SE JT6226 19-Piece Watch Tool Kit Review

After deciding to return to wearing wristwatches more frequently I realized I had to replace some batteries and leather bands as well as adjust the stainless still watch band on the new diver watch I purchased.

Since I like to do things myself I thought I'd purchase some watch tools. There are many affordable watch repair tool kits available. I decided on the SE JT6226 19-Piece Watch Tool Kit because it was cheap, it came with all the tools I think I will need and it includes a hard case to store everything, as well as a fairly large assortment of spring bars.

The one major item lacking in the watch tool kit are instructions. Along with my review I'm going to include instructions on how you'd use the tools that come in the SE JT6226 Watch Tool Kit. These watch tools are also available individually as well as in similar kits.

Quality

The kit cost me less than $20 and I didn't expect very high quality tools but for the most part I'm satisfied. For the cost of having one watch resized I was able to replace a couple of batteries, a strap as well as removing links from a stainless steel watch bracelet and none of the tools were damaged in the process. 

For about 1/2 the price of this kit you can get this 16 PCS Watch Tool Kit which doesn't come with a case or extra spring bars but does come with more screwdrivers (including Phillips screwdrivers) and needle nose pliers. I wound up needing needle nose pliers but I have plenty of those.

The tools are cheap but not unusable. I was surprised to see that the precision screwdrivers had a set screw holding the screw driving bit in place. These needed to be tightened down but they're much nicer than another bargain set of precision screwdrivers I own where the bit is just clamped into the handle with pressure. One broke and I had to epoxy it together.

This kit should last through a number of uses, for most people who will mean years, and it will pay for itself the first time you use it.

Watch Tool Kit Components/Instructions

The following watch tools come with the kit and are all neatly packaged in a hard shell case that closes securely. Along with a description of each component I'll include instructions on its use.

Screwdrivers

The SE JT6226 watch tool kit comes with 2 flat head precision screwdrivers. These are use just like other jeweler's screwdrivers. You'll need these to remove the case back on some watches that are screwed in. 

It would have been nice if they included a Philips head screwdriver as well. The back of my Timex Heart Rate Monitor watch for example uses Philips head screws.

Pin Punches

Three pin punches are included in the kit. They look like the jeweler's screwdrivers but they're shorter and the end of the pin is not flat like a screwdriver. It's just like a cut off pin.

How To Use Pin Punches: Pin punches are used when you need to push a pin. For example, if you're trying to shorten a watch bracelet, you can use the pin punches to push the link pins out or you can use them to push out spring bars for example, on a deployment clasp there is a spring bars that connects the bracelet to the clasp in a series of holes which allows you to fine tune the bracelet length. Simply use the pin punch to depress the spring bar so that you can move it to another hole.

Be careful because the spring bar may wind up flying away so make sure you have eye protection. In case you lose the spring bar, there are plenty of replacement spring bars, in various sizes, that come with this kit.

Once you remove the spring clip from the bracelet you'll have 2 sections of bracelet connected to the watch case.

Watch Mallet

A small mallet is included with the kit. It is metal on one end and plastic on the other.

How to use the watch mallet: Sometimes you can't just push a pin in with the pin punches, it will take a little more force. That's where the mallet comes in. The plastic end is useful when you're hammering a pin into a piece of the watch and you don't want it to mar the finish, for example when you're hammering a link pin back in after resizing a watch bracelet.

Spring Bar Tool

The spring bar tool is a metal tool with 2 working ends. Each end is a flat piece of metal with a notch cut in the end and bent to help provide leverage. One side is smaller than the other to fit into tighter spaces.

How to use a spring bar tool: Fabric and leather watch bands are attached to the watch case and clasp components using spring bars. Spring bars are metal tubes that have a smaller diameter rod on each end that can be pushed down into the tube but has a spring that provides tension to keep it popped up. Think of springs bars as miniature metal toilet paper holders.

To remove a leather watch strap you need to remove the spring bar. The spring bar has a little notch in the spring ends to allow for a spring bar tool to be inserted. Once inserted you push down to retract the spring pin so you can free it from the watch.

You can also use the spring bar tool to retract the spring bar when you're putting the watch strap back on.

The SE JT6226 watch tool kit comes with replacement ends for the spring bar tool in case they get damaged.

Link Pin Remover Tool

The blue plastic tool is the link pin remover. It makes it easy to remove link pins when you need to remove links to make a metal watch bracelet smaller. It's easier than using the pin punches. That metal pin in the center will push out the link pin. That pin can get bent and the kit comes with 3 extras that can be replaced by screwing the old one off and screwing the new one on.

How to use a link pin remover: Not all watches can be used with this tool. The links on your watch need to held by a special type of pin that goes straight through one side and out the other. This is the most common method I've seen. The pin is a little like a hair pin. It's a piece of metal that is folded onto itself and the open ends are flared a little bit to provide extra friction. Be careful with these as they are easy to bend.

On the under side your watch's bracelet you should see arrows indicating which direction the link pins need to be pushed out to remove them. On the sides of the removable links you'll see holes where the ends of the link pins are. They' same holes are on the other end of the bracelet. You will need to push the link pin in the direction of the arrow. For the bracelet shown below you will need to push from bottom up as pictured.

To do that, unscrew the handle in the link pin removal tool to retract the push-pin so that the bracelet will slide into the channel in the link pin removal tool. It's easier to do this if you remove the spring pin holding one side of the bracelet to the clasp so that it lays flat. You would want to put the bottom side of the bracelet down to prevent marring the top of it. For this photo I have it mounted with the back up and I didn't open the bracelet.

