Jump to content

My first attempt! Elgin Sportsman

levic900rr
 Share

Recommended Posts

levic900rr Member

levic900rr

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well Im starting to think Im at my first know when to hold em, know when to fold em  moment. I cant seem to get the shock setting spring out of my donor shock setting and when I think about buying a complete separate balance Im starting to realize I'm in too deep here. The case of the watch is really hammered so this thing isn't ever going to be that nice and I am considering folding on this project. I've learned a lot, both about buying and repairing. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Are there certain watches that just dont make sense to fix?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Razz WRT Addict

Razz

Posted
Posted

Just box it up and store it for a few weeks. Move on to another project watch. As you gain skills and experience, go back to this one with a fresh set of eyes and see if you can make progress. No rush if it is for your personal collection or to keep as a practice watch! Your journey is just beginning...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
levic900rr Member

levic900rr

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 3/8/2024 at 11:01 AM, Razz said:

Just box it up and store it for a few weeks. Move on to another project watch. As you gain skills and experience, go back to this one with a fresh set of eyes and see if you can make progress. No rush if it is for your personal collection or to keep as a practice watch! Your journey is just beginning...

Love this

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mbwatch WRT Addict

mbwatch

Posted
Posted
On 3/8/2024 at 10:01 AM, Razz said:

Just box it up and store it for a few weeks.

The longer it sits aside, I promise you the better you'll feel about giving in once again to the sunk cost fallacy and laying out the cash for the next replacement part or donor. I have a cursed Waltham wristwatch project like this where everything has gone wrong. Every few months I buy the next expensive part so that a new issue can crop up after that or it will turn out to be the wrong part. Eventually the watch will work and I might recoup a third of what I spent on parts when I sell it.

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

    • Waggy
      B-Dip residue?

      By Waggy · Posted

      Forgot to mention that only demagnetize a balance when its in the movement, otherwise the magnetic field will snatch the coils and damage them
    • HectorLooi
      B-Dip residue?

      By HectorLooi · Posted

      Sometimes a sticky hairspring might unravel after using a demagnetizer. But if you push the coils until they touch, they will stick together again. I find that brushing the coils gently while submerged in naptha the most effective way to cure a sticky hairspring. Sometimes it requires 2 or 3 washes to cure it. I often wondered what causes a hairspring to become sticky. The 9010 in the jewels are unlikely to drip onto the hairspring. The other possibility is the 9415 on the pallets. But then that's on the other side, below the balance. Can it "splash" onto the hairspring?  Looking at the stickiness and tenacity, I'm leaning towards 9415.
    • Waggy
      B-Dip residue?

      By Waggy · Posted

      I was about to ask the same question, it sounds a lot like magnetism which is a quick fix (assuming you have access to the correct tool) and ideally something you should do anyway.
    • mbwatch
      Picked up on a whim: Arnex 17 jewel pocket watch with Unitas 6498 movement

      By mbwatch · Posted

      Nice! I have lately been buying up a handful of Arnex pieces on eBay because it is often obvious even without photos that they house a fine Unitas 6498. And many of the 1970s cases and "old timey themed" dials are irredeemably ugly so they are a cheap way to pickup great movements to power custom wristwatch projects. All of the ones I've bought were in like new condition, barely used assuming they were bought as graduation or retirement gifts in the 70s or 80s.
    • ManSkirtBrew
      Picked up on a whim: Arnex 17 jewel pocket watch with Unitas 6498 movement

      By ManSkirtBrew · Posted

      Walked by my local jeweler today and asked if I could dig around in his old watch case, and picked this guy up (along with a cool vintage compass and a Seiko kinetic5M62). My girlfriend's son asked if he could borrow one of my pocket watches for prom, so I thought if I can get this guy running it'd be a nice prom gift. Non-running. Felt like the balance was overbanked, but it turns out the train was jammed solid. Looks like it was just dried lubricant gluing the 3rd wheel in place, because it's clean as a whistle otherwise. Parts are in the ultrasonic right now.  
×
×
  • Create New...