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I usually have some PVC or Delrin barstock around, which is useful for many things including oddball supports and pushers for case work, making movement holders etc. I'll chuck up a scrap of suitable size and bore out a recess to accept the crystal. You have to creep up on the final diameter so the crystal fits in snugly but not too tight (and not too loose!). There's always a hole in the center to allow pushing the crystal out when finished. Once the crystal is in it will be running very true as you leave the plastic in after turning the recess- this means you can do accurate work even with a wonky chuck. Now, with a very sharp tool, bore the crystal to just fit the ring. The pics show a tension ring crystal I had lying around, I hope they're illustrative enough.

So I uploaded 30s of recording with audacity and here is the pic of the scope mode. https://mega.nz/#!ymwkgSBK!mKWtU5Fb1pkmGIfhzpKqZ8SXCfBZnMbnUjjwrhA7PxM I also made some little improvements to my telegrapher stand like using a shielded cable for the short part between the piezo and the 3,5mm jack. Alos I added a copper plate to the back for addition shilling.

Slava 2414.

It sounds like lack of lubrication and possibly dirt.

I don’t really have much of a preference with various brands except for tweezers, where i concur with above sentiments about Dumont- but I'll say that the normal quality Dumonts are pretty the same as most other Swiss brands. Where they differ, and differ greatly, is if you spring for the Dumostar level. They are more expensive and worth every penny. I can't recommend them enough.

Agree Dumont tweezers are worth investing in. I use them for watch work while I use Vetus one's sourced from Cousins when working on clocks and their larger part's. I don't get too fixated with brands however. I've unbranded Swiss made vintage watch mainspring winders and cannon pinion remover that are more than adequate both bought at a fraction of the cost of new Bergeon branded ones. Tend to stay away from Chinese tools but have both a time grapher and watch hand levers both of which I'm more than happy with. Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

Agreed on Dumont tweezers. Screwdrivers and hand levers are VOH - haven’t used anything better than them.

Agree with oldhippy Dumont tweezers are really good. I have noticed they do not need dressing as often as the cheap ones. Horotec are a maker I like. I use their screwdrivers + other tools by them, all are made well and not outrageously expensive.

Dumont tweezers, for me there is nothing better and Bergeon screwdrivers.