You want to line up the pin hole on the side of the bracelet so that as you screw the handle back in, the pin punch seats itself in the pin hole. The bracelet for this Stuhrling Original Aquadiver Regatta Champion watch just barely fits in the link removal tool. After you're sure you've lined up the pin pusher properly, continue to tighten it until you see the link pin coming out the other side.

Once you have a good bit of the link pin pushed out, unscrew the handle of the link pin remover tool so you can remove the bracelet, then carefully pull the link pin out the rest of the way using the tweezers or needle nose pliers. Be careful not to break or bend the link pin.

Tip: So that the deployment clasp stays at the bottom of your wrist for maximum comfort, remove the same number of links from each half of the bracelet. If the best fit is obtained using an odd number of removed links, remove only an even number of links and adjust the spring bar where the bracelet connects to the clasp as mentioned earlier.

Notice that there's a groove on the left of the link pin remover tool. This can be used as a slot to hold the bracelet, but there's a separate, more versatile bracelet holder that should be used instead.

Bracelet Holder

The square-shaped, grey plastic tool with the various slots is the bracelet holder. It is used to hold the bracelet in place when you're trying to insert or remove pins from a metal watch bracelet.

How to use a bracelet holder: Each slot of the bracelet holder is a different width so find the slot that best fits the bracelet of your watch. After using the link removal tool above to remove the necessary links you'll want to put your bracelet back together.

Insert the bracelet into the bracelet holder so that it's in a position that's easy to work with. Position the bracelet so the link pin indicator arrows are pointing up. Insert the link pin into the hole on the bracelet making sure the flared end is up and the closed end goes in first. Carefully push it into place by hand making sure to properly thread the link pin through all the holes in the link.

There'll come a point where it will be difficult to push it in further by hand. You can use the plastic end of the mallet to drive it into the bracelet until it's flush. Then use a pin punch as a nail set to get it just under the surface. Most watches I've seen, the link pin is slightly below the surface of the bracelet on each side. Your watch may be different. Just make sure that the pin is as even as possible on both sides without it sticking out above the surface of the bracelet.

Watch Back Openers

Besides the watch backs that are affixed to the case using screws and can be opened with the screwdrivers, there are two more types of watch backs. The screw off and pry off types. When you're opening up your watch back to replace the battery or for cleaning, check the gaskets if it's a water-resistant watch and replace them if necessary.

Watch Back Opener Knife

The tool that looks like a small knife is a watch back opener knife. It is used for watch backs that pop off the watch and are not screwed in. It has a beveled edge but is usually not sharp, the tip can be pointy so be careful with it.

How to use a watch back opener knife: For watches whose backs are pried open and not secured with screws or whose back is screwed on you need to look around the watch back for a slight recess that is designed for the watch back opener knife to be inserted. Slide the edge of the knife into that small groove and gently pry the back off the watch like you would open a clam. Be careful not to scratch the watch. 

Note: The Swiss Army Victorinox that was pictured earlier supposedly has a pry open back. Swiss Army backs can be difficult to open and sometimes require special tools. Whenever it needs the battery replaced I send it in to Swiss Army since I haven't figured out how to open it. 

Watch Case Wrench

The watch case wrench is an adjustable wrench that's used to open the backs of screw on watch backs.

How to use a watch case wrench: Watches where the backs screw off generally have notches around the perimeter of the watch back as shown.

Loosen the knurled knob on the watch case wrench and adjust it so that it's the right size so that the points will fit into two notches, one on either side of the watch. Tighten down the knurled knob and twist the wrench in a counter-clockwise direction to unscrew the back of the case. To screw the watch back on, use the wrench in a clockwise motion.

The wrench that comes with this kit feels pretty light and cheap but it should hold up for a few uses if not abused. Unfortunately the wrench isn't big enough for the Stuhrling I just bought or some of my other watches.

At some point I'm going to need to get this better watch case wrench pictured right. It seems to be one of the best watch case wrenches available and it's at a reasonable price. It can open watches with both small and wide diameter cases and everything in between. Instead of 2 prongs, it has 3 for a more secure fit to prevent the tool from slipping. It also includes a variety of different prong shapes that will fit better into different watch backs.

5x Loupe

A loupe with 5x magnification is included in the kit. Hold it over your eye by squinting and you get a better look at all the tiny parts you're working on. The parts need to be close to the lens to be in focus. It actually works pretty well but there is some distortion around the edges.

Tweezers

A long pair of tweezers is also included in the kit. They're good for picking up small components and especially for removing some of the items from the case. There's a pretty tight fit with the foam around some of the items.

Conclusion

I didn't expect to buy this and start a watch repair business. The quality of some of the tools are mediocre at best but it will do the job to service multiple watches at an affordable price. It's actually better than I thought it would be considering some of the reviews. The tools that are prone to break come with replacement tips or there are multiples included. The inclusion of a pack of spring bars is great because those things can go flying, never to be seen again. It's nice to have such a wide selection at your disposal. The wrench seems weak and I'd go for the better 3 prong wrench I recommended earlier. It doesn't come with any Philips head screwdrivers but I already had a set of jewelers screwdrivers. 

The hard shell case was one of the main reasons I chose this watch tool kit. It will help keep all the tools together and help protect them since they may not be that sturdy. I wouldn't store these tools in a humid environment because at this price point I doubt they're very corrosion resistant.

In one day of ownership, it's already paid for itself by allowing me to replace some bands, batteries and adjust the bracelet of a new watch. This was the first time I've worked on watches and it was very easy.

If you decide to work on your own watches, lay a soft cloth down on your work surface to protect your watch and to keep parts from moving around and getting lost. Be very careful so as not to scratch your watch.