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Roll/wind A Mainspring By Hand?


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Hi mark, I came across some watch repair page where one follow the book/traditional way which is winding back a mainspring by hand without using any mainspring winder. I would like to ask you if that's possible? If so, could you make a video on how to? Specifically for the miyota 8200 or dg2813 or maybe any automatic movement just to let me have a rough idea. Reasons for miyota and dg is because I work on those movement more and partly because eta we can buy the whole barrel. Thank you very much. As I have been trying to put back the mainspring by hand but ended up scratching the barrel wall and broke the mainspring. Because as you know this watchmaking hobby is very costly. I'm doing it for a hobby so I couldn't afford owning every single tool. I bought one mainspring winder but I think I bought the wrong one so it ended up lying at a corner collecting dust. Thank you very much. I seriously appreciate it.

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It is possible to wind a manul wind main spring, but automatic watch main spring is another thing.

 

I have mainspring winders, but there are times that I hand wind a main spring in old American Pocket watch movements.

 

I would pratice on a large main spring like a old american pocket watch before you try a smaller one like a mens manual wind

watch.

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I have done a number in the manner you suggest. Autos and manuals. You start with the end that hooks in the barrel. The initial placement matters in some barrels such as a T end in a pocket watch. Automatics and hole ends that will catch on winding dont matter quite as much. The operation is backwards of unwinding it a half turn at a time by pinching with the fingernails. I believe that was shown in a video somewhere. The trickiest part is getting the first full revolution from the outside wound and pinched in your fingers. After that its not to difficult to wind and pinch a half turn at a time.

remember outside first,arbor end last

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