How to Take Clock Hands Off
- 1). Look closely at the arbor of your clock on which the minute and hour hands are mounted. Use a magnifying glass to see if a metal pin is passing through the arbor, parallel to the clock face. If you see one, your clock hands are held by a pin and collet.
- 2). Take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull out the pin. The pin should be tapered, so pull from the fatter end.
- 3). Lift off the minute hand, then the collet. Next lift off the hour hand. On some clocks the hour hand will have a small clip or screw holding it in place, which you will need to simply remove.
- 1). Look for a metal nut with a serrated edge screwed onto the minute hand. If you find one, your clock's hands are held with a threaded hand nut.
- 2). Undo the hand nut by holding the minute hand as closely to the nut as possible to prevent it from accidentally bending.
- 3). Unscrew the hand nut with your free hand and lift off the minute hand, followed by the hour hand. Note that some clocks have a slotted nut instead of a hand nut, which requires a special tool.
- 1). Look at the arbor of the clock for a pin or hand nut. If neither are present, the clock hands are being held on by friction alone.
- 2). Grip the minute hand at the arbor and carefully pull it off.
- 3). Grip the hour hand and pull it off. Never try to pry friction fit clock hands off with a screwdriver as they may get damaged or the face of the clock could get scratched.
