Wrong tool for the job

[UrgurTheGurgur]

Tonight I ran into a problem winding a left handed mainspring. My mainspring winders are all right handed winders. Luckily, I have two winders in the size I needed. So I wound the spring into one, then carefully pressed it out into the other. Then into the barrel. Not ideal, but it works in a pinch.

[bobm12]

 I love those types of solutions!

[chadders1966]

I remember that Marc posted a simple but clever (to me anyway;)) suggestion last year on this. Have a collection of washers in different sizes, then it doesn't matter which way your winder goes. If you need to change orientation it you can transfer the mainspring to a washer, flip it over and press out. Saves having to have spare winders or buying another set going the other way.

 

Stephen

[UrgurTheGurgur]

I remember that Marc posted a simple but clever (to me anyway;)) suggestion last year on this. Have a collection of washers in different sizes, then it doesn't matter which way your winder goes. If you need to change orientation it you can transfer the mainspring to a washer, flip it over and press out. Saves having to have spare winders or buying another set going the other way.

 

Stephen

That is a good idea, too!

[jdrichard]

Tonight I ran into a problem winding a left handed mainspring. My mainspring winders are all right handed winders. Luckily, I have two winders in the size I needed. So I wound the spring into one, then carefully pressed it out into the other. Then into the barrel. Not ideal, but it works in a pinch.

That is a great idea. Thanks

[jdrichard]

I remember that Marc posted a simple but clever (to me anyway;)) suggestion last year on this. Have a collection of washers in different sizes, then it doesn't matter which way your winder goes. If you need to change orientation it you can transfer the mainspring to a washer, flip it over and press out. Saves having to have spare winders or buying another set going the other way.

 

Stephen

Don't understand

[steven]

I used washers that came with new mainsprings. Hope that gives you the idea.

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[Marc]

14 hours ago, jdrichard said:

Don't understand

Simple. If you only have a right handed winder but your spring needs to be wound left handed, wind it up right handed but instead of installing it into the barrel, install it into a washer. Flip the washer over and then press it into the barrel as you would a new main spring. obviously the hole in the washer needs to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the barrel.

[jdrichard]

Simple. If you only have a right handed winder but your spring needs to be wound left handed, wind it up right handed but instead of installing it into the barrel, install it into a washer. Flip the washer over and then press it into the barrel as you would a new main spring. obviously the hole in the washer needs to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the barrel.

Got it, thanks

[Mark]

On 4/5/2016 at 3:49 AM, UrgurTheGurgur said:

Tonight I ran into a problem winding a left handed mainspring. My mainspring winders are all right handed winders. Luckily, I have two winders in the size I needed. So I wound the spring into one, then carefully pressed it out into the other. Then into the barrel. Not ideal, but it works in a pinch.

Moved to Tutorials & Information section

Good tip - thanks for sharing.

[Folkvisor]

I recently found this on YouTube: Servicing an IWC FA Jones watch.

I can't find it on the videos on this site. Just wondering if it's there or will be put up soon. It's a beautiful watch and a very good video.

Dave

[Mark]

9 hours ago, Folkvisor said:

I recently found this on YouTube: Servicing an IWC FA Jones watch.

I can't find it on the videos on this site. Just wondering if it's there or will be put up soon. It's a beautiful watch and a very good video.

Dave

Lol - very big change in topic from "Wrong tool for the job" apologies to the OP.

@Folkvisor, I have added the video now: 

 

[Folkvisor]

Thank you. Sorry for the U-Turn...

[Mark]

8 minutes ago, Folkvisor said:

Thank you. Sorry for the U-Turn...

lol - no problem, i'm sure @UrgurTheGurgur won't mind

[UrgurTheGurgur]

It's quite alright, Folkvisor. Not a whole lot of conversation to be had on the OP. Just wanted to share the way I worked myself out of a particular jam.

[Folkvisor]

Your solution to reverse winding was simple but affective like all good ideas.

I'm supposed to take the mainspring out of my 2836-2 movement by hand, clean it, lube it, and put it back by hand. I can see all sorts of problems with this. One of the main problems is that my hand would contaminate the spring with the sweat/oil from my hand and make it susceptible to rusting, etc. So, I'll buy a winder before I attempt this manoeuvre.

[bobm12]

Dave,

You can always use finger cots or vinyl/synthetic gloves...

Cheers,

Bob

[UrgurTheGurgur]

Your solution to reverse winding was simple but affective like all good ideas.

I'm supposed to take the mainspring out of my 2836-2 movement by hand, clean it, lube it, and put it back by hand. I can see all sorts of problems with this. One of the main problems is that my hand would contaminate the spring with the sweat/oil from my hand and make it susceptible to rusting, etc. So, I'll buy a winder before I attempt this manoeuvre.

I have attempted to wind a couple automatic wristwatch mainsprings by hand. But never been successful. I can't get more than a few coils wound in before the while thing explodes in my hands(twss). I gave up trying and found a cheap set of used winders on eBay.

[Folkvisor]

52 minutes ago, bobm12 said:

Dave,

You can always use finger cots or vinyl/synthetic gloves...

Cheers,

Bob

True, but the idea still doesn't appeal to me. I think I'm going to buy a set of winders - eBay perhaps, as did UrgurTheGurgur.

[canwdarose]

But what about the opportunity to exercise the very thing that makes human hands such miracles of evolution - the ability to apply immense forces (clamping that damned bridle against the barrel wall) while dexterously holding a 10mm object and a loose, floppy spring end, and simultaneously winding and guiding the spring into the (virtual) center of the spring? Only to realize that you've wound the thing in backwards...

So on the other hand, humans also invented tools so that work was easier and more productive.  Buy the winder, Folkvisor...

Drat, can't "wriggle out of the crushing grip of reason" (Calvin and Hobbes quote, for those that are fans).

[jdm]

When done with the barrel on the bench is not that difficult. However as mentioned before it's better not to to manipulate the hairspring with bare hands.

Edited April 10, 2016 by jdm

[Folkvisor]

Just now, canwdarose said:

But what about the opportunity to exercise the very thing that makes human hands such miracles of evolution - the ability to apply immense forces (clamping that damned bridle against the barrel wall) while dexterously holding a 10mm object and a loose, floppy spring end, and simultaneously winding and guiding the spring into the (virtual) center of the spring? Only to realize that you've wound the thing in backwards...

So on the other hand, humans also invented tools so that work was easier and more productive.  Buy the winder, Folkvisor...

Drat, can't "wriggle out of the crushing grip of reason" (Calvin and Hobbes quote, for those that are fans).

You make hand-winding sound almost appealing - or was that appalling? LOL

I even read Calvin and Hobbes in French; everyone needs a hobby...

[canwdarose]

Did I mention the Dumont #3 is particularly good for picking the little blue pieces of your nitrile glove out of the mainspring?  

[Folkvisor]

Gosh, no you didn't but thank you for the tip. However, I don't plan to have any pieces of finger cot or glove anywhere near the mainspring. ;-)

[RCDesign]

Same idea as Mark uses with the washers but I made a couple of "tubes" in my lathe with a small lip to fit my Bergeon mainspring winder - foolproof!