Jump to content

Tips for oiling capped jewels

fellerts
 Share

Recommended Posts

fellerts Watch Enthusiast

fellerts

Posted
Posted

Hi guys,

I'm well on my way to turning my Elgin 539 into a scrap movement 😄 I'm reaching out to ask for tips on oiling the balance end stones. I watched Marshall do it in this video but when trying this method out for myself, I can't fathom how this is possible without displacing the drop of oil.

I found the TM 9-1575 war department technical manual (what an awesome manual) which suggests the following:

Quote

To place oil in a capped jewel, a small drop should be placed on the oiler and fed into the space between the jewel and the end stone with a fine pointed wire or broach smaller than the jewel hole.

image.png.bfa3a33d7d72a17ec2bf68e8674a7302.png

Are they suggesting to guide an oiler through the upper jewel hole onto the end stone? For reference, here's the jewel with my smallest oiler - the spade tip thing is almost twice the diameter of the jewel hole. Has anyone tried this method with success?

image.thumb.png.88b66dce281b01567c95b189c7f4c072.png

cheers,

Fredrik

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Geotex Watch Enthusiast

Geotex

Posted
Posted

No, a standard oiler won't generally fit, but it brings the oil drop to the hole. What actually goes through is the fine wire or broach, which does need to fit. I have a very fine strand taken from a wire brush that I keep in a cheap pin vise to use when oil needs to be fed/wicked/teased into the cap cavity. Some people use a very fine needle in the same way.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
GuyMontag Super WRT Addict

GuyMontag

Posted
Posted (edited)

Mark has a good video showing his process (similar to the video linked in the original post but with clearer visuals) as well as the automatic oiler option:
 

 

Esslinger sells a tool ($9) for feeding the oil through to the cap jewel if you want to go that route:
 

https://www.esslinger.com/watch-oil-inserters-tool-balance-jewel-oiler/

Edited by GuyMontag
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
fellerts Watch Enthusiast

fellerts

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 hours ago, GuyMontag said:

Mark has a good video showing his process (similar to the video linked in the original post but with clearer visuals) as well as the automatic oiler option

I attempted his method of oiling the lower end stone and it worked like a charm, thanks for the link!

2 hours ago, canthus said:

This available from Cousins UK.

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/oilers-3-in-1-incabloc-specialist?code=O49487

Wire is very thin so needs care when using.

For the top jewels, I attempted the method suggested in the technical manual. I stripped a broken USB cable and snipped off one of the copper strands (technicall not MILSPEC I guess). Then, with a drop of oil placed over the jewel hole, I inserted the copper wire into the hole and lo, the oil wicked through onto the end stone like magic. I'm sure this is easier with proper tools, but it was fun to see how well it worked.

I'll give Mark's method for the top jewel a shot as well.

Thanks for the help guys!

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.
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.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • HorologyHead
      Can someone please explain watchmaker service mark interpretation?

      By HorologyHead · Posted

      H Watch Repairers—is there is a ‘standard format’ for the service marks or codes lightly engraved inside cases of pocket watches or wristwatches?   Sometimes I can see there might be a reference to year/ month but other times am confused. I’ve included an image of the rear of a 1951 Hamilton 992B Railroad pocket watch as an example. Thank you for all information you can give, Mike
    • HorologyHead
      Intro

      By HorologyHead · Posted

      Hi to Blackminou29–am a collector/ caretaker—good luck to you following your repair course—with hindsight I wish I’d pursued a career in both watchmaker/ jeweler fields—good luck with whatever career passion you engage.   Thank you Watchweasol for posting the amazing TZIllustratedGlossary! Best wishes, Mike
    • JohnR725
      Seiko 6601 Tech Sheet?

      By JohnR725 · Posted

      yes I noticed the new site and I miss the old site. It's the unfortunate problem of the Internet here today gone tomorrow sometimes some of the stuff gets backed up and sometimes well it does not then the problem with the early Seiko's were there were not necessarily designed for distribution across the planet and as such there is no customer support for them. So trying to find early stuff like technical information or sometimes even parts list for older Seiko is is problematic. But I did find you a you tube video. A quick look he seems to take a heck of a lot of time to actually get to the service single I did not watch all that but it does look like he did disassemble or started to say there's a tiny bit here  
    • HorologyHead
      An intro…

      By HorologyHead · Posted

      RichardHarris123: Hello and welcome from Leeds, England.  I have family all over Australia, went as £10 poms Thanks Richard. Hope you’re able to visit your family here and that they’ve all done well 🙂 My relatives arrived from England in the 1790s transported on the ‘Second & Third Fleets’—a story of timber sailing ships, of convicts and doing well in this huge Country of Australia. When I visited the UK in the 1980s, I was too young to comprehend the depth and breadth of its history…  Best wishes, Mike William Chapman, my 4th great Grandad’s charges, at age 23 read at the Old Bailey; sentenced to 7 years of transportation to Sydney.
    • Endeavor
      New balance staff not riveting to balance

      By Endeavor · Posted

      The whole process and the progress are closely observed, it's hand-driven and very controlled. I can't see the "danger", unless you are watching the TV while doing it. As you could have read, and in this quote "wheel" is the balance-wheel.
×
×
  • Create New...