How to Make Wristbands Smaller
Most wrist watches have bands that can be adjusted for different wrist sizes. Bands made of supple materials such as leather, canvas or nylon typically use a tongue-and-hole system that can be easily adjusted on-the-fly. However, those made of steel or other rigid materials are more challenging. These wristbands usually consist of links held together by pins. It may be possible to shorten the wristband by adjusting the clasp. Otherwise, the links and pins must be removed in order to shorten the wristband itself. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Place the wristband on a flat surface. Unlock the wristband and lay it out flat. Unbuckle the clasp from the end of the watch. The clasp is the end component that snaps both ends of the wristband together.
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Remove the clasp from the wristband by pushing the spring bar pin through both ends of the clasp with a link pin pusher tool. Slide the clasp a couple of links up the wristband to shorten the length of the wristband and secure the clasp back to the spring bar at the end of the wristband. Push the spring bar pin through the holes of the clasp to secure the clasp back to the wristband. If this does not shorten the wristband enough, a link must be removed to shorten the wristband more.
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3
Locate the link on the wristband directly below the watch. Remove the pin from the link with the pin pusher tool in the direction that the arrow on the link is pointing. Push the pin through the link with the tool. Grab the other end of the pin with the needle-nose pliers and pull the pin out of the link. Place the pin in a safe area. Once the pin is removed, the wristband link will come off. Pull the link off and place it in a safe area.
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Position the watch link to the remaining wristband link. Line up the pin hole and push the pin through the link from the opposite direction against the direction of the arrow. A small ball-peen hammer may be needed to tap the pin completely through the link. Try the watch on to see if it fits. If not, remove as many links as necessary to reach the desired wristband length.
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Tips & Warnings
A link pin push tool can be found at most all craft and hobby stores or online.
Different wristbands are made differently but the sizing process for most wristbands is the same: remove links and pins to shorten the length of the wristbands.
Remove one link at a time to prevent over-shortening the wristband.
Do not tap the wristband link pin too hard or it could break the pin.
