Blaze stainless band change

[jjmatter23]

I bought the new stainless band what a nightmare! It's built for a midget,, the pins are mirco tiny, this is a lousy way to change bands,, whoever leaked this procedure as being "easy" must work for fitbit,, and where the hell do find the replacement pins at ,, there band replacement system is a disaster!

Moderator edit: All caps and clarified subject.

[Rich_Laue]

I think I'm missing something, , the Stainless Steel band comes with its own frame. The Blaze only needs to be popped out of its current frame amd into the new one to change bands. 

Or are you referring to adding or removing links in the band?

[jjmatter23]

Yes the diameter of the watch is real narrow I have skinny wrists and won't fit, and the the pins are ridiculous who wants the aggravation of going to a jeweler who buying those tiny tool way too complicated, and if you lose those pins or if they pop there gone their invisible

Moderator edit: All caps.

[Rich_Laue]

Did you watch the video i linked to in my last post. I think they used a sewing needle and Vice Grips. While i haven't done this with the Blaze band,  i have done this with many other bands.

[jjmatter23]

Yea but there's a unique pin with the knob to pull it,, how easy is that gonna be to lose??? Once it pops out see ya,, where's the replacement??? I just thinks it's a stupid design mechanism for a fitness tracker

Moderator edit: All caps.

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

@jjmatter23 my take is the metal bands are more formal and ergo not for "normal" fitness use. It would be if you wanted to wear your Blaze to a business casual event. As for the pins you describe they sound like the standard pins in pretty much every casual watch, so it's really no different than any watch that needs to be resized. 

I had to resize pretty much all my watches a few months ago and ended up buying a watch kit on Amazon for like $20 which had all the tools needed (holder for the watch, tool to push pins out of the links, and battery case opener). It is pretty easy to remove link pins and they don't just fly out, there isn't any spring tension in them, they are just fitted in there.  You do have to be careful as most link pins (not sure about the Blaze since I don't have the metal bands) are hair pinned and safely go in and out one way (usually marked by an arrow somewhere on the band). I only mention this because I did bend one of my pins one of the first times I tried to take it out of one of my nicer watches, luckily I won't need it anymore since I was removing links.

Please remember to take a moment to mark the post that best answers your question as the Accepted Solution and Vote for posts that are useful or provide quality content.

[VT78ChE]

I agree that Fitbit needs to post something more detailed on resizing the metal band.  Standard watch band pins (spring-loaded type) are used at the clasp ends, but the pins we need to remove to insert new links are different - as thin as a small sewing needle, blunt on the ends, and solid - no spring load.  I have a very sharp awl and I have been unsuccessful in getting any of these pins to budge.  The instruction card included is useless - it has a diagram that would lead one to think you just slide the individual links to the side to remove them,  That is definitely incorrect.  The full instructions is, "Remove extra links by using a watch tool or visiting a watch shop or jeweler."  As noted in another post, as shipped, the band is sized so small that only petite guys could wear it.  Three extra links (articulated) and a pin (one of those non-spring loaded ones) are included in the box, but adding to the band will be a major challenge.  A video detailing the adjustment of this band should be posted, IMHO.

[Mikeyb50]

You'll need one of these to remove/add the links

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003INUENE?keywords=watch%20kit&qid=1456668153&ref_=sr_1_2&s=diy&...

[Rich_Laue]

I posted a link above of a video on how to do it without those special tools. Fitbit recomends buying the tool, which does have instructions.

This one will work fine, and I can find them for $2.50

[Snowcrash]

The video Rich posted in the first reply really explains it all. I'm sure it would also work with the proper tools. You do need to push the pins out in the proper direction.

I used a pair of pliers and a standard sized paper clip...

More instructions would have been nice, but the band itself is exactly what I wish I had on my Surge for the past year. I hate the plastic bands. If I was designing it from scratch I might have made each link about 1mm shorter in length so it would curve ever so slightly more smoothly. But it's comfortable and looks good to me.

[SunsetRunner]

The metal band looks good but my wrist diameter changes at times and there is no quick way to adjust the metal band size.

[Alex_A]

I can add still another gripe about the metal band - I added all 3 links just to have it STILL be too small! It only fits the smallest part of my wrist - exactly where you're NOT supposed to wear a FB!

Called FB support - there's no money that can buy a few extra links. (Which, of course, should probably be free.) Well, actually, $129 will do it - you buy a whole second band to make one usable one!

Please, FB, add some inexpensive (or free) links to the accessories page.

I'm going to go to a watch store and see if they can fit a proper metal band to the frame. Argh.

[Rich_Laue]

I would contact Fitbit,  they might be able to help out worth the band sizing. 

[Alex_A]

As I said in my post, I *did* contact FB support, they said there's nothing they could do for me as far as getting more links.

[racertempo]

People complaining about fitbit needing to post more information about how to resize must have never ever owned a steel watch.  I have several Citizen and Reactor watches, and the Fitbit pin removal process is the industry standard for all steel bands.  NO ONE uses "spring loaded" pins for those that are removable for sizing purposes.  The only spring loaded pins are where the bands meet the casing in all watched.  Fitbit cannot and should not be responsible for all people knowing how to make this change, just like any other watch maker.

The overall size being too small worries me as I have been considering one.  I guess I can buy one at Best Buy and if it does not fit just take it back to Best Buy for a full refund.

[racertempo]

---

@VT78ChE wrote:

I agree that Fitbit needs to post something more detailed on resizing the metal band.  Standard watch band pins (spring-loaded type) are used at the clasp ends, but the pins we need to remove to insert new links are different - as thin as a small sewing needle, blunt on the ends, and solid - no spring load.  I have a very sharp awl and I have been unsuccessful in getting any of these pins to budge.  The instruction card included is useless - it has a diagram that would lead one to think you just slide the individual links to the side to remove them,  That is definitely incorrect.  The full instructions is, "Remove extra links by using a watch tool or visiting a watch shop or jeweler."  As noted in another post, as shipped, the band is sized so small that only petite guys could wear it.  Three extra links (articulated) and a pin (one of those non-spring loaded ones) are included in the box, but adding to the band will be a major challenge.  A video detailing the adjustment of this band should be posted, IMHO.

---

No watch maker uses spring loaded pins for sizing sections of a watch.  There was a how-to video posted above specifically for fitbit, pretty simple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEDtHXHXl-U&feature=youtu.be

Here is one using the tool that I bought for $4 on ebay that several other posted about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RypyFp0pSbA

Here are some that are not fitbit specific:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uxpDXKOPqA

[Rich_Laue]

Just an observation Adding or removing links to the watch band is exactly the same process used to add or remove links from a bicycle chain. Wroth this $4 tool it teally is very easy.

[Rastadog]

The Fitbit Blaze can use almost any 22mm band. I bought a "regular" watch band and it works great. Look for bands that fit other smart watches. I would not spend $130 on a band.

[Alex_A]

Right on, Rastadog - FB metal band going back, quick visit to a watch store is forthcoming!

[Rastadog]

That's great. I hope you don't need to chafe you band 5 times during the day. I don't