole in the chaton jewels. My understanding from reading Mark W. Wiles is that it should. I've seen other posts with a similar problem as one mentioned sharpening the tip of the oiling needle, which I have tried. 

I also bought mine, at the time, from the one with the most sales and most positive reviews. This post isn't to say that they're all bad, just that they're not all good. As the saying goes: your mileage may vary.

Edited February 24 by JohnL
spelling

[Paul80]

I have two of these, the red and the black one and not had any issues using them, I did though a misshap damage the needle on the black one and just replaced it with a Bargeon needle, as it was actually cheaper than getting the Chinese needle shipped over.

Never thought I would ever write that.

[JohnL]

Just to show the sharpening of the needle and the rounding of the edge on the needle 'sheath' ? Not sure if it's an appropriate term or not. The needle now seems to fit in the jewel holes.

Apologies for the oil still there, just took some quick shots during lunch.

[GuyMontag]

2 hours ago, JohnL said:

Just to show the sharpening of the needle and the rounding of the edge on the needle 'sheath' ? Not sure if it's an appropriate term or not. The needle now seems to fit in the jewel holes.

Apologies for the oil still there, just took some quick shots during lunch.

How did you sharpen it? Did you have to remove the tip from the holder?

[JohnL]

48 minutes ago, GuyMontag said:

How did you sharpen it? Did you have to remove the tip from the holder?

Sorry, I meant to mention that, but I was on lunch and had to log back into work. 1200 and 2000 grit held on a staking block. The needle kept at a very shallow angle on the paper, gently rotating the oiler unit while moving back and fort across the paper. Cleaning (because it get's pretty dirty) in rodico to see the progress.

It may not be necessary, it may be the holes in the jewels I've been working on are for fragile pivots. I believe some balance pivots are stronger than others, but whether an actual Bergeon auto-oiler fits all, and whether the needle on the one from Ali is slightly thicker, I don't know. If I was a betting man I'd suspect the Bergeon needle is a stronger material and consequently thinner but 

[mbwatch]

On 2/8/2025 at 8:46 PM, mbwatch said:

Partly as an experiment to find out whether we can still get these deliveries in the USA, I ordered a screw polishing frog. I'd been meaning to try to build one myself but am missing half the tools I'd need so I'll give this a gamble at a little over $100. Look for a review if they succeed in sending it to me.

Not ready to test and review the tool yet (except that it looks fantastic, and is superbly packaged). But I can report that for this hundred dollar tool, I experienced no delays or confusion in delivery from China to the USA. It was delivered in 10 days, which is on the quick end typically for Aliexpress shipping to Minneapolis/Saint Paul. It's probably just down to currency fluctuation but the tool is selling for about $10 more today than when I ordered it 3 weeks ago.

[SwissSeiko]

On 2/22/2025 at 8:11 PM, mbwatch said:

 I decided to order one of the Vevor 3L machines from Amazon that are so common.

I also have a 3L Vevor machine that I use nearly daily. Hopefully your new one works well, as mine has been rock solid for well over a year. Sometimes its on for an hour at a time, as I'm doing casework shaping and just need to pop it in for a few seconds between filings.