Question for owners of Roburpress

[Whore2Horology]

Greetings fellow watch nerds

Can I ask one of you who has a Roburpress to take some measurements and help me clarify what I'm potentially looking at when considering a purchase? 

I find there is limited information about this press online, and the pictures are also bad and limited as they're all from the same perspective. 

I have a few questions mainly:

1. What is the diameter of the bottom hole?

2. What is the diameter of the top holle?

3. Is the top hole, actually a hole? How does it hold dies if it's shaped the same as the bottom hole? I haven't found any pictures showing the top anywhere! 

 

Thank you so much!!

 

Best,

The **BLEEP**

[clockboy]

Bottom hole 15mm top hole 15.5mm. Which is strange because the dies fit in the upper and lower holes. See attached my set.

 

 

[VWatchie]

I'm afraid I can't help you with your questions. I wanted this press for a long time but ultimately decided it was too expensive for my needs, so I decided to go for a budget option which I'm more than happy with. I thought you might want to consider it.

 

[praezis]

2 hours ago, clockboy said:

Bottom hole 15mm top hole 15.5mm. Which is strange because the dies fit in the upper and lower holes. See attached my set.

Mine measure 15.5 / 16 mm, the dies pivot 15.2 mm.
The top hole has a (too) strong wire spring inside to hold the die.

Like OH I don‘t use it, it rests decoratively catching dust

[RichardHarris123]

1 hour ago, praezis said:

Like OH I don‘t use it, it rests decoratively catching dust

What do you use? 

[praezis]

32 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

What do you use? 

Preferred the big one and the pliers type:

[Whore2Horology]

The thing I like about the robur is the dies.. so I was trying to see if I could use the roburpress's dies with the same press @VWatchie has .. I actually already have that press... but I just measured the holes on the chineese made press , and they are 14mm.. too bad because if they would have made them 1mm bigger, the robur dies would work in this offbrand press.. which is made quite nicely.. What dies do you fellas use?

[Neverenoughwatches]

33 minutes ago, Whore2Horology said:

The thing I like about the robur is the dies.. so I was trying to see if I could use the roburpress's dies with the same press @VWatchie has .. I actually already have that press... but I just measured the holes on the chineese made press , and they are 14mm.. too bad because if they would have made them 1mm bigger, the robur dies would work in this offbrand press.. which is made quite nicely.. What dies do you fellas use?

Some here have 3D printed an adaptor for the Robur dies.

You may need a press with a little extra headroom to accommodate the extra space 2 adapters may take up.

[caseback]

18 hours ago, praezis said:

Preferred the big one and the pliers type:

 

I actually like the wheel operated crystal presses better than the lever-type ones, as they provide a better (i.m.o., but you know what they say about opinions..) control over the amount of pressure/force you apply. 

If you have access to a lathe that is slightly larger then a watchmakers lathe, perhaps you can convert the parts of the press vwatchie has to fit the robur dies. You wouldn't loose headroom using adapters. If you're in the Netherlands, I might be able to assist with that..

[CYCLOPS]

the screw type under constant pressurealso frees up your hands, could be something to consider, I wouldn't want it without the pucks though...

[JseTay]

Hello, everyone! I am new here. I have been looking for information on the Robur press because I just bought one myself, but it seems like it has some side shake on the spindle. It is brand new, but I just don’t know if that’s how they are or if it’s just mine that came up like that. I am a little disappointed because the reason I bought the press is for the good reputation it has, but having that shake, makes me concerned that it won’t work like I expected. I was wondering if someone who owns one could tell me if that’s how they are or if that’s just mine. Thank you all for any help!

[RichardHarris123]

Hello and welcome from Leeds, England.  

You probably would have been better to post a new thread but I couldn't move your post.

[caseback]

1 hour ago, JseTay said:

Hello, everyone! I am new here. I have been looking for information on the Robur press because I just bought one myself, but it seems like it has some side shake on the spindle. It is brand new, but I just don’t know if that’s how they are or if it’s just mine that came up like that. I am a little disappointed because the reason I bought the press is for the good reputation it has, but having that shake, makes me concerned that it won’t work like I expected. I was wondering if someone who owns one could tell me if that’s how they are or if that’s just mine. Thank you all for any help!

