Soldering Tube Chrono Hand

[PeterGe]

Hi!

 

After restoring the hour & minute hands of the valjoux 22, I have to tackle the next problem.

The tube came of the chrono hand.

 

In a first attempt I tried epoxy but this didn't seems to hold strong enough.

So soldering seems the best next action.

 

Which solder would be recommendable?

Anyone any experience of soldering on a tube?

 

 

[Geo]

This could be more than tricky Peter, capillary action will probably track solder up inside the tube. Ideally it should be riveted in place, but you would need a perfectly fitting collet to hold the tube while riveting the hand in place with the correct set of punches.

[rogart63]

If it's brass you could use any low temperature solder. The same that CB tried for soldering dial feets  .But if it''s stainless steel you may have a problem .Maybe silver soldering? Agree with Geo .

Edited November 3, 2015 by rogart63

[Geo]

There is far too much heat involved in silver soldering for a delicate job like this.

If you had access to a watchmakers lathe, you could hold the tube in a collet in the headstock, and use a pointed tailstock runner to gently swage the end of the tube after the hand has been positioned on it.

[Gingerr6]

  On 11/3/2015 at 3:48 PM, Geo said:

There is far too much heat involved in silver soldering for a delicate job like this.

If you had access to a watchmakers lathe, you could hold the tube in a collet in the headstock, and use a pointed tailstock runner to gently swage the end of the tube after the hand has been positioned on it.

Love this post. Makes absolutely no scene to me :) long way to go.

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[clockboy]

  On 11/3/2015 at 2:51 PM, PeterGe said:

Hi!

 

After restoring the hour & minute hands of the valjoux 22, I have to tackle the next problem.

The tube came of the chrono hand.

 

In a first attempt I tried epoxy but this didn't seems to hold strong enough.

So soldering seems the best next action.

 

Which solder would be recommendable?

Anyone any experience of soldering on a tube?

Solder paste is the easiest to use as it needs very little heat. However it is not the strongest.  

[StuartBaker104]

Did you consider buying a replacement hand?

Try an ebay search for "valjoux 22 aiguille", and make sure you search for EU or worldwide. There is a French seller who has a selection...

It's always worth trying French and German names when googling or ebaying for parts...

S

[PeterGe]

wow, a lot of things to think about!

I remember seeing a tube being soldered on, but I don't know where.

 

I might also take StuartBaker his suggestion in account & look for a new hand.

[PeterGe]

ah, found back where I saw it before.

 

http://watchguy.co.uk/repair-and-service-universal-geneve-tri-compax-calibre-481/

 

There you can see that a old tube is soldered on a new hand.

I did ask him ho he does it, see his response on the comments on the link!

[PeterGe]

Guess what I tried to do today

Yes indeed, trying to solder on the tube.

Well, it worked, more or less.

The tube is fixed on the hand now but not 100% straight. But I might get away with it. If not I just start over.

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