Repairing a watch

[daleyd]

I could do with some advice on repairing my missus Garmin watch, which somehow she has managed to drop and chip the arm where the strap holder goes through.

As you can (hopefully) see from the pics, there’s really not much there to make a repair with - I’m guessing whatever repair I would be better building it up a bit and maybe sanding back down? And what to use? Some sort of epoxy?? I’m usually a top notch bodger but I’m a bit stumped with this being so small/fiddly - is it even repairable??

 

[MattF]

Epoxy never tends to last 5 minutes, on its own, in my experience. If I was trying it, I'd drill two very fines holes, so that you can add a loop of fine wire, & use that as a framework for the epoxy to bind to.

 

[bricol]

I'd be reaching for the JB Weld, also after drilling small holes to give it something to key to.

Does it still work after being dropped well enough to bust the case?

 

[daleyd]

I'd be reaching for the JB Weld, also after drilling small holes to give it something to key to.

Does it still work after being dropped well enough to bust the case?

Yeah it all works ok - it’s a plastic/resin case and there’s not much to it where it cracked, I don’t think it had a big hit - just one in the wrong place

 

[pedrobedro]

JB Weld will do it or I've read about superglue and baking soda repairs.

 

[RichardM]

New case and swap the internals over?

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[daleyd]

New case and swap the internals over?

Original Back Case for Garmin vivoactive 3 Music smart Watch Cover Repair Part | eBay

Garmin vivoactive 3 Music smart. Ending Soon. prefect condition. 1x back cover case. We will response in 24 hours to resolve the problems. New Arrival. So if you have any. for our request andwe hope you can understand !

www.ebay.co.uk

I didn’t even think of that, it looked like it wasn’t able to be taken apart but that’s certainly one option if a repair fails

 

[graffian]

get some clear packing tape and tape it to her.

 

[8ob]

r I've read about superglue and baking soda repairs.

Q Bond and its various fillers are superglue with fines added, that would be a good choice. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272405796803

 

[daleyd]

get some clear packing tape and tape it to her.

I suggested similar...if it was mine that’s probably what I would have done!

 

[northwest]

get some clear packing tape and tape it to her.

Cling Film works well........

 

[RichardM]

I didn’t even think of that, it looked like it wasn’t able to be taken apart but that’s certainly one option if a repair fails

or you could contact Garmin, explain your dilemma, how your wife loves their product but has broken it and ask if they sell cases / repair
Never know, they may just send you one!

 

[Gragson]

Can't tell if they are spring bars but either way once its glued in they won't move again.
Thing about Q-bond and various super glue grades is that they will discolour on contact turning stuff wispy white and also a bit brittle for that application.
Agree JB would be the way to go and the break has a decent key already by the looks. Just dont make a big blob to have to reshape and give it a good 24hrs before use.

 

[brightspark]

that lug hasnt broken right off. take the pin out and drill through the part of the lug that hasnt broken . take the spring loaded pin out and make a new solid one and push it through the hole you have drilled in to the pin using loctite . use a bit of jb weld to build it up and make it look cosmetically good

 

[badabec]

If you can't be bothered making a solid pin

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Used in military watches

 

[hotponyshoes]

You could re-case it if you have the eyesight.

My samsung smart watch needed a new battery, I ordered one that came with a fitting kit. The thing that looked like a tiny center dot turned out to be a really really tiny Phillips screwdriver.

I did manage to get all the screws out but I had been wearing it for work and there was a layer of grime holding the case together.
It took a bit of force to get the back off which went with a ping and the screws (which stupidly I had not actually removed from the holes) went on the floor.
I have only managed to find 1 out of 4.
I have also ripped out the charging cable and that's ridiculously tiny as well.
That was over a month ago and it's still in bits on the table.

A safer option might be something like an all-in-one protective case/strap combo
You remove the original strap to fit these and pop the watch into it so it doesn't matter if the original lugs are damaged..
If you can find one for your watch?