Jump to content

Hello from Allovertheplace, USA


Consuelo

Recommended Posts

Hello to all,

I just joined this forum and I'm looking forward to learning and (hopefully) contributing. I am new to the world of watch repair... have long been interested and finally decided to do something about it. So, I've bought some tools and supplies and my first "project" watch is on its way to me. I live full time in my motor home and travel around the US... so space and weight are an issue for me as far as tools, etc., go. I have to take a somewhat "minimalist" approach.

Glad to be part of this group.

Regards,

Consuelo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Consuelo! Luckily watchmaking doesn't require much space...it is in itself a "minimalistic" hobby....until you start wanting more tools and more watches both to fix and to have...a trailer comes to mind...one of those UHAUL things you can tow with your motor home....OK, you are not there yet and let's cross our fingers that you'll never get there! I warn you, there is no known medication for watchitis, a common bug among a lot of people in this site. :D

Cheers,

Bob

PS. Remember that if you spend money in cheap tools you will spend twice the money! I did that and ended up buying same again but quality stuff of which I'm now very satisfied I did. You, your hobby and your watches will thank you for it.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Consuelo, I totally get the "minimalist" approach.  I don't live in an RV but my house is full. :(  My biggest complaint is trying to clean really dirty watches without equipment.  The Ultrasonic stuff seems promising but one still has to deal with cleaners.  Anyway, welcome and enjoy! 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Khronos said:

Welcome Consuelo, I totally get the "minimalist" approach.  I don't live in an RV but my house is full. :(  My biggest complaint is trying to clean really dirty watches without equipment.  The Ultrasonic stuff seems promising but one still has to deal with cleaners.  Anyway, welcome and enjoy! 

 

What have you been using to clean movements?  I've read that CRC Carb Cleaner works pretty well, if you can stand the smell. It's not as volatile as Naptha :) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ahhhh;  the swap meets.  get there early and get all the good watches and guns.    cleaning :  start with deturgent soap and elbow grease.   the old carb. cleaners would etch the metal. that WAS good.  crc is o.k.,but smells.  in the mean time (finding the right chemical) :soap and alcohol, certain parts should NOT be soaked in alcohol.  there some good books on this subject.   cheers  vinn

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, szbalogh said:

Inspiration to "good watches and guns"  :)

13332943_966773663440497_5412939505052389406_n.jpg

Uberti Colt 1860 and my recently renovated Genre Roskopf railway pocket watch.

Luckily here in Hungary one can have muzzleloaders without any licence :)

(Admin, please delete if violating forum laws)

 

My watch collection is slowly growing: 1960s Tissot Seastar 7 Mens, 1960s Roamer Anfibio Mens, and 1970s Ernest Borel Ladies - all in fine condition and running great. A non-woking Elgin pocket watch is on its way to me, for learning purposes. I will dissemble and clean, and hopefully get it running. 

I'm down to one gun: a Smith & Wesson .22 Single Shot Competition "Perfected Model" Pistol with custom mahogany grips. This model was used for years in U.S. Revolver Association matches and by American Olympic teams abroad. This is the third model arising from model 1891, and was adapted from the double-action .38 Perfected Model revolver. It's beautiful.

Photo 3.JPG

Pistol in Box (2).jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, vinn3 said:

good show,  keep your  powder dry.  vin

If i would have some... We can have guns but no BP and caps :(

For shooting them one has to be a club member. With that one is allowed to shoot with an instructor "to prepare for the BP exam". We can only shoot at the range alone if we have the exam. I dont have yet the time and money for this but have tried it with an instructor :) It is really accurate. Once we adjusted the front sight and the powder weight (15 grains its half charge) for the 25m range i had 2 times a 10 and a 9 a row. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Thanks Rich, its really not that difficult to make them, simple ones anyway. Cousins didn't have the part though i could find it on ebay at 6.50. I figure i earned about £1.50/ hr . It paid for the diamond files i bought.
    • If you look at this thread, you can see I had exactly the same problems with balance springs with 2 prongs on a Smiths 627. The slots in the chaton were not big enough to get the ends of the spring out. I had to bend them to get them out and back in. Not ideal. I don't fancy having to do it again as they could easily break, and where would you find replacements? I didn't come across the 3 prong type.     
    • I visited the Breguet Exhibition today. https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/about-us/press-office/rare-timepieces-unveiled-new-display-science-museum The Science Museum now holds the collection of "The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers" - "The collection includes more than 600 watches, 90 clocks, 30 marine chronometers and a number of fine sundials and examples of hand engraving, mapping the history of innovation in watch and clock making in London from 1600 to the present day." It's well worth a visit. They have some amazing pieces by the likes of Harrison, Breguet, Tompion etc . I've visited twice before but decided to go and see the Breguet Exhibition. Maybe I was expecting too much, as on reflection, "More than 20 extraordinary timepieces designed by inventor and watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet " isn't going to take up that much space. In reality, it's just one cabinet. But, Oh those watches, stunning 🤩 , e.g. (No 1297 was made for George III and is valued about £1m)   I tried a couple of pics, but with subdued lighting and taking through glass, they aren't good. I like thin hands on a watch - how about these (I think this is a split second chrono)   And this one, with all it's complications, is only 10mm thick !   What I found very interesting were a few very old machines for making watch parts, like this 17th Century gear cutter. The disc below has concentric rings with holes in, so that is can be set to cut varying teeth numbers.       
    • Firstly sorry for poor image quality I only have an iPhone for photos.    Im working on a 512 movement and I’ve had some trouble with the “jewels”. I’ve got the metal one out, but when I tried to put it back the three sides of the spring seem to need pressing all at once to fit it as there are three “holes”. I get two corners in but as I go for the third the first two pop out! Constantly I’ve lost the spring. I’ve done the similar ones on seiko movements without trouble. Assuming I find it/a replacement, what am I missing!   on the other side with the only ruby in the movement is a setting with no “gap”at all. How do I get the spring out, and of course get it back in!    What am I missing!    thanks in advance.    Rob
    • Links like that are the reason I routinely donate to the Internet Archive - they are the last safe house for a tremendous amount of useful info that is otherwise lost.
×
×
  • Create New...