I've had several. They all had a small amount of play on the spindle. Don't worry. It doesn't effect it's performance. 

[JseTay]

Case back, thank you for your response! That gives me peace of mind. I was almost thinking about returning the press back because I thought it had a problem, but I’d say they all have a little play, then I will keep it. 

[Mercurial]

Hi JseTay, and welcome to the forum!

How much sideshake are you experiencing? Some sideshake will be manageable, but too much is not desirable  

My Robur press is very old, and well used, yet I can barely perceive any sideshake on the spindle. 
 
Where did you buy yours from? Is it a genuine Robur, or a knockoff?

Best Regards,

Mark

[Neverenoughwatches]

9 hours ago, JseTay said:

Case back, thank you for your response! That gives me peace of mind. I was almost thinking about returning the press back because I thought it had a problem, but I’d say they all have a little play, then I will keep it. 

Good die alignment is obviously important. But when bending a plexi glass over one die with another die I wouldn't say its super critical. Other pressing operations rely mostly on just one die to center itself over the crystal. Depends how much play you mean and what your expectations are for the amount you paid.

[JseTay]

Hello, Mercurial! I got mine from Cousins  and I just got it last week. The side shake is very noticeable especially when the spindle is a good ways down. I contact Cousins and they said they forwarded the information to the Robur company to see what their thoughts about it is, but I guess they haven’t replied anything back. I made a video showing the side shake and sent it to them and the lady from Cousins said it seemed that the tool had more side shake than the other ones they had for sale. I wanted to upload the video on this thread so you all could see it and judge it, but it wouldn’t let me do it. I guess it’s the kind of format the video is on.

[tomh207]

1 minute ago, JseTay said:

Hello, Mercurial! I got mine from Cousins  and I just got it last week. The side shake is very noticeable especially when the spindle is a good ways down. I contact Cousins and they said they forwarded the information to the Robur company to see what their thoughts about it is, but I guess they haven’t replied anything back. I made a video showing the side shake and sent it to them and the lady from Cousins said it seemed that the tool had more side shake than the other ones they had for sale. I wanted to upload the video on this thread so you all could see it and judge it, but it wouldn’t let me do it. I guess it’s the kind of format the video is on.

The forum doesn’t accept video uploads. The accepted way is to upload to YouTube or similar then post the link here.

 

Tom

[JseTay]

Thank you Tom! I didn’t know that. 

[JseTay]

This a link to a short video I made about the Robur tool I bought. What are your thoughts about the side shake? Should I send it back, or should I try to do something myself to fix it?

link 

[caseback]

That is a bit more than mine has.  You could argue (and I would agree) that you might expect some better workmanship for that price tag, but it won't affect how it works. Like Neverenoughwatches already wrote, you use it to press a crystal. Nothing critical. You're not doing any drilling or reaming operations with it.

[RichardHarris123]

I wouldn't be satisfied, whether or not it effects function. At the price I would expect better tolerances.

[JseTay]

Thank you caseback! I agree with you all about it not being a big issue to press crystals. It just kind of bothers me a little that I paid like $250 for it thinking that it was going to be better. But I will learn how to live with it. I may try to do something myself to fix it.

i am thinking about ordering the comprehensive set of dies from Robur too. Do you have any thoughts about it? It’s kind of expensive, about $500, but I kind of want to have the tool with a nice set of dies.

[JseTay]

2 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I wouldn't be satisfied, whether or not it effects function. At the price I would expect better tolerances.

I agree with you, but I don’t know if I want to go through the trouble to send it back to the UK. I will see what they tell from Cousins. The lady is supposed to text me next week with a answer from the Robur company. I will make a decision then.

[watchweasol]

Looking at the video. That’s too much slap in the shaft, for that price I would send it back it’s way too sloppy.