...bring back screw groove to life

[BaNZ]

From time to time we all need to change the batteries and each time we need to remove 4-bolt-back-plate. And sometimes we overwinding screws... they lost properly grip with groove, really sadly thing for me.

So here the guide how to make a properly grip screw with it's groove. (... not for once! for many times of use!)

Patient is my dw-069 "Street Arts".
http://img147.imagevenue.com/loc1005/th_54158_01_122_1005lo.jpg (http://img147.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=54158_01_122_1005lo.jpg)

First of all we should completely (but as I figured out later, it possible to left module inside) disassemble watches.
http://img101.imagevenue.com/loc1170/th_54509_002_122_1170lo.jpg (http://img101.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=54509_002_122_1170lo.jpg)

This is it! Our hole, our screw groove.
http://img151.imagevenue.com/loc918/th_54510_02_122_918lo.jpg (http://img151.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=54510_02_122_918lo.jpg)

Now we need some materials and tools. File, vice and piece of fiber glass. (Only fiber glass, cause the watch case are NOT made of plastic (a models of 82-98 (02) years at least)).
Piece of fiber glass grip in a vice.
http://img28.imagevenue.com/loc689/th_54998_03_122_689lo.jpg (http://img28.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=54998_03_122_689lo.jpg)

And make some sawdust and keep it for further operations.
http://img145.imagevenue.com/loc628/th_55080_04_122_628lo.jpg (http://img145.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55080_04_122_628lo.jpg)

Then we need syringe with new needle and couple of little files.
http://img132.imagevenue.com/loc835/th_55309_06_122_835lo.jpg (http://img132.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55309_06_122_835lo.jpg)

Cut the tip of needle with file accurately. Like this.
http://img210.imagevenue.com/loc541/th_55451_07_122_541lo.jpg (http://img210.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55451_07_122_541lo.jpg) http://img214.imagevenue.com/loc106/th_55458_08_122_106lo.jpg (http://img214.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55458_08_122_106lo.jpg)

Also we need glue. Like Super Glue, but NOT exactly Super Glue, it must be a little more dense. Put it on some kind of hot surface to warm up, but be careful with temp.
http://img209.imagevenue.com/loc598/th_55685_05_122_598lo.jpg (http://img209.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55685_05_122_598lo.jpg)

Take some scotch tape and stick it over the case to make some protection of sawdust, that we already prepared. Also free the hole.
http://img18.imagevenue.com/loc869/th_55884_09_122_869lo.jpg (http://img18.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55884_09_122_869lo.jpg) http://img31.imagevenue.com/loc618/th_55889_10_122_618lo.jpg (http://img31.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55889_10_122_618lo.jpg)

Collect some sawdust and fill screw groove with it. Repeat as many times as need to fill up almost all the groove.
http://img213.imagevenue.com/loc456/th_56071_12_122_456lo.jpg (http://img213.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56071_12_122_456lo.jpg)

Put a few drops of glue in syringe and stick needle in our little poor screw groove. (Remember that needle must be free for air blowing for sure!)
And push on syringe (very powerfully!) to fill up screw groove with glue.
http://img28.imagevenue.com/loc722/th_56212_13_122_722lo.jpg (http://img28.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56212_13_122_722lo.jpg)

Now handle needle in groove while glue dries up a little, then leave it for about 10 minutes, and after 10 minutes drag out the needle, leave all under electric bulb for half hour.
http://img20.imagevenue.com/loc914/th_56919_15_122_914lo.jpg (http://img20.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56919_15_122_914lo.jpg)

Let's look what we have here...
http://img196.imagevenue.com/loc199/th_57009_14_122_199lo.jpg (http://img196.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=57009_14_122_199lo.jpg)

A more tight hole than before, that's what we found for!

In this groove we can twist in screw as many times as we want, cause our groove much more tough than others! You even should use a big screwdriver!

However, let's wash my dw-069 and assemble it back.
http://img166.imagevenue.com/loc1030/th_57567_16_122_1030lo.jpg (http://img166.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=57567_16_122_1030lo.jpg)

Here we are, dw-069 "Street Arts" black as Hell pimped up, became more tough than before and ready to rock!
http://img104.imagevenue.com/loc1095/th_57735_17_122_1095lo.jpg (http://img104.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=57735_17_122_1095lo.jpg)

Hope this guide will be usefull. If you don't understood some things, don't hesitate to ask, I'll do things more clear. ;)

idea - BaNZ
fulfilment - BaNZ's Bro aka Gman, BaNZ.

[Chippychap]

Hi BaNZ, I bet NO-ONE puts a screw back without thinking "what if.................."
Much respect |>

[decarus]

Hi... the fiber glass u using.. where is it from?.. is it the same as pcb board, coz i have alot of pcb board.. i tried and failed, super glue inside the strying is kinda tricky, it stucked once.. lolZ..

[RichardD]

Do the threads need retapping, or do you just let the screw cut its own? Why use a cyanoacrylate (superglue)? Wouldn't a two-part epoxy be easier to work with (as well as probably not needing the fibreglass - especially as fibreglass is glass fibres embedded in - wait for it - epoxy resin)?

[JMS]

I always thought if it happened to me and on a case where the bezel covers the sides of the lugs like a 5600 etc I would do it differently. That is depending on the case condition at the time or repair. Having worked with a couple vintage stainless pieces over the years where holes have worn or were a base metal upper I have turned it into a solid spring bar piece. Kind of like a fixed lug. You need to have tiny drills, correct diameter important, a stable setup for the watch and drill and a damn good eye. But the lug could be drilled right through, all of them. Insert solid type bar through one lug, put strap in, push through to other lug. Same to other side. then re-install bezel covering the holes and exposed solid bar end. Some grinding and length sizing of the bar is required. Will work folks, look at a Marathon Navigator for what would be a great lug/bar idea for Casio in the future.