Screws!

[Paul78]

Do you guys have a way of remembering what screw goes where? This is the only issue I'm having with getting to grips with servicing mechanical movements. At the moment I'm placing screws into the small plastic tubs that Quartz movements come packaged in as I have a million of them, I'm numbering the tub and then writing on a postit note where the screws came from.

Any method your recommend or is it just a case of remembering what goes where with experience?

[Marc]

If you look closely at the two pictorials that I have posted recently you will see exactly what I do with them, I put 'em back in the hole they came out of.

This takes a little more time when you strip the movement but it can save a lot of time later in preventing the wrong screw going in the wrong place.

[Medtner]

I'm using a domed container for my parts, and I put the screws in the different corners of the partitions and "seal" them in with the bridge or part that they came from. I also try to separate geartrain, keyless work, and so forth, to have some order. 

Maybe this is helpful?

[joelcarvajal]

I use a pill box with more compartments than the typical 7-day case. I move to the next compartment when I need to distinguish bridges and screws.

I also track the contents by their descriptions. I usually don't clean the screws so when I clean the major parts together, I know where to put them back in the box.

The pill box also helps in remembering the sequence of assembly/disassembly.

[BlakeL]

I'm using a domed container for my parts, and I put the screws in the different corners of the partitions and "seal" them in with the bridge or part that they came from. I also try to separate geartrain, keyless work, and so forth, to have some order. 

Maybe this is helpful?

image2 (2).JPG

 

I do the same thing.  Only thing you have to worry about is the screws moving if you have to move the whole container.

[bobm12]

Hi Paul,

 

This is a guide so you can recognize the screws in a movement.

 

 

The rest is memory and experience. Some people "put back" the screws where they belong in the different bridges and other (feasible) parts. Then clean the whole thing...some times the screws fall off so you are back to square one for those.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

[DrRock]

Very handy little chart/diagram that one - thanks Bob :)

 

And for those who may have trouble with screws becoming airborne when gripped by forceps ( sorry, tweezers for you non-surgical types - I keep having to catch myself on that one), I have a pair of these on order along with my jewel picker uppers, from Cousins, for about 2 pounds ($4):

 

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/screw-holding-tweezers

[bobm12]

Hi Pete,

 

Thanks for the link. I'm familiar with those but due to the size of the screws, in most cases I find they are not very effective. I do have a couple but they mostly gather dust in the drawer. I suppose some people might find them useful though, it all depends on how each individual uses their tweezers. Still it is good to have them around for the rare occasion I do need them if ever.

Cheers,

 

Bob

Edited January 19, 2015 by bobm12

[Paul78]

I've also found the screw tweezers to be totally useless, I just use normal tweezers. I find the longer the better to minimise the screw flying across the room.

[anilv]

One thing that you need to remember is that some movements have one screw shorter than the rest! Whenever you remove the train bridge look at the length of each screw and compare.

[clockwatcher]

Hi All!

 

While we're on the subject of screws, can anyone tell me whether the watch industry uses screws from a standard range or are screws designed and manufactured by the makers of the movements? Does the illustration that Bob posted above represent some standard screws? I have a number of scrap movements that I can use for spares but, not necessarily having identical movements to the watches I want to repair, will any of the scrapper screws transplant into other movements?

 

The reason I ask is that, as can be seen in the accomapnying picture, there are screws missing from the F-L Duomatic that I recently acquired. Despite this the watch runs well. Both case screws are missing and one from the movement (red arrow). If I needs screws how do I go about sourcing them?

 

All advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

John

P.S. Did I screw up by posting in this thread?

[rogart63]

I bought a nice little box of different screws on ebay . i have found screws in that box when i have lost or needed some . i have also taken screws from other movements . 

[clockwatcher]

Tack Rogart!

[rogart63]

This was the box i bought . 250 screws . http://www.ebay.com/itm/Screws-for-vintage-mechanical-and-quartz-watches-x250-parts-repairs-watchmakers-/320935255238?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ab93b5cc6

I wonder how make them .They really are watch screws . Coming from old movements . 

Edited March 11, 2015 by rogart63

[bobm12]

Normally, if I loose a screw -- from a watch of course :) -- I check its function and the other "companion" screws so I can determine the size and shape. Then I find an equivalent from my pool of old movements and screws I may have around...that is, if I don't have a donor movement of the same type, model.

[rogart63]

How hasn't a screw loose  :D

[clockwatcher]

Thanks again Rogart, I've just been on eBay and bought some. They are so cheap that even if only 10 screws fit my watches they'll still be bra värde!

[clockwatcher]

Thanks to you too Bob. Until I start dismantling watches I won't really know what I'm doing but my immediate problem is identifying the type of screws that are missing and which I can't compare. The case screws I don't think will be a problem but I don't even know what PART the other screw is missing from!! :unsure:

[clockwatcher]

My 250 assorted screws arrived today. As I had a gander at them through a loupe I noticed that quite few were rusted, some badly.

I picked out any that were at all corroded and found a total of 28. Out of 250 screws that's about 11% rejects, however I thought I'd count them and sort them as they were all mixed together.

In the end I counted a total, including duff ones, of 362 screws! I don't think I can complain too much in this case as the good ones worked out at about tuppence a screw!

[Affnan]

I too needed few screws, thanks Rogart for posting the ebay link.. The Click Spring screw on my Longines Cal. 12.68z decided to be a plane :)

 

 

Hope there is something in there that I can use.

 

Affnan