Jump to content

Beginner looking for some friendly advice.

Sutcliffe
 Share

Recommended Posts

Sutcliffe New Member

Sutcliffe

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi, this is the first place I found when looking for advice so I hope someone could advise me. 

Im completely new to touching watches but I’ve always wondered how they work. 
I’ve bought a cheap movement, an ETA replica to take apart and rebuild. 

Im thinking I’ll need some screwdrivers, tweezers, movement holder and a loop?

My goal is just to have a go first and see if I enjoy it enough before buying more tools. 

Do I buy cheap tools for now and get better quality tools later if I enjoy it like I think I will? or will the cheap tools be a pain and take some of the fun out of it? 

With quality tools being relatively expensive I’m unsure what to buy. 
 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Edited by Sutcliffe
Sutcliffe New Member

Sutcliffe

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
52 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Hello and welcome to the forum, the best path to take is to get some medium priced tools , look at Cousins UK . They are a material house and are open to all. There medium priced screwdrivers are middle of the road and wil if looked fore serve you well into the foture I have added a little reading for you to help. 

TZIllustratedGlossary.pdf 4.2 MB · 1 download Watch_tools_tipps.pdf 33.12 kB · 1 download

Thanks for your reply it’s greatly appreciated! I’ll take a look at cousins and get a list put together. I had a feeling that the cheap kits online would be a waste of my time.

Would you say my short list of tools is adequate for working on a movement only? Also, I’m unsure of the tool sizing as there are loads of options available.

Im just practicing at this point so there’s no case/dial, I’m interested in the movement first.  
 

Also thank you for the reading material 😄 

Edited by Sutcliffe
RichardHarris123 Distinguished Member

RichardHarris123

Posted
Posted

I agree with the screwdrivers, you can buy bergeon replacement blades pretty cheaply, I wouldn't scrimp on tweezers though, good tweezers make a huge difference.  Dumont are recommend, No 5 for general work. 

  • Like 1
Sutcliffe New Member

Sutcliffe

Posted
  • Author
Posted
25 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I agree with the screwdrivers, you can buy bergeon replacement blades pretty cheaply, I wouldn't scrimp on tweezers though, good tweezers make a huge difference.  Dumont are recommend, No 5 for general work. 

Thanks RichardHarris 🙏 

So a half decent, mid range screwdriver set, I can then replace the blades with Bergeon blades if need be. What are the most common sizes to start off with? 
 

And a set of Dumont No5 tweezers to start me off. Assuming I’ll get different sizes and tip materials when/if I start to work on better quality movements.

RichardHarris123 Distinguished Member

RichardHarris123

Posted
Posted

These are perfectly acceptable to begin with. 

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/value-screwdriver-sets-rotating-stands

Have a look under, resources, day one tools on here. 

Oil/ grease wise, don't tell anyone but I started of with genetic watch oil/grease.  My reasoning was, can I disassemble, clean, reassemble and the movement still runs. Once I could do that, I bought the correct lubricants. 

  • Like 1
Sutcliffe New Member

Sutcliffe

Posted
  • Author
Posted
35 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

These are perfectly acceptable to begin with. 

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/value-screwdriver-sets-rotating-stands

Have a look under, resources, day one tools on here. 

Oil/ grease wise, don't tell anyone but I started of with genetic watch oil/grease.  My reasoning was, can I disassemble, clean, reassemble and the movement still runs. Once I could do that, I bought the correct lubricants. 

I’m sure these will be good enough for me to take my movement apart a few times. 

Regards to oil, I’ve heard the specific movement I’ve bought often comes dry which obviously can be an issue although they still run.. I may also just use a basic oil as I highly doubt I will be using the movement for anything other than practice. Thats assuming I don’t break half of it on my first try 😂 

  • Like 3

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

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • HenryNorton
      Bracelet Adjustment Puzzle

      By HenryNorton · Posted

      I'm struggling to find information on adjusting a Seiko bracelet. I can pull the locking pins out but the links remain very much together. I don't want to bend anything without being sure I've tried everything. Anyone else adjusted one of these? 
    • JohnR725
      Full plate watch, Suitable tool for adjusting & testing pallet stones?

      By JohnR725 · Posted

      I was thinking it might be nice to see a picture up above or the picture I'm going to paste down below from up above with the escape wheel just setting their. Then it almost looks like the lower jewel is out quite a ways? But maybe it's an optical illusion with the shellac yes the assortment set over time have become something other than what they once were. Like it work with a assortment of Waltham jewels for burnishing in and the last time I tried to find one I discovered there all randomly assorted. Then of course often times the assortments had a tiny quantity of things and the entire container got re-tasked for other things and down the road somebody sells it totally clueless of what they're selling. But in the case of roller jewel's especially after the longer ones of pocket watch size for a single roller then randomly and bottles is definitely good. If you really careful you may be able to place the roller jewel on a flat surface and use calipers although a bench micrometer really is preferred.  
    • Poljot
      Broken watch stem in watch crown

      By Poljot · Posted

      Have you search for a new winding crown using Tissot case id? You can also find a replacement crown by size / type of the crown you currently have: https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/tissot-crowns-by-size They are dirt cheap.
    • JohnR725
      Elgin Grade 315: Runs/stops with dial down/up

      By JohnR725 · Posted

      yes the pocketwatch database shows quite a spread in those serial numbers. With the watches typically made in batches and even in a batch from the beginning to the end there be some variations. Then you have approximately a 10 year difference between the two yes some of the stuff will probably not fit especially escapement components as there usually adjusted at the time of manufacturing and of course manufacturing tolerances were improving with time. https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/36764469 Grade:    315    Model:    3     Class:    114   Estimated Production Year:    1937  Run Quantity:    4,000     Grade/Model Run:    310 of 329 https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/19110954 Grade:    315     Model:    3     Class:    114    Estimated Production Year:    1917   Run Quantity:    2,000     Grade/Model Run:    127 of 329  
    • Poljot
      Argh. Breaking pallet pivots

      By Poljot · Posted

      Hope you let the mainspring completely unwind before removing the bridge? Use not only a screwdriver, but a pair of good tweezers with curved ends. This will allow to move various sides of the bridge straight up while keeping it in parallel with the main plate. If you use a screwdriver only and top pivot is stuck, then a bridge is being lifted under angle and then you hear that "horrible click". Usually it takes only one instance to learn such lesson in life 😅
×
×
  • Create New...