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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/01/22 in all areas

  1. For me, eBay is a great source of knowledge.
    2 points
  2. I have refinished the top and made new rails. Obviously, I could not remove the stains that are deep into the wood, but I sanded it down, stained it, and put on a poly clear coat. It is not a perfect job but it is a major improvement. I am debating on whether or not to sand down the front. It is in the garage now and I do not have a place for it yet. My watch room (The Little Watch Shop) is full with five watch benches and one electronics bench. Not sure what to do...I will ask my therapist.
    2 points
  3. Completely new to watch repair, shiny new tools in hand and impatiently waiting for a Unitas 6431/6445 to arrive in the post to begin to learn on, I decided to take a stab at disassembling and reassembling an old watch that was passed down to me, nothing sentimental, was just floating around with some unknown jewellery. With a bit of research I've found it's an Australian designed 9ct Hantily case with an AS 676 handwound movement. After researching Hantily, I've discovered that they were producing cases in a factory in Richmond barely a kilometer from where I live. The spelling of the logo (business changed several times) and the Ebauche SA TR shield stamp makes me believe it dates to between 1926–1934. I was too nervous to try and clean it properly, but I successfully managed to fully strip and reassemble the movement, set the time and recase it. The tiny movement size of 8.75''' blew my mind at how delicate things were. Several screws barely turned with my 0.80mm screwdriver, and I also had to drill a hole in my new loupe... While probably a stupid first undertaking at least now the pocket watch is going to seem huge in comparison!
    1 point
  4. I'm a long time watch lover who, after receiving yet another large bill for a watch service, decided to look into doing it myself... and here I am, all the way down the rabbit hole with my own watch station in my garden workshop, a parts bin full of micro-controllers and IoT equipment (my previous hobby) and an hour wheel on the way from Ebay after discovering my 4697 doesn't get sold with one... Still... my NH35 will be here soon enough and my journey will begin properly! looking forward to learning all I can !
    1 point
  5. Yes, it is fairly common, as it saves cost with tooling. Try turning it a little the other way. You will either find it is anti-clock, or you may break the 'stiction' and it will come free clockwise.
    1 point
  6. He definitely knew what he was doing, problem is did he care how he was doing it. My missus helped me get to my feet and sat me down with a cuppa, I'm starting to feel a little bit better now.
    1 point
  7. He should clean his filthy hands first. Dirty bugger what a bloody cowboy I wouldn't trust him with anything.
    1 point
  8. It’s like driving past a car crash. You know you shouldn’t look but you just can’t help yourself
    1 point
  9. You can find both back engravings on originals: „Cartier“ and „Santos by Cartier“. The link in the above post shows an example.
    1 point
  10. Seems to have been quite a lot of variations. I usually use a Google images search and having done that see quite a few that match yours. You might look here: https://threequarterplate.com/blog/a-visual-history-of-the-cartier-santos/
    1 point
  11. It could have been the $600 service charge for my recently serviced IWC that prompted me as I wasn't anxious to spend that much again on the Zenith. Thought maybe I'd tackle the Zenith myself. I still have a long way to go before I'd feel safe undertaking the Zenith. Welcome to the forum! When you have some interesting things to show us please don't hesitate. - Gary
    1 point
  12. What‘s about this? https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/7515028/
    1 point
  13. Welcome to WRT forum.
    1 point
  14. I used the technique with a block of wood to flatten a bent spring - it works really well.
    1 point
  15. Holy hell. He just finished putting up a steel shed, now he's gonna fix his watch. Legend!
    1 point
  16. Looks like OP hasn't noticed your question. Holes are for ventilation to reduce fogging on the lens. Regs
    1 point
  17. Could have been a very expensive mistake for him if it hadn't restarted or lifted the second hand off its post.
    1 point
  18. You might enjoy watching this 21 minute video where Alex discusses oils and oilers. He has a couple of interesting tips. I thought the one about polishing your oiler tip made sense.
    1 point
  19. An update, should anybody need to know in the future. This calibre, the Lemania 1275 works with the 1-4 KIF Trior springs (top and bottom) – that's the 1.65mm version in the image in my opening post. I bought a micrometer in the end and managed to get a close enough measurement of the existing spring to take a punt on the right size. These KIF Triors are the fiddliest little rascals to install though, I can tell you. I missed Incabloc while installing the cap jewels, I must say.
    1 point
  20. personally I find when you're dealing with American pocket watches that of 100 years of interesting things have occurred to them. I find that static poising I can easily get a Delta within 15 seconds and that's good enough. I often find if I try a dynamic poise I end up chasing my tail and things don't usually get better. In other words when you're grossly out of poise static it to really close and then if you want to be a perfectionist you can dynamic poise.
    1 point
  21. Well, right now I dont have the next size down, and I am a cowboy!
    1 point
  22. hi Ein Berliner although i still wash/brush parts by hand in naphtha(lighter fluid) for really detailed stuff, you can go ultrasonic using the very same you're using now-lighter fluid and IPA. you can buy a home jewelry ultrasonic cleaner for $30 and I've seen them for less. they work just as good as the spendy industrial ones and if the nodes eventually do go out it won't break the bank to replace it. I've had my little machine for over two years now and it's still going strong. Lighter fluid won't hurt the shellac on pallet fork jewels or impulse pins and although IPA will dissolve or soften this shellac over time, like if you soaked them in it, it will not likely hurt it with a short dip/brush and dry to remove any residual lighter fluid. use your puffer or a hair dryer on low to evaporate any IPA that might be left. Don't blow on it though-the moisture in your lungs will surely get on your parts and you know where that leads...the last and most important part of ultrasonic is put your parts and lighter fluid in a small jar, THEN put that jar into your ultrasonic machine THEN put water(I use deionized water) into your machine reservoir. Same with IPA. Do NOT put chemicals directly into your machine otherwise you'll have a bad day. last but not least, don't put the little jars directly on the bottom of your tank. try to suspend them just above that surface. Most of the DIY machines come with a hanging rack or basket just for that purpose. otherwise it'll wear your machine out very quickly. This has worked for me and even though I have a large industrial watch parts washer, I use my little jewelers tub 98% of the time. If the parts don't come out to your satisfaction, just run them again. sometimes heavier crudded parts do need a 2nd run anyway. watched your vid-very good! big Seiko fan here. Mike
    1 point
  23. Cousins supply bracelet parts and some Seiko bracelets . https://www.cousinsuk.com/search?searchTerm=20mm Seiko Bracelet SS (35J5JG) There is a guy on YouTube “ the Nekkid watchmaker” who does some remarkable work on cases and bracelets well worth a watch to see what can be achieved with an original.
    1 point
  24. 20 is not much compared to some of the USA supply houses... I mostly use CousinsUK, Eternal tool (great screwdriver, and sharpener prices) then have what I need imported to the USA with expedited shipping for much much less. If it is about the same price I order locally from Kasker(great for mainsprings), and Esslinger. Sometimes I get lucky and find some tools on Micromark. I remember saving almost $150 purchasing my DE-415A demagnetizer from Micromark instead of ofrei. There is also the second hand tool shops. Uncle Larry Watch shop, and Dave's tool and watch shop. And finally I most often use eBay for vintage tools that are quite costly new. Hope that helps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    1 point
  25. You should watch this video. He'll show you the proper way to use the abovementioned tool. @LittleWatchShop, if you think you are a cowboy, what would you call him?
    0 points
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