Adding dial feet

[Davis]

Adding dial feet to a dial to align with a Seiko NH 34 movement. I have the coordinates of the feet. Anyone have an accurate way to transfer location of 3 and 9 o’clock to the back of the dial so I can scribe a reference line on the Bach side . I have a Sherline mill with x and y control but I need a starting point

Anyother method of locating feet would be appreciated. 

Thanks for your comments, Dave

[AndyGSi]

Can you not just use the dial spacer?

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, Davis said:

Adding dial feet to a dial to align with a Seiko NH 34 movement. I have the coordinates of the feet. Anyone have an accurate way to transfer location of 3 and 9 o’clock to the back of the dial so I can scribe a reference line on the Bach side . I have a Sherline mill with x and y control but I need a starting point

Anyother method of locating feet would be appreciated. 

Thanks for your comments, Dave

I dont know how the dial feet are held to a NH34 and without looking but could you temp attach the dial with sticky and mark through the feet mounting holes on  the movement ?

[tomh207]

I agree with @Neverenoughwatches, any other solution I come up with would cost more than a dial or hundred.

 

Tom

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 reference points on a movement can locate the position of a dial foot hole in the plate if this the fixing method , unfortunately the dial only has one, the hand hole.

[AndyGSi]

11 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I dont know how the dial feet are held to a NH34 and without looking but could you temp attach the dial with sticky and mark through the feet mounting holes on  the movement ?

The dial feet just lije up with the spacer ring.

Edited August 31, 2024 by AndyGSi

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 minutes ago, tomh207 said:

I agree with @Neverenoughwatches, any other solution I come up with would cost more than a dial or hundred.

 

Tom

Even when I have the original position of where an old foot was on a dial , i haven't managed as yet to fit them exact enough not to have to trim them a little.

3 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

The dial feet just lije up with the spacer ring.

That looks relatively easy to do.

[Davis]

Feet are held in with slight friction fit in plastic ring around movement.  I have dial stickers so I’ ll locate the dial and then scribe back thru dial foot hole. 

Thanks for advice,  Dave

[AndyGSi]

24 minutes ago, Davis said:

Feet are held in with slight friction fit in plastic ring around movement.  I have dial stickers so I’ ll locate the dial and then scribe back thru dial foot hole. 

Thanks for advice,  Dave

Or you could just position the spacer with rodico to hold it in place and then mark through.

I've seen people before now just glue the spacer to the dial and forget about the feet.

[Nucejoe]

 Remove all remains of broken feet from dial ,  to a flat surface.

Fit the dial feet in dial foot holes of mainplate.

Put half a drop of  Epoxy 5 glue on back side of the dial plate, where the feet is to be located.

Install  the dial ring on mainplate.

Put the dial plate on top of feet, roughly positioned to show hours right.

Put the whole thing in the watch case, adjust hour indicators to exact position. 

Let the glue cure.

You now have exactly positioned dial indicators and the glue has cured. 

You need to uninstall the dial with feet glued on.

Alternatively push on free end of each dial feet, You are trying to remove the dial plate , off the main plate, with both feet attached to dial plate at exact position, but feet are loosely attached. 

Solder or electric  weld the feet to the dial. 

The problem it will develope in time is, discolouration of dial paint due to heat. 

Heat is  why I don't like welding, prefer glue on brass feet.  

Heres a link to image of brass dial feet.

 

https://watchparts24.de/2-brass-dial-feet-for-attaching-wristwatch-dialsQ

Forgot to mention to fit winding stem in the mainplate, only then you can fine adjust hour markers.

Good luck.

 

Edited September 1, 2024 by Nucejoe
spelling

[mikepilk]

Cousins sell selection of dial feet for just £5.95. The heads are thin (0.1mm) so don't take up much space.

[Nucejoe]

20 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

Cousins sell selection of dial feet for just £5.95. The heads are thin (0.1mm) so don't take up much space.

 On these type, the glue can go streight on top of the pins, you then put the dial on top , case the movement, stem in , and fine adjust the hour markers, holds strong enough so no need to solder. ( saves dail paint).

 

 

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, Nucejoe said:

 On these type, the glue can go streight on top of the pins, you then put the dial on top , case the movement, stem in , and fine adjust the hour markers, holds strong enough so no need to solder. ( saves dail paint).

 

 

 

I think leaving the crystal or bezel off will help to line up the dial when the movement is cased, there is a good chance the dial will slip around while casing up is carried out. 

There is also the thickness of the adhesive to consider, this could easily be thicker than dial feet base depending what is used. 

[Nucejoe]

9 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I think leaving the crystal or bezel off will help to line up the dial when the movement is cased, there is a good chance the dial will slip around while casing up is carried out. 

There is also the thickness of the adhesive to consider, this could easily be thicker than dial feet base depending what is used. 

Right you are ,      on both points you made.

 

About heat, 

Heat ruins paint, the discolouring  might not instantly  start , appear, but will in the long run.

Dispite being partially color blind, I find the glitter of vintage dials , one of the most attractive of arts mankind has created.

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2024 by Nucejoe
Grammer