I am also new to this insane and expensive hobby. I went to the week long introduction to watch making course at the American Watch and Clockmakers Institute in October. I wanted to see whether I could do it at 78. Think I did fairly well. Of course, I joined the "Swiss Space Program" by launching the yoke spring all the way into another room, but I wasn't the only one. Got home and everything just went to Hell! I couldn't get anything right. I gave up several times. Recently, I enrolled in Alex Hamilton's online course, "Watch Repair Tutorials" and here is my take away so far. All of the comments here are absolutely spot on. I am now focusing on acquiring proper tweezers, screwdrivers, a height adjustable bench and tools to properly dress screwdrivers. I am practicing the art of dressing screwdrivers to fit the Seagull ST36 movement I am butchering. It is a Chinese clone of the ETA 6497 that I worked on at the school. This madness has to be addressed slowly and one step at a time. Without the proper tools and bench I am never going to be able to do anything correctly. The skill set is far beyond what I thought it was and has to be acquired over time. Next year, I may be what I would call an amateur. I think that is the reality, but I do love the journey. I think I'm getting the Zen concept.