Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi,

I wanted to get into horology as a hobby now I have more time and interested in repairing, learning more about the history and engineering and practically what extent I can get to myself. I'm a total noob atm so looking forwards to developing a basic level of skill and understanding.

So thanks in advance for your help!

Tim

Posted

Hi Tim  If you are truly interested you could do no better than enrol in Marks  Online courses (information on this site). Mark will take you through from the basics to being competent in repair and handling.  "Watchfix.com" will also take you to Marks courses.   I have attached two documents for you to peruse to give you an idea what its all about.  Hope you find it helpful.     In the mean time find an old pocket watch and get some good screwdrivers, tweezers and a loupe  and have a go,  best get a working one so you know it was ok to start with and should work afterwards.  good luck.   if you need further information just post the questions we are all here to help you suceed.           Cheers

1612608791_ToolsfortheHobbyist (2) (1).pdf TZIllustratedGlossary.pdf

  • Like 2
Posted

Welcome to the forum Tim! I will often point folks to this web page which offers a really good look at a mechanical watch using some very good animations. If you spend time looking at that you'll learn a LOT. Also, I agree with @watchweasolabout Mark's online courses, they're well done and his level 2 and 3 teach you a lot. Level 1 is also good if you haven't spent the last three months watching every YouTube watch repair guy fix watches - it is really basic.

  • Like 1
Posted

Hi @watchweasol and @grsnovi

Thank you very much for your comments and advice. I've downloaded the info and looked at the websites. The animations are awesome and mkes it a lot easier to understand whats going on. I'll defo get a course just need to pick the right time.

I did have one question regarding the pocket watch - a new mechanical movement from China I assume would still presumably be good for training on?

 

Thanks Tim

Posted

Hi Tim  I believe thats what Mark suggests on  his courses, they are cheap the down side is spare parts and technical information but the course should provide you with the technical detail s

Posted
3 hours ago, tututim said:

I did have one question regarding the pocket watch - a new mechanical movement from China I assume would still presumably be good for training on

The Seagull TS36 movement is a good movement to learn on. It's inexpensive and easily available. They ship from the factory without having been lubricated and the hairspring attaches to the balance stud with glue.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

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

    • Yes, the specific old tools do exist, but may be having one is not needed as they are not cheap, and also You will be able to do without it well enough. My advice will be to use regular depthing tool and adjust it for the exact distance between pallet fork and escape wheel bearings from the watch. Then remove the shellac from the pallet that now doesn't pass the ew teeth and move this pallet in. Then put the pallet fork and ew on the depthing tool and check how they lock. They should not lock when the pallet is in, but You will little by little move the pallet out and locking will appear. Then move just an idea out for reliable work and apply shellac, then check if things are still the same. You have to observe where the teeth fall on the pallets - it must be just a little below the edge between impulse and rest planes. Then You must check how everything behaves in the movement This Potence tool is so ingenious, but actually, the traditional way to do the things is much more simple. Arrange the parts not on the pillar plate, but on the cover plate. Only the central wheel will remain on the pillar plate, secured by the cannon pinion.
    • There is a tool that was made for setting up and adjusting escapements of full plate watches.  There were two styles, the picture below shows both of them.  The lower tool held a movement plate and the vertical pointed rods were adjusted to hold the unsupported pivots of the lever and escape wheel.  There was also a version of this tool that had 3 adjustable safety centres so that the balance pivot could be supported by the tool :  The other version I’m aware of is the Boynton’s Escapement Matching and Examining Tool came as a set of two or three clamps that gripped the watch plate and held the safety centres for the pivots : These do turn up on eBay from time to time.  For some escapement work, you can set up the parts in a regular depthing tool, with the centres set according to the distance between the corresponding pivot holes on the movement.  I hope this helps, Mark
    • Once you are aware of the problem, you can adjust as necessary. I have a couple of the Omega 10xx, and they are not my favourites. They seem a bit flimsy and not as solid as previous generation Omega. But I think that's true of a lot of movements from the 70-80s. For me, the 50-60s is the peak in watch movements, where the design criteria was quality, not saving the last penny.
    • Thanks for this post MikePilk, I just came across a similar problem with an Omega 1022.  The problem I had was the seconds pinion spring was bent out of shape and did not even engage with the wheel properly, so the seconds hand was not moving at all. (no power loss though :) I removed the automatic module so I could access the spring and work on it. Once I bent it back close to the right shape, I experienced the same problem you reported about power loss.  Many tweaks later, and the seconds hand is moving properly again, with amplitude back to good numbers again. Cheers
×
×
  • Create New...