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Recently acquired a beautiful screwhead polisher: The polisher came with two jars of abrasive powder. One is carborundum and the other diamantine. I am looking for some guidance as to which abrasive gets used on which lap and advice on how to charge the lap. There is a steel lap, a brass one and finally a wooden one. Thanks in advance!

I personally think it would be much better if there was more restraint shown about moving posts. Moving a newbies post is one thing, but for a long time user to have a post moved is annoying. Not even the courtesy of finding out the users intention, just wham. post moved. It's annoying, and I have enough trouble finding time to participate, and having to deal with these little irritations makes me less likely to make the effort. That's why I don't do posts that take a lot of effort, like walkthroughs, because I know they they won't stay unmolested, regardless of my intentions. This is a solvable problem. Either leave the posts alone, or provide a way that these posts can be built without having to do them in one swell foop. Using too narrow of a definition is not helpful, either. If you want a category of "make-overs" then please provide a place for them. Just be aware that if you go down that road, you will find that you have to move *every* post, and not just the obvious mistakes. People will inevitably gravitate toward the most general category, and pay less and less attention to the sub-forums. More work for the admins. Maybe that's OK, but notice that this forum software wasn't built to be operated that way, and some features will break. It happens now. David

I had a Seiko 777 on my bench today, it’s a watch I’ve had for a couple of years and recently it stopped working, the SH would stop around 50 seconds and if given a shake would go again, then would stop again around 50s a few hours later. So today I stripped it all down and gave it a bit of a spring clean, wasn’t too bad but some oil had migrated and some dirt had gotten to the wheels. No issues. And I have to say the 4R36 movement is nice to work on (I’m used to old Seiko, not your fancy pants Swiss stuff!). Then disaster. I don’t know what I’ve done but the balance will not swing. I spent an hour, probably nearer two, inspecting the pivots and balance and pallets under the microscope, cleaning the pivots and holes, taking out the pallet and re-cleaning it. Checking it all over again, making sure all the pivots are located. Nothing. Take out the balance again (for about the tenth time) check under microscope thinking maybe the pivot is slightly bent? Doesn’t seem to be. Carefully peg the pivots again... and so on. For more than an hour. The 777 has a hacking movement. I had the crown pulled out. D’oh!!!!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Diamantine and carborundum come in different grit sizes, you'd naturally want coarsest on the steel, medium on the bronze, and finest on the wood. 800 grit for coarse, 1200 or so for the middle, and to finish I like 1 micron diamond paste (about 14000 grit) would be my recommendation. Maybe even a little coarser for the steel if you want. Seems like a big jump at the end but in my experience works well. When I frequently used my similar tool I made up a tin lap to replace the wood. Now I use a tripod tool with 12 micron paper on glass to flatten, and 1 micron diamond on a tin lap. I find it's much faster than the above tool.

Ha yes should be "epilame"

I have a few Reuge music boxes I used windles clock oil on these the music boxes do not require anything other than this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JD-Windles-Clock-Oil-50-ml-Tried-and-Tested-Best-value-on-Ebay-/251252952121 to apply it you can use a oiler such as this : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oiler-precision-pen-type-clock-multipurpose-oil-clocks-clockmakers-0-3mm-Tip/123002496357?epid=14016050320&hash=item1ca3852565:g:yNcAAOSwjXRXaqSz or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bergeon-30102-4-Set-of-4-Watch-Oilers-Watchmakers-Watch-Repairs-HO30102-4/263538887690?hash=item3d5c244c0a:g:VCAAAOSwZrtaoVpj Someone on this site has dealt with one of these before do a sight search to find it.

I purchased a new balance complete with cock for my 7S27A. I came across an excellent free pdf by Nicolas Hacko called, “Seiko 7S26 for Novice Horologists” He has you assembling and disassembling pieces like 20 times each until you master it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I always use Naphtha with a U/S cleaner and also a brush. For the HS and balance to get it 100% degreased I use Acetone. This old method has never let me down !!.

Although some of his techniques may be frowned upon by the Swiss Watchmaking school fraternity, I would always recommend Practical Watch Repair by De'Carle. A very good book for discovering old school techniques and methods and should most certainly be in your library. Also, you can't go wrong with Henry Fried. I have compiled some of the better books here... https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/books.html/watch-servicing-repair/

You undo the two small screws and the cup that holds the jewel should come away from the plate. You will need a proper jeweling tool set as this also has the reamers in case you need to make the diameter of the hole larger, you also press the jewel with the jeweling tool using one of the different stakes that are provided out. You will need the correct type of jewel, pivot hole size and diameter of the jewel, a little larger in diameter of the whole jewel would still be alright but not overlarge. You also use the tool for pushing the new jewel in place, you have a setting depthing wheel to make sure you have the correct end shake so that the jewel hasn't been pushed too far into the plate. That block you have isn't needed for this type of work. All the necessary tools needed come in the jeweling set, you need to check what you are buying if second hand. One other thing the small press in setters are spring loaded this helps so the jewel doesn't crack when fitting. You will also need a pivot hole gauge and a jewel gauge if you buy your jewels by a varied selection. You also need to look up the types of jewels that are used in watches and the reason different ones are used.