I'm not sure how helpful this may be, but I'm hoping someone can benefit from my short foray into waterproofing. I am NOT an expert, so if I provide something erroneous please feel free to correct me. This is a quick and dirty for cheaper Reps and budget builds with crystals that are glued in - not pressed. That will be somewhat different to accomplish. So, here we go.
The three points from which water can ingress a watch are the crystal, the crown (tube), and the caseback. Aside from the tools you need to disassemble the watch, you only need three cheap items - superglue gel, JB Weld epoxy, and plumbers clear silicone grease - all available at Lowe's, ACE Hardware, etcetera. Start by squeezing the gel into a small vessel (I use soda bottle caps). The gel is MUCH more forgiving then the regular. It remains gel like for long enough to actually work with it. Take a toothpick, and using small amounts start a tiny bead around the crystal where it joins the case. Start very thinly, and then around a few times in very small beads to ensure a good seal. Imagine yourself welding a seam. Keep in mind - this will be a disaster if you want to change the crystal in the future - but I said quick and dirty. When that is dried, as an extra measure I take a Q-Tip and apply some silicone grease over the seal I just created.
Next is the tube. Use a number 1 easy-out. Just a light tap into the center of the tube and it will back out pretty easily. Clean case threads and tube thoroughly with solvent. Use a tiny amount of JB weld to coat the case threads and the tube threads. Replace the tube tightly and wipe off all excess residue. Let dry per directions.
Lastly, with a toothpick apply some of the silicone grease to the inside of the crown threads and cup, and around the crown tube. Plumber's silicone grease doesn't harden so it won't muck anything up. Then using a Q-Tip apply grease around the caseback threads, and a bead over the O-ring. Reassemble everything tightly, wipe any excess and you're good to go (shower/swimming).
*Disclaimer - this should work for 99% of the mainstream reps we see. There are super-cheap reps that probably have tolerances that are way out so use at your own discretion. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE for your judgement...
Good Luck!
Bob
The three points from which water can ingress a watch are the crystal, the crown (tube), and the caseback. Aside from the tools you need to disassemble the watch, you only need three cheap items - superglue gel, JB Weld epoxy, and plumbers clear silicone grease - all available at Lowe's, ACE Hardware, etcetera. Start by squeezing the gel into a small vessel (I use soda bottle caps). The gel is MUCH more forgiving then the regular. It remains gel like for long enough to actually work with it. Take a toothpick, and using small amounts start a tiny bead around the crystal where it joins the case. Start very thinly, and then around a few times in very small beads to ensure a good seal. Imagine yourself welding a seam. Keep in mind - this will be a disaster if you want to change the crystal in the future - but I said quick and dirty. When that is dried, as an extra measure I take a Q-Tip and apply some silicone grease over the seal I just created.
Next is the tube. Use a number 1 easy-out. Just a light tap into the center of the tube and it will back out pretty easily. Clean case threads and tube thoroughly with solvent. Use a tiny amount of JB weld to coat the case threads and the tube threads. Replace the tube tightly and wipe off all excess residue. Let dry per directions.
Lastly, with a toothpick apply some of the silicone grease to the inside of the crown threads and cup, and around the crown tube. Plumber's silicone grease doesn't harden so it won't muck anything up. Then using a Q-Tip apply grease around the caseback threads, and a bead over the O-ring. Reassemble everything tightly, wipe any excess and you're good to go (shower/swimming).
*Disclaimer - this should work for 99% of the mainstream reps we see. There are super-cheap reps that probably have tolerances that are way out so use at your own discretion. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE for your judgement...
Good Luck!
Bob
I wouldn't advise that noobs take out the tube tho...