Jump to content

homemade cleaning machine ?


Recommended Posts

Switched to a square bottle. Notice there is hardly any vortex now. Looks promising. :woohoo-jumping-smiley-emoticon:

I may modify the magnetic stirrer in future. At present, the hotplate doesn't work unless the spinning motor is on. If I plan to use the hotplate as a parts dryer, I will have to bypass the switch.

I may also modify the motor to add an automatic reverse direction function.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something weird happened to phone. I don't know if it's the new version of android or Samsung app. Keyboard layout has extra stuff now.

If you click on the 3 dots you get the option of downloading the video. Then you can see it on your video player.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought that you were going to spin the liquid and then enter the basket such that it was fixed, and at a greater distance from the magnet. Could be worth trying if magnetism proves to be an issue. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's too simple. Where's the fun in that. :D

But seriously, I did consider that design. But I didn't think the flow of liquid through such a fine mesh would be enough to clean the watch parts.

Another design I was considering was to move the magnets further out to the periphery, so that the basket is not directly over it.

But I'll test out all methods to see which works best. I've got a pile of scrap watches from ebay. I should probably clean them and sort out the usable parts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

Has anyone tried to build a watch cleaning machine from scratch? Looking at the ones that show up on the bay I am surprised at the prices they fetch here in the UK for what is essentially a fairly simple bit of kit that often needs a lot of work to get them up and running safely.

Although my horological skills are so far not much to write home about I think I should be able to build something that would work but would like to avoid having to re-invent the wheel.

I would be really grateful if you could share your creations.

Many thanks.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm thinking about making something using a small drill press. The reversing operation is not figured, as well as the rpm. The basket, may disappear from my wife's,  new tea brewing in a cup, Christmas gift. I have been using the ultrasonic cleaner, and drying in a toaster oven, not the best results, just ok.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The reversing is a real thing. It doscombobulates the parts. With real pro solutions ultasonic is a sideline subject in a machine that spins in both directions. Manufacturers want ultrasonic so if pro you're humped there. But the old Elma manual machines worked great, didn't even reverse. But it was Rubisol or whatever then 3 benzine rinses, so, yeah. Spotless. The 3 benzine rinses help a ton.

 

If you want to make a machine go for it. But count your time, you might see that an old Elma isn't that expensive.

 

I have a machine that distilles alcohol for the rinse, it's from the late 60s. I'm very much looking into reproducing this machine on a basic level, but it's off the map from regular machines. Either go glass jar naphtha brush (and sawdust), or buy commercial solutions and a basic machine, or full 13k Greiner modern machine, which gives similar results, or, make a machine that will do the bare minimum + the time spent making it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, nickelsilver said:

The reversing is a real thing. It doscombobulates the parts. With real pro solutions ultasonic is a sideline subject in a machine that spins in both directions. Manufacturers want ultrasonic so if pro you're humped there. But the old Elma manual machines worked great, didn't even reverse. But it was Rubisol or whatever then 3 benzine rinses, so, yeah. Spotless. The 3 benzine rinses help a ton.

 

If you want to make a machine go for it. But count your time, you might see that an old Elma isn't that expensive.

 

I have a machine that distilles alcohol for the rinse, it's from the late 60s. I'm very much looking into reproducing this machine on a basic level, but it's off the map from regular machines. Either go glass jar naphtha brush (and sawdust), or buy commercial solutions and a basic machine, or full 13k Greiner modern machine, which gives similar results, or, make a machine that will do the bare minimum + the time spent making it.

Good thoughts.  I have more money than I will ever be able to spend before I die, but even when it makes no economic sense, I make things that I can buy.  I am an engineer...can't help it.

An Engineer

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

With regards to making the basket I had a similar idea as HectorLooi posted above with his photos (link to video is faulty) in the sense to use something that is commercially available.

For a basket I found this on Cousins and it had a snug fit into a glass jar. Probably too snug as I note the real machines have a stainless steel mesh around the container walls to act as a wave/current breaker. Off-cuts of stainless steel mesh can be sourced fairly cheaply. Pots like this can be sealed off really well.419111418_IMG_20210214_0944331.thumb.jpg.f2ef6eeaaa6b4a78d8b9cae567e8530c.jpg1802805749_IMG_20210214_0944531.thumb.jpg.7b5ff2c5bafb0f0f7e6536cb21e00086.jpg

I suspect the basket would need a lid to avoid the parts becoming unintentionally airborne but if that lid is made of plywood for example it could serve as a float in an ultrasonic bath?

I have not got a drill press but a cordless drill which has a reverse could work or a small electric motor powered by a 9v battery? The amount of torque required is minimal.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
On 2/13/2021 at 10:35 AM, Extractor said:

Has anyone tried to build a watch cleaning machine from scratch? Looking at the ones that show up on the bay I am surprised at the prices they fetch here in the UK for what is essentially a fairly simple bit of kit that often needs a lot of work to get them up and running safely.

Although my horological skills are so far not much to write home about I think I should be able to build something that would work but would like to avoid having to re-invent the wheel.

I would be really grateful if you could share your creations.

Many thanks.

I too am looking to try and build my own machine.  But I don't know where to start. This gentleman had the right idea.

image.thumb.png.d4992709d500a74418dfd4cb323557e2.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • in general this shouldn't be any change. but in general questions like this it be nice to know the specifics of the watch in other words how was it performing before it was cased up and what is it doing now.
    • just as a reminder this watch is a Swatch group product. This will bring up a problem like spare parts and technical information. that I found some links to some information on when I talk about your watch and some of the technical and basically your watch is equivalent to 2834-2 for which I'm attaching the technical sheets. But equivalent does not mean exactly the same you want to do a search on the group for C07 as we discussed this watch before including the technical differences how it's supposed to be regulated and basically because it's watch group there is no parts availability. https://calibercorner.com/eta-caliber-c07-xxx/   https://www.chrono24.com/magazine/eta-movements-from-the-2824-2-to-the-powermatic-80-p_80840/ https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/h-10-movement-details.4636991/ eta CT_2834-2_FDE_481857_15.pdf
    • people be honest.... Swatch is evil for the watchmakers and repairers, BUT not everything in watches from Switzerland is from the Swatch-Group. As far as i know, Selitta got sacked by Swatch as a Movement-Assembler for them and they started to produce Movements in their own Name with slight Modifications. As far as i know, they sell Parts to the Market for their Movements. In most cases, if a ETA-Movement fails, it is a valid Option to replace it with a Selitta Movement, which i consider the Solution for this Mess with the Swatch-Group...... I have no Connection to anybody at Selitta, but being a Swiss-Guy, i still like to have Swiss-Made Watches, but not from the Swatch-Group.   ok ? regards, Ernst
    • Just one more greedy act by Swatch. They started a number of years ago here in the US..cutting off supplies to watchmakers that could build complications that many Swatch houses couldn't even touch. Old school masters who had gone through some of the most prestigious houses in the world. Otto Frei has some statements on their page about it. I tell all my customers to avoid new Swiss watches like the plague,..unless they just want an older one in their collection that still has some parts out on the market, or they have really deep pockets and don't mind waiting months and paying through the nose to get it back. Plenty of others to choose from..IE Seiko,..or other non-swiss brands Even a number of Chinese brands are catching up with the Swiss,..and I think that in time, their actions will be their downfall
    • Yes. If that's not what you are experiencing...start looking for something rubbing. A 1st guess is that one of the hands is rubbing against the hole in the center of the dial. Especially if you now have lower amplitude in face up/ face down positions.
×
×
  • Create New...