Leaderboard

1 or 2 people were swearing by that JB weld for attaching new dial feet at one point on the forum, but when I tried it i found it was only a shade less than completely useless, I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but I've never been able to get any kind of cement to bond properly between the replacement copper dial feet i have and the dial, always snaps off without barely any effort. I think short of special, costly welding equipment you have to accept that dial dots/strips are your best shot, it's the kind of thing that irks most repairers, we all want a better way of doing it i think, but it usually works out okay, at least if the movement ring is a fairly tight fit in the case.

Hi all, It's been a while since I posted anything here but tonight I was working on a watch and I thought there might be some interest in looking at it. The customer said the second hand would move but the hour and minute hands wouldn't. Usually that means the minute wheel assembly has became worn however today that part had became seized onto the center tube. Anyway I took a picture of what is under the dial of a 218 in case there was any interest. Notice the three springs that are laying about. The first time I tried working on one of these I lost every one of those things and maybe some of the other parts as well. I told my wife it was like trying to bait a mouse trap after you had already cocked it. Anyway I have this watch going now and here's what it looked like before. Charles K

I have been working on a Seiko Quartz watch and I could not get the bezel off using my case knife like I can usually so I decided it was time for some new tools, especially as Eternal tools had a 15% off sale. I cashed in some of my bitcoin I purchased a few years back and managed to buy all this. Thirty seconds with the Horotech case opener and I had the bezel off. I also got myself a couple diamond files and expanded my range of Horotech screwdrivers too. This should satisfy my new tool craving for a few weeks. :-)

Hi rsoonerdad53, Thanks for coming in and welcome. I am fairly new to this site. Your collection of watches are most interesting and I bet you will get them going in time, no pun intended. If I was a younger man I would take the courses as well but I am 76 now. Eyesight is OK. I had some training in watch repairing many years ago from a highly skilled watchmaker sadly not around anymore and I use Practical Watch Repairing by Donald de Carlo as my Bible. I just consider myself an amateur watch repairer . Word gets around and friends bring me their colleagues watches Quartz for batteries and sometimes expensive mechanical ones, that official watchmakers want a lot of money to fix. I only take on that which I feel confident that I am able to cope with. For the higher range watches spares are hardly available to me as it has become a closed shop. A monopoly, and people like me are not liked very much by the watch repairing fraternity. I will not give my pastime up though. I sold my Electronic`s business nine years ago. There are Very skilled and helpful experts on this site and I feel sure that they will help you over any hurdles. Keep going and best regards, Mike.

Massimo, I found this a while back. I was about to try it but ended up finding a replacement dial. Some great tips to align them too. m.yukiwatch.com/articles/article/7390084/160035.htm

You described that there is a balance endplay issue, as in lack of it. With the pallet removed the balance (not the hairsping), will not oscillate. It can be bent pivots. even a tiny amount is enough. Also check that end stones are not installed upside down.

Hi, Marco here from Santo Andre - Sao Paulo, I am new to horology, I have been involved with automotive mechanics for nearly 3 decades and used to repair everything at home on my own but always felt challenged by mechanical watches, so now I am very keen to develop watchmaking skills for the long term hobby/retirement job. I have already overhauled 8 watches, some old pieces just to study and develop the skills so I am still in the very first steps and will appreciate any given advice here. Cheers!

One can make a new one in an hour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHuOs9IRxH0 There is no need for the concave to close the setting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3gxp96WjCI

It will not move, and the concept of repairing is to get the job done, not being purists on a $70 watch. Anyway, exactly because the feet are a tight fit in the ring, they will stress the gluing point and break it, just like it broke the original soldering. So you will have to make the glue blob bigger, now it will push on the ring and the dial won't be flush. Then you start reaming out the hole the ring to make space... lot of effort for a patchy job that is the end is worse than adhesive tape. But I guess that not having been there before you'll need to experience first hand... have fun

good find! it will be a good experience UNcrushing it. try "torch and taper pin". vin

I think I could assemble it in 59minutes,,, but it would never work again!

I use camellia oil on my woodworking tools. Japanese craftspeople have been using it for centuries, apparently. Protects from rust and has a non-oily finish.