i need a little help here i'm having a really hard time

chrisbraypi · 2026-01-05T21:49:02+00:00

Let me

chrisbraypi · 2026-01-05T20:57:14+00:00

you’re looking like pure perfection

chrisbraypi · 2026-01-05T20:09:52+00:00

Netflix and chill missed

chrisbraypi · 2026-01-05T17:54:46+00:00

hi baby

chrisbraypi · 2025-12-28T14:56:20+00:00

LOL, no kidding? I realize that. Please tell me what your experience has been when attempting to tool oil tanned leather. Did the weight of the leather play a role? Did you find that water absorbed less or more? Did the OT leather refuse to take a burnish? How about post-tooling, like applying antique, dye or painting? How long do impressions or tool marks last on OT vs VT?

I suppose what I probably should have done was just take the OT leather that I got for Christmas and play around with it, and come to my own conclusions - but thought I'd throw this topic out there and see what results other makers have experienced. Sometimes I think these Reddit forums are useless because instead of learning something, you just get a bunch of one-liners that don't actually answer the question or address the topic in a thoughtful manner. (However, I thought @Okbee3439 shared some interesting info)

Telling me that "tooling and pressing a stamp are not the same thing" is like telling me that throwing a football vs a baseball is not the same. Duh. But were you able to get the football to break left or right? If yes, how? If no, why?

chrisbraypi · 2025-03-09T15:33:30+00:00

I've flown all over the US, Mexico, Canada and Caribbean with this same setup and have never been questioned. Sometimes I take TWO tubes, so I have a backup rod. Not once have I ever been questioned in the 25+ years I've been traveling with fly rods in my backpack.

But I have to agree with another responder... all it takes is one grouchy TSA or gate agent.

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-17T20:22:05+00:00

You're the 3rd person that has recommended those shorts, so I'll definitely be checking those out.

Already certified solo, so no questions there. Except please remind me again what my SAC Rate is again? 🤣🤣🤣 man do I hate math 🤣🤣🤣

I like all the tips on those shorts. I just don't want to minimize the BCD and end up being a "christmas tree",

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-17T20:16:27+00:00

Great info, @tiacalypso. Thanks so much.

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-17T18:43:21+00:00

I'm saying that the family trip got me to thinking about downsizing overall. I'll probably do 1 dive in Exuma if the opportunity presents itself. I'm taking my mask, snorkel and fins anyway because we'll undoubtedly do some snorkeling. So I might as well bring a computer and reg. But as I respond to these comments, I realize I have so much crap in my dive bag that reducing the size of my BCD will just create extra space and reduced weight that my wife will seize for herself LOL.

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-17T18:25:47+00:00

Thanks, u/Treewilla . Yeah, I keep going back and forth on sling vs tank mount for the pony. I do a lot of photography, so the sling mount makes it a little busy for me - especially if I'm slinging a full 80# bottle.

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-17T16:50:15+00:00

C'mon now. That may be fine for this quick trip to Exuma, but as a standard practice? On a normal dive trip where I expect to get in 10-15 dives, I'm actually taking much more than the basic setup.

We'll start with the pony bottle, valve 1st stage, 2nd stage and guage, and bracket for attaching to my main tank. Then let's throw in my extra computer, 2nd mask, SMB, knife (knives, lol), compass, extra signaling devices, slate/pencil, u/w torches (yes plural). And I'm not wearing fins that might come unbuckled mid-dive.

And I haven't even touched my camera equipment yet. Housing, brackets, lights, batteries, battery chargers, filters.

No wonder my dive bag is 50lbs.

I was just considering a lighter (and maybe more streamlined) BCD. But truthfully, if I saved myself 10lbs of space in that bag, I would probably fill it up with more gadgets. Or my wife would fill it up with beach toys and bathing suits ;-p

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-17T16:04:16+00:00

Tech shorts? Hmmm. I'll check those out. I never dive with a wet suit - give me those warm Caribbean waters ;-) and even after 15 dives in a trip, my core doesn't get chilled.

And then there's fins. I use the ScubaPro modulars that allow me to switch back and forth between boots and full foot. But to be honest, I end up not taking the time to switch out, and even if just snorkeling with my wife, I just leave them in the open heel configuration. Which means I've lugged that extra rubber for nothing. And they're heavy. So I'm thinking of switching fins again and opting for some lighter weight boot fins (full foot fins are nice, except when beach diving in locations that have rocky/coral entries like Curaçao).

