Vintage Seiko lume pip technique

[tIB]

Since I've learned lots here I thought I'd share a tip I picked up elsewhere and put to the test...

For that 6105/6309 bezel lume pip look I've punched a clear plastic bottle of water, sanded it for the frost effect, removed the (smaller) pip from a standard/cheap replacement bezel, drilled it out to 2.5mm and fitted it using a smaller punch - fresh lume to hold into place. 

Pressing into place is a bit awkward but you soon get the hang of it, and the end result is pretty decent I'd say... The worst part probably being the drilling rather than the pip! 

 

 

It started out like this: 

Edited yesterday at 04:52 PM by tIB

[thor447]

Very clever!

[tIB]

25 minutes ago, thor447 said:

Very clever!

Yeah I can't take credit there - I thought the plastic punch thing was a work of genius when I first discovered it!  

[thor447]

I'd love to hear (or see) more detail on the 'punch' and how you make the correct sized plastic circle from the water bottle.

[tIB]

The punch is one of these - 

I used the 2.5mm one and a combination of the 1.5 and 2mm to fit it into the 2.5mm hole. It cuts it slightly over 2.5mm, so it bends in/dishes slightly.

 

In terms of fitting it in it was a bit trial and error, and I found it worked best with something over the end of the punch I used to push it in.

 

Hopefully the lume holds it in place...