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Demagnetizing

Davey57

By Davey57
in Watch Repairs Help & Advice

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Davey57 WRT Addict

Davey57

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I have reassembled my Seiko 4205 and am almost ready to post the pictures of the rebuild in the walkthrough section. It went together fine and was running but needed a little shake to get it going, I noticed that the balance was not looking quite as lively as it should. A close look revealed that the hairspring was clinging onto the balance cock and the coils looked bound up. Now, I will be the first to admit that my oiling skills are not quite there yet, but I knew that I hadn't put so much oil on that this could be the problem. I have taken the balance back out and held it close to my compass and the needle is deflecting so I assume it is magnetized. Actually, I held the rest of the movement near the compass too and it sent the needle spinning like mad, so the whole thing must need demagnetizing. I have noticed that Cousins stock them for £1.95, or you can get the Bergeon one for around £45! Now I am always one for a bargain but are the cheap ones ok, anyone here using one?  Obviously I won't be buying a Bergeon one anyway but I wouldn't mind paying a bit more if it was necessary.

While I was at it I "tested" most of my tools and found they are magnetized, as well as another couple of watches that I own. I am wondering whether it would be good practice to demag watches as a matter of course when servicing them and periodically doing the same with tools I use a lot. What do you think?

 

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Geo Distinguished Member

Geo

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Looks good to me. Thanks Geo.

After another look at the Cousins one, I saw that it was really small, think you'd struggle to get a decent sized watch through it.

If that is a magnetiser/demagnetiser with a hole through it that looks like a set of steps, it is not for demagnetising watches. It can be used to magnetise the likes of screwdrivers to allow them to hold screws, then demagnetise them afterwards. With this type demagnetising is done by rattling the screwdriver in a rotary motion inside the demagnetiser.

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Blacklab Distinguished Member

Blacklab

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I have used a Chinese Bergeon clone (the £45 one) for the last couple of years and it works fine, costs a lot less & is probably built in the same factory as the official Bergeon one.

 

As for the 4205, I fixed up one for the boss last year. After thorough cleaning & demagnetising the hairspring coils continued to stick, so I gave up and put in a new complete balance. It now running fine.

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rogart63 Distinguished Member

rogart63

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I have used a Chinese Bergeon clone (the £45 one) for the last couple of years and it works fine, costs a lot less & is probably built in the same factory as the official Bergeon one.

 

As for the 4205, I fixed up one for the boss last year. After thorough cleaning & demagnetising the hairspring coils continued to stick, so I gave up and put in a new complete balance. It now running fine.

Seiko hairsprings are a pain to get working properly. They are very tight and the springs are very close to each other. That is at least what i have found out? 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Davey57 WRT Addict

Davey57

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My demagnetiser arrived today. Swapped the plug as it comes with a two prong plug, gave it a go and it lasted all of the few seconds that I had the button pressed. The button is now u/s, I took the back off to have a look and the + wire that goes to the button has de-soldered itself. It's obviously burned out, as it smells. It is 110- 220v so was it ok to plug it straight in, or have I had a Frank Spencer moment?

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Geo Distinguished Member

Geo

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I'm wondering if it was what is called a dry joint, that means that the solder hasn't fused with the wire/tab properly. There is a possibility if you solder it properly it will still work. Check the transformer wire insulation and see if it is burnt, and if it is it's a bin job.

When using this type of demagnetiser, the button should not be held down for more than a bout five seconds while drawing the movement away from it to a distance of about two feet.

I have had mine for about five years now and it still works perfectly, I think you have just been unlucky.

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Davey57 WRT Addict

Davey57

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Might have had the button down for longer than 5 seconds but surely it would be ok with that?  The button is destroyed, it has melted a wee bit around it's base where the solder joint was.

Other than that there are no more burned wires or anything. I was thinking about trying to find a new button from Maplins and giving it a go or do you

think the whole thing will be up the creek? Got to be worth a try for the price of a push button.

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