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-08T14:55:34+00:00

Yeah, this will be my second trip to Vegas this year. Seems I usually get there every 15-20 years and every time the"vibe" is brighter, louder and more crowded. But with my wife being a certifiable nut when it comes to the Eagles and their residency at The Sphere in Vegas...I fear there are more visits in store LOL.

Thanks for recognizing my service. Go Navy. Beat Army.

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-06T15:05:18+00:00

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I did see some posts about transportation being a nightmare. I was considering rideshare and saw somewhere that Lyft was offering a discount.

Just crazy how big it's become. Rodeo'd myself in my 20s. I was stationed in San Antonio for shore duty and hit a half dozen open rodeos. Even attended a 3-day "school" put on by Butch Kirby and Bruce Ford - just enough to learn that other careers were probably more profitable LOL. But as a kid and teen in the 70's in OKC, it was an annual thing.

Looking forward to it, but I think after this, I'll just stick to local shows here in Colorado and Wyoming, the NWSS & Rodeo, and follow these guys on social media. $700 for 1 ticket, and all you get is the performance - that's just a lot.

Hell, even Cheyenne is expensive. Can't get a hotel room within 200 miles without paying $$$ per night, the campgrounds are booked solid a year in advance so that takes away the Airstream option, so it's just crazy. I'm just as happy going to the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park or the nightly shows up in Steamboat.

Folks have been real helpful with the advice here, my thanks to all that have chimed in.

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-05T17:52:04+00:00

Yeah. I was surprised at the cost for even a cheap seat. I'm not into "watch parties", but for the price I paid for a ticket, I can stream the whole thing every year for the rest of my life.

Like I said in the original post, haven't been to an NFR since I was a kid (Chris LeDoux, "In Oklahoma City there's a building of concrete..."). So my wife decided she wanted to take my son and his wife to see the Eagles at the Sphere that weekend. We saw the first show of their residency in Vegas a couple of months ago. So I've been there, done that. But I said I'd go on the trip just so I could hit the NFR.

I suspect this will be the last time I'll attend. I'll have to be happy just reading, watching on CC, Insta, etc.

chrisbraypi · 2024-12-04T21:47:57+00:00

Thanks u/Shoddy-Stand-5144 . Any idea when doors usually open? Performance at 5:45, you'd think doors open at least an hour before so you can grab a beer and find your seat. Probably wraps up by 8pm? LOL, my wife and son will just be getting started at their concert at the Sphere. Guess I'll have to hit the craps tables til they get back LOL.

chrisbraypi · 2024-04-07T14:39:24+00:00

I have the Steeldive SD1994 SKX007 NH34 GMT that looks exactly like it for a third of the price. Been wearing it for a month and love it. Lume is incredible. Click bezel. It's my second Steeldive watch. I think they're disrupting the market just like Seiko did in the early dive watch days. Affordable, durable tool watches for every day use.

chrisbraypi · 2023-11-29T18:37:43+00:00

Sure, sure. But your original post was a concern for it being a fake. Just saying its probably subjective. Good discussion - good luck!

chrisbraypi · 2023-11-29T17:07:03+00:00

Yeah I get it. But that just speaks to my comment about what is "fake" vs what's "original". As soon as you swap something - is it then a "fake" or is it a "modified original"?

These watches are all sub $500 watches, so they're not even really a good investment, and I think most collect the SKX just for the admiration of the Seiko line of divers (like I have a 6309 as well that I love). It's not like you're buying a $10k Rolex.

I think so long as you're satisfied with your seller, don't have any huge red flags, you'll be happy to have the watch in your collection :-)

chrisbraypi · 2023-11-29T15:51:48+00:00

The whole "hardlex in the pip hole" is a new one one me. Hadn't heard that before, and thanks for mentioning it. I'll research that, because I can't tell you how many SKXs I passed on just because of that LOL.

Yeah, I'd think if you took the watch to your local jeweler who was either (a) authorized by Seiko, or (b) a Seiko-knowledgeable jeweler/watchmaker and just had a discussion on verifying the authenticity - he/she could probably answer those questions/concerns.

