Nato Strap -> G-Shock Square Mod
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:11 pm
I'm really happy to get this watch off my desk and onto my wrist. The strap I used is a 22mm Ague that turned out to not match my Blue Lagoon Samurai (darn it). Later I think this turned into a case of trying to find a watch for a strap -- I was inspired by this pairing here by Dub Rubb.
As you can see in the photo, I took the back loop off the nato and trimmed a section down to 16mm. It took me three tries to get the right length for the 16mm section -- I'll measure this and add it here when I have a chance. I guess it wasn't really necessary to remove that back loop piece, but I'm not missing it. And I did need something to experiment on with my tools before starting on the strap.
Some things that worked for me:
As you can see in the photo, I took the back loop off the nato and trimmed a section down to 16mm. It took me three tries to get the right length for the 16mm section -- I'll measure this and add it here when I have a chance. I guess it wasn't really necessary to remove that back loop piece, but I'm not missing it. And I did need something to experiment on with my tools before starting on the strap.
Some things that worked for me:
- The same blade I used for my leather strap mod worked best for this job. After a cut do not pull any of the loose bits -- it will just run and make things worse. Instead, try to chop off the bits with the blade. What's left will just curl up when you flame the edges.
- I used a wand lighter to flame the edges -- this worked better than I expected. I practiced on the nato's back loop that I cut off, first -- cut, cut, flame. If the flame left clumps of melted material, I used the blade to chop it down and then flamed some more.
- I didn't use the 2mm stock fat springbars that came with the watch. I used some smaller (1.5mm?) bars I had in my parts box. I think this helped.
- I removed the bezel to attach the strap -- I think this was a big help, too.
- After cutting off the nato's back loop piece I didn't flame the cut edge to make sure it wouldn't be rough on my wrist.
- G-Shock springbars: the bars don't just snap into the lug holes. After it catches you need to push it all the way in with the tool. Check both sides of the bar closely when you're done. This was true for my other Gs, too, using their stock bars.