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Cleaning Balance Cock With Hair Spring

jdrichard
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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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Lighter fluid is the safest. You can if so desired clean a complete watch in it. You can leave a hairspring in it for days and it will not harm it. Any thing that has shellac is also safe. You would need a sealed container because it evaporates very quickly.

ecodec WRT Addict

ecodec

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Spot on OH. If I have a very dirty balance I will sometimes use a little acetone on it for a short period to be sure that the old oil is all removed and then inspect.   I then use clean Naphtha in the U/S on everything. This method has never failed me.

jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

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Lighter fluid is the safest. You can if so desired clean a complete watch in it. You can leave a hairspring in it for days and it will not harm it. Any thing that has shellac is also safe. You would need a sealed container because it evaporates very quickly.

Can you put a balance with impulse jewel shellacked in the roller table into lighter fluid without the shellac desolating??


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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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6 hours ago, jdrichard said:


Can you put a balance with impulse jewel shellacked in the roller table into lighter fluid without the shellac desolating??


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Yes you can. Pallets with shellec that hold the stones are also safe. Ronsonol lighter fluid is shallec friendly. At some point I did try a cheaper brand. I found it did not clean as good.

jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

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Yes you can. Pallets with shellec that hold the stones are also safe. Ronsonol lighter fluid is shallec friendly. At some point I did try a cheaper brand. I found it did not clean as good.

Big thanks, I did not know that. I would have dunked the complete balance and all in lighter fluid along time ago. I was Afraid of loosening the jewels. Darn.


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gmoodyii Member

gmoodyii

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Maybe I should use the lighter fluid method for cleaning my balance assemblies. Right now I am using L&R #111 Ammoniated cleaner and L&R#3 rinse in my machine for about 10 minute cycles on clean and rinse. I have noticed some of my balance wheels come out silver instead of brass colored.

I guess I am leaving them in the cleaner too long and it is stripping the finish off. Guessing only.

Will still put jewels in the machine, and try lighter fluid on the balance assys.

Tudor Distinguished Member

Tudor

Posted
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I'd say the ammonia I the cleaning solution is affecting the copper in the balance.

I would definitely stop using that particular solution for (unplated) brass parts personally...

JohnR725 Distinguished Member

JohnR725

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28 minutes ago, gmoodyii said:

Right now I am using L&R #111 Ammoniated cleaner and L&R#3 rinse in my machine for about 10 minute cycles on clean and rinse. I have noticed some of my balance wheels come out silver instead of brass colored.

the L&R cleaner and rinse is the standard of watch repair there's nothing wrong with these. the problem is the ammonia it's what makes the watch come out nice and shiny and bright that's the good aspect.  the bad aspect of ammonia and brass isn't good. If your solution is turning blue in color that's your copper now in the solution and you'll have frosty parts. so to keep the good aspect of the cleaner limit your cleaning time I find five minutes or less works. Then the rinse 10 minutes is fine.

gmoodyii Member

gmoodyii

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the replies, the L&R cleaner does a great job. I will just shorten the cleaning time.

Been too busy lately to work an any watches, starting to get itchy palms!! Got to get back at the bench!

I have an old aircraft clock that I am going to try and turn a balance staff for, wish me luck!

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