
Save Big With Bulk Discounts
Save Big With Bulk Discounts
Well let me start with I like Otto Frei and thank you for being there; excellent stock and good selection. I was asked for a review so here it is! I reached out to Otto Frei as I am an apprentice watchmaker learning the trade in a country where there is no courses. I had been working with old files I made into gravers but making balance staff was terrible with that unknown metal I had. I had ordered gravers once here but ended up choosing wrongly. They worked but they were more for jewelers. I tried again this time I asked for help selecting traditional gravers. I tried the chat app and dialogued with someone who was to get back to me and didn't. I figured oh well suck it up sunshine and do it myself so I ordered again. I don't have them yet as I'm in Canada and shipping takes longer but I was disappointed to ask for help and get dropped. I still like you though and I see 5 stars in another review so if I got the right ones I'm good to go!
Hi Gary, Sorry that we weren't able to get back to you with advise on what graver to choose for making balance staffs. When dealing with OttoFrei.com you are dealing with our jewelry tools division and you won't find technical support for watchmaking questions from us. Try ofrei.com, the watchmaker part of the business (you might get your question answered but I am pertty sure you can count how many watchmakers in North America that can turn a balance staff with a graver and a lathe on one hand). The right response you should have gotten from OttoFrei.com is 'I don't know'. My guess is that you are buying the right kinda of thing (carbon steel square graver). It is probably the closest material and the closest shape available to match what a watchmaker might have used 100 years ago to make or cut down balance staffs on a lathe. Keep in mind gravers are basically rough blanks and need to be shaped and finished before they do any task. Best Wishes, Steven Frei
Excellent product. I highly recommend these gravers.