Jump to content

Oil jumping from Oiler to movement

Wallace

By Wallace
in Watch Repairs Help & Advice

 Share

Recommended Posts

Wallace Member

Wallace

Posted
Posted

Hi,

I have searched around and I can’t find an answer but today while I was oiling an old Bulova movement the oil kept jumping off my Oiler and went to the movement or parts. It was almost raining down onto it like it was attracted by static and I’ve never had this issue, although I am new. Has anyone had this problem? How do you resolve this problem? I tried demagnetizing my Oiler but that didn’t help and then I thought maybe it was a charge being built up by my mat? Or maybe it’s just because it’s very dry out right now? I was just wondering if anyone else came across this and how to resolve it. Oiling the end stones was definitely interesting today. Lots of repeated cleaning every, and once in a while I would get lucky and it wouldn’t jump onto the movement. It was almost like it was alive! 
 

thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mikepilk Distinguished Member

mikepilk

Posted
Posted

Interesting.  Could be static electricity?  If you do get charged and are holding a very fine wire, all the charge will try and earth through the end of the oiler.  It's like a lightning conductor in reverse!

Is the weather dry, and are you sitting on a synthetic seat ?  If so, every time you slide about you could be charging up.

My seat is nylon, If I slide off and touch the bathroom tap I can feel a slight spark as I earth. Shocking

 

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wallace Member

Wallace

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 3/17/2021 at 3:51 AM, oldhippy said:

You have to have a very steady hand when working on watches. What type of oiler are you using?  

My hands are plenty steady that’s not the issue and I’m using Moebius, but it was D5 and 9010 I noticed the most. It wasn’t me shaking it was literally being attracted to the movement it would come off like a thin line and I have to believe it was static since it’s raining today and I’m not having an issue. It was also small amounts, I’m doing this under a microscope. I’m wondering if there’s anyway to get rid of a static charge on a piece to prevent this. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
watchweasol Distinguished Member

watchweasol

Posted
Posted

Hi It’s quite probable that the clothes we wear contain man made fibres like nylon rayon etc and the atmospheric conditions were intensified leading you to charged to a degree it has affected the oil. Not knowing te composition of the oil I suspect It is synthetic which would likely make it worse. Tho only way of stopping it is use a grounding strap and mat, that way both you and the watch will be at the same potential and hopefully sort the problem.  When I was at work servicing Mainframe computers, as the machine was running tests I walked across to replace a side panel and killed the machine had to replace the whole cabinet. Found out later from the factory it had blown some components on the base board. Static can be deadly in more ways than one. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wallace Member

Wallace

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 3/17/2021 at 5:45 AM, HectorLooi said:

That's really weird. It shouldn't be due to static because your other hand would be touching the movement and would have grounded it to the same potential.

Keep us informed. This should be interesting. 

Maybe cots preventing grounding? I use them on both hands to be cautious.  If this pops up again I will take the cots off my left hand trying to ground the movement, I didn’t think of that. Thanks 

On 3/17/2021 at 5:50 AM, watchweasol said:

As OH says what type of oiler and what brand of oil are you using.

I’m using bergeon oilers 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wallace Member

Wallace

Posted
  • Author
Posted
38 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Hi It’s quite probable that the clothes we wear contain man made fibres like nylon rayon etc and the atmospheric conditions were intensified leading you to charged to a degree it has affected the oil. Not knowing te composition of the oil I suspect It is synthetic which would likely make it worse. Tho only way of stopping it is use a grounding strap and mat, that way both you and the watch will be at the same potential and hopefully sort the problem.  When I was at work servicing Mainframe computers, as the machine was running tests I walked across to replace a side panel and killed the machine had to replace the whole cabinet. Found out later from the factory it had blown some components on the base board. Static can be deadly in more ways than one. 

Im using an anti-static nonslip mat but it’s cheap so I think I may upgrade. 
 

Thank you everyone for your replies I will definitely try several of these suggestions and see if it occurs again. Now that the winter is almost over it hopefully will not be an issue for a while with less dry air conditions. I was wondering if anyone in arid areas had this issue and at least one other person did so I know I’m not crazy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mikepilk Distinguished Member

mikepilk

Posted
Posted (edited)

If its friction from your seat, lightly spray it with water. Earth yourself on a radiator or tap before using the oiler. If you are wearing shoes with rubber soles they prevent you earthing to the ground. You could sit with your feet in a bucket of water ?

Edited by mikepilk
  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Neverenoughwatches
      Part swapper to part maker

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      Thanks Rich, its really not that difficult to make them, simple ones anyway. Cousins didn't have the part though i could find it on ebay at 6.50. I figure i earned about £1.50/ hr . It paid for the diamond files i bought.
    • mikepilk
      How to remove shock settings from Smiths 512 movement

      By mikepilk · Posted

      If you look at this thread, you can see I had exactly the same problems with balance springs with 2 prongs on a Smiths 627. The slots in the chaton were not big enough to get the ends of the spring out. I had to bend them to get them out and back in. Not ideal. I don't fancy having to do it again as they could easily break, and where would you find replacements? I didn't come across the 3 prong type.     
    • mikepilk
      Breguet Exhibition at London Science Museum

      By mikepilk · Posted

      I visited the Breguet Exhibition today. https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/about-us/press-office/rare-timepieces-unveiled-new-display-science-museum The Science Museum now holds the collection of "The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers" - "The collection includes more than 600 watches, 90 clocks, 30 marine chronometers and a number of fine sundials and examples of hand engraving, mapping the history of innovation in watch and clock making in London from 1600 to the present day." It's well worth a visit. They have some amazing pieces by the likes of Harrison, Breguet, Tompion etc . I've visited twice before but decided to go and see the Breguet Exhibition. Maybe I was expecting too much, as on reflection, "More than 20 extraordinary timepieces designed by inventor and watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet " isn't going to take up that much space. In reality, it's just one cabinet. But, Oh those watches, stunning 🤩 , e.g. (No 1297 was made for George III and is valued about £1m)   I tried a couple of pics, but with subdued lighting and taking through glass, they aren't good. I like thin hands on a watch - how about these (I think this is a split second chrono)   And this one, with all it's complications, is only 10mm thick !   What I found very interesting were a few very old machines for making watch parts, like this 17th Century gear cutter. The disc below has concentric rings with holes in, so that is can be set to cut varying teeth numbers.       
    • RobS
      How to remove shock settings from Smiths 512 movement

      By RobS · Posted

      Firstly sorry for poor image quality I only have an iPhone for photos.    Im working on a 512 movement and I’ve had some trouble with the “jewels”. I’ve got the metal one out, but when I tried to put it back the three sides of the spring seem to need pressing all at once to fit it as there are three “holes”. I get two corners in but as I go for the third the first two pop out! Constantly I’ve lost the spring. I’ve done the similar ones on seiko movements without trouble. Assuming I find it/a replacement, what am I missing!   on the other side with the only ruby in the movement is a setting with no “gap”at all. How do I get the spring out, and of course get it back in!    What am I missing!    thanks in advance.    Rob
    • Geotex
      Roland Ranfft RIP

      By Geotex · Posted

      Links like that are the reason I routinely donate to the Internet Archive - they are the last safe house for a tremendous amount of useful info that is otherwise lost.
×
×
  • Create New...