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Balance staff removal - tools


Khan

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Whatever method is used to remove a staff it is imperative not to distort the balance or elongate the hole. The most trusted method used for many years was to remove part or all of the staff on a watchmakers lathe. However there are other methods which involve pushing the old staff out either with a Platax tool or a staking set. These methods can be problematic especially with vintage watches as the metal used was very hard. Also when using this method you must support the cross section of the balance to eradicate any distortion. There is a tool that can be purchased for this for staking sets.

Personally I remove part of the staff on my lathe and then push it out to eliminate any mishaps.

 

Here is a previous post:

 

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Hi  Clockboy has explained it very well. The K&D tools work well enough in the demonstrations if used properly, I would advise watching a few of these on The tube just to get familiar with its use. The method is that when fitted tio the staking tool and screwed down it supports the arms of the balance on to the stake avoiding distortion. Watch the videos before having a go.

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Further on from my post I highly recommend that before replacing a balance staff test on a few scrap movements or balances. Its one of those jobs that looks simple but if you get it wrong there is no way back. I speak from experience. Marks vids are  excellent and notice once fitted the testing procedure is also important. 

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