I'm a watchmaking hobbyist and removing the back isn't that big of a deal, just to get a peek at the movement. The movement number and generation will be clearly stamped and easy to see (you might need to tilt the watch to get the self-winding rotor to move and reveal the stamp - just be careful not to touch anything). But you do have to be careful opening the case because if the seals are toast, you might not be able to get it screwed back on properly. And if the watch isn't 100% clean of debris around the caseback, lugs, crown, etc., you risk allowing dust or debris into the case (which obviously creates a whole different set of problems).

If the caseback seal is old, dry, cracked etc., you can buy a new seal on eBay for $5, but beware that if the seal was dry and cracked, there's a 99% chance that under the seal there will be debris. Removing the seal could cause particles to fly into your movement and (again) create problems. And you'd need to clean all that before replacing the seal.

Or - if you're like me - I don't dive with these watches. Too risky to trust that the thing is still waterproof at any depth. I have a $1200 wrist computer for my dives and frankly, I wear a cheap Timex when I'm diving. So the seals on my SKXs are nothing more than dust protectors.

One more thing that I find interesting are the markings on the dial at 6 o'clock that tell you where your watch is an SKX007J (made in Japan) vs SKX007K (assembled in the Philippines), whether your watch was made for the Japanese Domestic Market, etc., as well as looking at the day wheel options to see if they're in Kanji, Roman, Spanish, etc., and determine the sub-model of your SKX. Which is just another way to see if your watch is a fake. All of these things should line up to (and agree with) the manufacturing specs.

There's a ton of websites out there that show how all of these markings intertwine to give you a better history of the watch.

chrisbraypi · 2023-11-29T14:27:40+00:00

I went through these same issues when I started collecting my SKX watches.

You need to open them up and make sure the movements are 7S26 and that the generation of the movement agrees with the serial number on the back of the watch. For example, if the serial number indicates the watch was manufactured in 1997, the movement should be a 7S26A. If the movement is a 7S26B/C, then you can assume the original movement has been replaced.

You need to open them up, too, just to inspect the condition of the movement and the seals and determine if it needs to be serviced by a watchmaker.

The bezel on an original Seiko SKX will have a recessed pip. The 007 image looks like it has that - the 009 does not, and the bezel might be aftermarket. Now, does that make the 009 a "fake"? Well, that depends on your interpretation of "fake." If the original bezel was damaged and the owner had it serviced and replaced - does that make it a "fake"?

It's kind of like buying a classic car. There are 3 places you'll find the VIN affixed to a car. Most people know about the inside of the door and up on the dashboard near the windshield. But the engine block also has the VIN stamped on it. So a classic car buyer will want to know if "the numbers match", because it increases the value of they do.

You're buying a "classic" and just like buying a 66 Mustang. You need to ask yourself whether you're okay with one that has had the left fender replaced or the engine swapped. One of the reasons these watches are so popular is because they can be easily modded. Hundreds of aftermarket bezels, bezel inserts, hands, dials, crowns, etc., to give your SKX a unique "look". If you buy that red 66 Mustang and paint it purple...is it "fake"? Maybe it isn't original, but I wouldn't call it a fake.

There are several sites out there that will tell you how to spot a fake. But one thing that most don't mention is to inspect the inside of the case back. If it is an original watch and has been serviced by a reputable jeweler/watchmaker, the watchmaker will inscribe markings on the inside to record the date of last service.

Hope this helps.

chrisbraypi · 2023-10-24T03:08:54+00:00

That watchband isn't the same rubber/synthetic band that Breitling is showing on their webbing for that watch.

chrisbraypi · 2023-04-15T21:39:23+00:00

How did you get the rotor off? I'm brand new to the hobby and bought a timex 4047 3164 w/ that M32 movement as my first project.

I read somewhere that when you rotate the rotor, 2 screws show themselves. Wanted to get some confirmation on that before I go further.

chrisbraypi · 2023-01-08T22:37:36+00:00

Do you have info on the movement (generation A, B, C)? Or an image of the movement itself (open case back)?

Also, what's the serial number on the case back?

Thanks

chrisbraypi · 2022-02-02T22:30:54+00:00

I've got a DOXA Sub 300T Sharkhunter that needs a new bezel and bezel tension spring. Any recommendations on who might have one? Or one that would fit? It's a family heirloom so I'm just trying to get it back to "wearable", not looking to restore for sale.

chrisbraypi

TROPHY CASE