Stem removal after fitting hands

[PeterS]

How do you safely remove the stem after fitting hands?
I’m talking about the push type setting lever you need to push to release the stem.
Some dials can be intricate, glossy finish, lume dots etc. and placing it in the movement holder can be quite risky and cause damage.

[oldhippy]

You have answered your own question. You just push the setting lever nipple in or if its the screw in type unscrew it a little. You should always remove any hands and the dial before putting it in your movement holder. 

[PeterS]

Yes I understand that.
What I’m asking is, after the hands have been fitted, it’s been checked that the hands do not touch etc. then I need to remove the stem to fit the movement in the case.
I have the push type, I need to turn it upside down and push the setting lever post and pull the stem out.
But of course the dial and hands are in place and I have a glossy dial with lume dots and I do not want to cause any damage while it’s upside down pushing on the post of the setting lever.

[Neverenoughwatches]

50 minutes ago, PeterS said:

How do you safely remove the stem after fitting hands?
I’m talking about the push type setting lever you need to push to release the stem.
Some dials can be intricate, glossy finish, lume dots etc. and placing it in the movement holder can be quite risky and cause damage.

 

I think what peter means oh is once he has fitted the hands and  checked for  alignment if them and that they dont foul, how does he then hold the movement to remove the stem in order to case up. The dial cannot be laid on a cushion or in a movement holder as the hands will get damaged. This can be quite tricky for a beginner, what i do is  to stand the movement on edge on a rubber pad so it doesn't slip. Hold the top edge with one finger then my dominant hand uses 3 fingers to press the stem release and flick out the stem.

1 minute ago, PeterS said:

Yes I understand that.
What I’m asking is, after the hands have been fitted, it’s been checked that the hands do not touch etc. then I need to remove the stem to fit the movement in the case.
I have the push type, I need to turn it upside down and push the setting lever post and pull the stem out.
But of course the dial and hands are in place and I have a glossy dial with lume dots and I do not want to cause any damage while it’s upside down pushing on the post of the setting lever.

See below peter, leave off the second hand as this is the longest and gets caught the most, then fit it once the stem is out.

5 minutes ago, PeterS said:

Yes I understand that.
What I’m asking is, after the hands have been fitted, it’s been checked that the hands do not touch etc. then I need to remove the stem to fit the movement in the case.
I have the push type, I need to turn it upside down and push the setting lever post and pull the stem out.
But of course the dial and hands are in place and I have a glossy dial with lume dots and I do not want to cause any damage while it’s upside down pushing on the post of the setting lever.

Alternatively place the movement in one of the cup style holders, i imagine this is what they are designed for. They only touch the very edge of the dial.

9 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

 

I think what peter means oh is once he has fitted the hands and  checked for  alignment if them and that they dont foul, how does he then hold the movement to remove the stem in order to case up. The dial cannot be laid on a cushion or in a movement holder as the hands will get damaged. This can be quite tricky for a beginner, what i do is  to stand the movement on edge on a rubber pad so it doesn't slip. Hold the top edge with one finger then my dominant hand uses 3 fingers to press the stem release and flick out the stem.

See below peter, leave off the second hand as this is the longest and gets caught the most, then fit it once the stem is out.

Alternatively place the movement in one of the cup style holders, i imagine this is what they are designed for. They only touch the very edge of the dial.

 

[PeterS]

Yes, the seconds hand is the longest and goes almost to the edge of the dial.
I can’t quite picture it how you do it on the rubber pad

[Neverenoughwatches]

36 minutes ago, PeterS said:

Yes, the seconds hand is the longest and goes almost to the edge of the dial.
I can’t quite picture it how you do it on the rubber pad

So leave off the seconds. Stand the movement on its edge, its the dial edge that rests on the pad ( either rubber or cork , something that wont slip ). Use a finger of your left hand to hold the movement upright,  right hand presses the release and flicks out the stem. I do it this way so i can see what I'm under a microscope. But you could hold the movement between two fingers of your left hand, its the right that has to manipulate the stem out by pushing the release and flicking out the stem with  right ring finger nail. Sounds more complicated than it actually is. I guess you could fix a push pin to something solid, then all you need to do is push the release against the pin, leaving your right hand completely free to pull the stem out.

[PeterS]

I see what you mean. I must admit I’m not entirely comfortable with that but I can’t see a better method than what you suggest.
I’d like to see something like this mirror with a short spike:
https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/mirror-for-observing-movements
Place it on, push the spike on the post with one hand and release the stem with the other hand.
Minor problem, it doesn’t exist.

