Introduction: Replace Your Watchband Clasp Strap With Sugru
I have a sports watch- an ironman digital that I wear everywhere, every day. However, I hate it when the long end of the strap, the part of the adjustable strap that's not needed to go around my wrist, flies free. Usually, it's held in place with a clasp strap- that little loop above the buckle made just to hold the loose end to the watch. But mine broke.
So when my sugru arrived, I decided to make this my first sugru project: making a new clasp strap out of sugru.
Necessary materials:
-watch with missing clasp strap
-sugru
Unnecessary materials (I didn't use them, but they would probably help):
-rubber band
-cling film
OR maybe Vaseline?
(pending future experimentation with sugru)
Step 1: Prepare Watch
Make sure your watch is clean; buckle it.
This is the point at which the unnecessary materials list (see intro page) comes into play: this would be a lot easier if the end of the strap were close to the band, unlike in this picture. The trouble is, sugru bonds to everything- watch bands, aluminum foil, etc. So you might want to try putting a rubber band on it, or I hear sugru doesn't stick to cling film.. let me know what works, if you try it!
But I, fool that I am, just let it be, as shown in the picture.
This is the point at which the unnecessary materials list (see intro page) comes into play: this would be a lot easier if the end of the strap were close to the band, unlike in this picture. The trouble is, sugru bonds to everything- watch bands, aluminum foil, etc. So you might want to try putting a rubber band on it, or I hear sugru doesn't stick to cling film.. let me know what works, if you try it!
But I, fool that I am, just let it be, as shown in the picture.
Step 2: Unwrap Sugru and Play With It
This is sugru! Open it up, get it on your fingers. It starts out kind of like a sticky paste, so my fingers were black for a little while. But feel it up and learn how it works. After a while of air exposure, it gets less sticky and more clay-y. If you've found something (like cling film) that sugru doesn't stick to, you probably don't need to worry about it too much. But I was worried about it bonding to my watch, and so I waited until the sugru got much more clay-like and much less like sticky paste.
Step 3: Mold Sugru
Take maybe a third of a packet. You don't need more.
Mold the sugru around the two straps. If you can manage it, press it into the little hole on the end of the loose strap so it will hold better. Then take that strap out and make sure the sugru isn't stuck on your watch; you want it to be slidable (but it shouldn't be able to slide off the main strap over the buckle).
Mold the sugru around the two straps. If you can manage it, press it into the little hole on the end of the loose strap so it will hold better. Then take that strap out and make sure the sugru isn't stuck on your watch; you want it to be slidable (but it shouldn't be able to slide off the main strap over the buckle).
Step 4: Wait a While
Wait for it to cure. I left mine overnight.
Step 5: Wear and Enjoy!
And in the morning, I had a lovely, strong strap clasp for my watch! Good as new.