Watch Band Problem

[Kevin Herber]

I broke the pin connecting my watch band to the watch body. The pin sheared off flush with the hole and I cannot get it out to put in a new one.

I mic'd the opposing pin and it is .03 inches. We're talking SMALL.

Any ideas how to get this thing out? I tried:

Picking at it with a small pin - Nope
Blowing strong air via compressor - Uh Uh
Picking at it under stong running water - Just made a mess
Tapping on either side to dislodge - Nada

Next step is to take it to the watch shop.

All suggestions appreciated!!

-- Kevin

[Doug Shepard]

Rare earth magnet to draw it out?
One drop of superglue on the pin to bond it to the broke off piece long enough to pull it out?
Just thinking out loud.

[Lee DeRaud]

I suspect (1) there's a "right tool" for this job, (2) you don't have it but the guy at the watch shop does, and (3) it's too cheap a job not to let him do it for you.

[Bob Weisner]

Is this stuck in the watch band itself or in the little holes in the watch?

[Norman Hitt]

Most of the watch repair shops around here, (usually in jewelry stores), won't even charge us for a new pin, and will put them in for you, also no charge, to be sure the pin is the right fit. I've had them broken off with a piece still in the watch case hole, like yours and they still didn't charge for installing them, (and while I was standing there). Of course, there's getting to be fewer and fewer of the old timers, and the newbies seem to be better at writing invoices than making repairs.:rolleyes:

[Jerry Olexa]

Jewelers have a special tool. Its a 5minute job

[Kevin Herber]

Thanks for the tips, folks.
Bob, the pin end is broken off in the little hole in the watch case.
I'm headed to the watch shop to get it fixed. I suspect they have seen this before.

Thanks again -- Kevin