[Malocchio]

That can be tricky. Sometimes I hold the movement from the edges in left hand and with right hand I push the release with tweezers and simultaneously pull the stem out with right hand pinky or something. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 minutes ago, Malocchio said:

That can be tricky. Sometimes I hold the movement from the edges in left hand and with right hand I push the release with tweezers and simultaneously pull the stem out with right hand pinky or something. 

That's the right technique Mal

41 minutes ago, PeterS said:

I see what you mean. I must admit I’m not entirely comfortable with that but I can’t see a better method than what you suggest.
I’d like to see something like this mirror with a short spike:
https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/mirror-for-observing-movements
Place it on, push the spike on the post with one hand and release the stem with the other hand.
Minor problem, it doesn’t exist.

If you are ok with a loupe ( which I'm not ) then pick up the dial in your left hand and make a tripod holder out of 3 fingers and then exactly how Mal and me described with your right hand, press and flick out the stem at the same time. You need three fingers to do this, i use my ring ring finger , sounds like mal uses his little finger, just whatever you feel comfortable with. The key point and dangerous side to this is the tweezers or driver slipping off the release screw. Stablise your left arm by resting your elbow on your bench, so that you can hold the movement horizontally flat, use a x5 loupe to view  and good light so you can see well and have a good tight fitting screwdriver to push the release down. Or as suggested a pusher mounted solid upside-down somewhere then all you need to do is push your movement up to it. I'll rig something up in a bit to show you what i mean.

48 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

That's the right technique Mal

If you are ok with a loupe ( which I'm not ) then pick up the dial in your left hand and make a tripod holder out of 3 fingers and then exactly how Mal and me described with your right hand, press and flick out the stem at the same time. You need three fingers to do this, i use my ring ring finger , sounds like mal uses his little finger, just whatever you feel comfortable with. The key point and dangerous side to this is the tweezers or driver slipping off the release screw. Stablise your left arm by resting your elbow on your bench, so that you can hold the movement horizontally flat, use a x5 loupe to view  and good light so you can see well and have a good tight fitting screwdriver to push the release down. Or as suggested a pusher mounted solid upside-down somewhere then all you need to do is push your movement up to it. I'll rig something up in a bit to show you what i mean.

Something like this, but tbh its better to just learn to do with your fingers.

[oldhippy]

I used to just remove the stem pop the movement in its case then put the stem back in check everything then back on the timer. 

[mikepilk]

I use a normal movement holder (Bergeon 4040). I've never had any problems or marked the dial.

The top lip is about 1mm, so as long as you use that, there should be no problem.  I don't think I've seen a second hand come that close to the edge of a dial.

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 hours ago, mikepilk said:

I use a normal movement holder (Bergeon 4040). I've never had any problems or marked the dial.

The top lip is about 1mm, so as long as you use that, there should be no problem.  I don't think I've seen a second hand come that close to the edge of a dial.

 

I don't have a bergeon holder but thats a really narrow lip.

2 hours ago, oldhippy said:

I used to just remove the stem pop the movement in its case then put the stem back in check everything then back on the timer. 

Its the holding and removing the stem at the same time OH.  One hand to hold the movement,  one to press the release and one to pull out the stem. The op just needs a holder that wont damage the dial or catch the hands.

[mikepilk]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I don't have a bergeon holder but thats a really narrow lip.

It's one of those tools like screwdrivers and tweezers, where it's worth spending more for the quality. And it gets used all the time. At about £20, the 4040 is not expensive for Bergeon. 

When putting a watch in dial down, you have to be careful not to catch a sweep second hand, but once secured, life is easy - two hands available to work on the stem.

[PeterS]

Thank you guys, I managed.
I placed the movement in the plastic Bergeon holder carefully avoiding the lume dots.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

It's one of those tools like screwdrivers and tweezers, where it's worth spending more for the quality. And it gets used all the time. At about £20, the 4040 is not expensive for Bergeon. 

When putting a watch in dial down, you have to be careful not to catch a sweep second hand, but once secured, life is easy - two hands available to work on the stem.

Thanks mike, i do have a few holders but not one with a narrow lip like the 4040. The seconds hand could be put on after the stem has been pulled, but it is still better to track it with the minute hand as its sweeping.

[xyzzy]

If I'm replacing the crystal, I like to leave it off until after setting the hands so I can use the case as a holder.