Can you soften the squeeze on a tweezer?

[bobolink]

I had to make a tweezer # 5 size but with a longer tip (1-3/4") in order to reach into a movement when assembling. 

#5 I had was too short, so I made one and am good with how it came out.  Only thing is the original I used was a low cost $5 medical tweezer I had.  It is very firm to squeeze and was wondering if there is any advice on a good way to soften the pressure necessary to squeeze it?

PIc attached.

Thanks,

bob

[HectorLooi]

Yes you can. You have to thin the metal just in front of where the two halves of the tweezer are spot welded. About 2-3 cm length. The amount to grind off will be by trial and error and personal preference. 

I have some that are very light and some that are heavy. 

[Nucejoe]

Oops dynamic link not found. 

Its LONG longnose pliers , see pics on amazon.

 

 

Hope this links opens.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41poJjgzUdS._AC_SL1000_.jpg

 

 

Edited March 12, 2024 by Nucejoe

[Kalanag]

Here you see how @nevenbekriev thinned the base of his home made tweezers:

 

Edited March 12, 2024 by Kalanag

[Neverenoughwatches]

11 hours ago, bobolink said:

I had to make a tweezer # 5 size but with a longer tip (1-3/4") in order to reach into a movement when assembling. 

#5 I had was too short, so I made one and am good with how it came out.  Only thing is the original I used was a low cost $5 medical tweezer I had.  It is very firm to squeeze and was wondering if there is any advice on a good way to soften the pressure necessary to squeeze it?

PIc attached.

Thanks,

bob

Absolutely,  done this many times . Thin the metal at both sides where the handle splits to form the arms.

[bobolink]

I see the pics.  thanks.  Will thin that area!

Thanks,

bob

[GuyMontag]

On 3/12/2024 at 6:11 AM, Neverenoughwatches said:

Absolutely,  done this many times . Thin the metal at both sides where the handle splits to form the arms.

What do you use to thin the metal? I have a pair of Dumont 00 that are WAY too stiff and would like to decrease the force needed to use them.

[Chief]

Does anyone ever use the reverse action tweezers? Where you squeeze to open and release to close. They seem like they'd be better as they won't apply excessive force to the screws and risk firing them around the room like miniature projectiles, however I've NEVER seen anyone use them during watch repair

[oldhippy]

Just pull the tweezers open.  

[Neverenoughwatches]

24 minutes ago, GuyMontag said:

What do you use to thin the metal? I have a pair of Dumont 00 that are WAY too stiff and would like to decrease the force needed to use them.

So initially i used a big bench grinder to take the bulk of material away. This had to be done very carefully and kept moving and continually water cooled. Its all too easy to remove too much or overheat the steel ruining a good pair of tweezers. I tested frequently until i was happy with the tension, then with a small 1/2 " drum sander with a 180 grit roll and finishing by hand with reducing grades of wet and dry up to i think it was 1500. As an aside not only is tension reduced but also tip spacing,  so that needs to be readjusted.  Nev has some information on a pair that he made from scratch, the link to his post is a bit further back on this thread.

[HectorLooi]

2 minutes ago, Chief said:

Does anyone ever use the reverse action tweezers? Where you squeeze to open and release to close. They seem like they'd be better as they won't apply excessive force to the screws and risk firing them around the room like miniature projectiles, however I've NEVER seen anyone use them during watch repair

Do you use them? 

I have several pairs but never used them for watch repair work. The problem is the spring tension is already too high and may cause a "ping" when you release to grip the object. A conventional tweezer gives better tactile feedback.

1 hour ago, GuyMontag said:

What do you use to thin the metal? I have a pair of Dumont 00 that are WAY too stiff and would like to decrease the force needed to use them.

I use the fine grindstone on my bench grinder, then polish with a nylon fibre wheel to get a satin finish. I grind off about an 1 inch zone to distribute the stress to prevent metal fatigue from the repeated flexing. Take a close look at our College tweezers. Most of them have a thinner section just after the joint to give them flex.

[GuyMontag]

Good stuff, thanks guys.

[Chief]

1 hour ago, HectorLooi said:

Do you use them? 

I have several pairs but never used them for watch repair work. The problem is the spring tension is already too high and may cause a "ping" when you release to grip the object. A conventional tweezer gives better tactile feedback.

I've used them for other hobbies and jobs I've had in the past, just wondered why people didn't use them in this. I may get some out and give them a go. However they're most likely magnetic so probably no good

[Neverenoughwatches]

7 hours ago, Chief said:

I've used them for other hobbies and jobs I've had in the past, just wondered why people didn't use them in this. I may get some out and give them a go. However they're most likely magnetic so probably no good

As Hector said they have too much  tension, that tension is also fixed and not easy to control. Conventional tweezers have infinitely variable grip provided by us.