Jump to content

How i make a watch stem


Recommended Posts

A friend of mine asked if i want to make a stem for him. I have improved my hardware and wanted to try so happily accepted :)

Not in the Dremel now. Here the pulley wheel is serving as a dividing plate with 4 holes making sure that the rectangle cross-section will be perfect. Turning with help of a microscope, no loupe at all. 

2016-10-07_15_18_06.jpeg

2016-10-07_17_49_00.jpeg

A thin glass strip is hot glued on the "T-rest" which has two purpose. The file is sliding on it easily and it is making sure that the sides will be parallel.

2016-10-07_17_49_08.jpeg

2016-10-08_14_59_38.jpeg

Still a lot to file down.

The workpiece is a spoke of a Chehoslovak Favorit road racer. Even tungsten carbide is softer if hardened.

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finaly i got something similar to a winding stem.... for the 6th try.... 

20161016_142231.jpeg

M1.2 thread done. The stem here was turned down to 1.15mm to make sure it wont break while tapping. 

20161017_181000.jpeg

After heated to red and dropped in brine. It is so hard and brittle, i can hear it whizzling near my ear :)

20161017_191123.jpeg

Using my special top quality heating pan

20161017_192510.jpeg

Annealed. Not as shiny like on pictures one can find on pro-watchmaker school sites, but the color tells me the temperature and that is important.

20161017_192910.jpeg

 And the best thing is, i dont had the movement. So there might be a big surprise for the guy i made it if it wont work :)

Edited by szbalogh
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2016. 10. 18. at 0:00 AM, MilTimeCan said:

I am in awe.

Wow, I worked on a lot of plastic model aircraft parts in my younger days, but I have never seen anything like this. 

Sir, you are a pro !

Not a pro for sure :) Just so excited while discovering this new watchmaking world. For an experienced watchmaker this is an every day job :) And i am sure i could make it better. For example if i had a glass fiber scratch brush, then the bluing would be better. Also i am not satisfied with the setting lever slot.The rectangular edges here are not perfect. I will have to grind a better graver to cut this type of slots.

Made a video of this project, threading included.

 

Edited by szbalogh
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • 1947 NOS Ambassador 'C'. Actually, the case came without the movement so the movement isn't NOS, but she sure is pretty.
    • Hi attached is the AS 20XX. Service sheet although there is no 2063 mentioned it may be of some use to you AS_AS 2060,1,2,6,4,6.pdf
    • one of the problems we have is visible versus invisible. For instance millennium disulfide another high pressure lubricant black in color. I was told by somebody worked for the Boeing company that they had a piston like device somewhere that has eight call it around it to grab it so it has to slide and in the collet has to grab. But if somebody puts that type of dry grease on where grease with that in it it embeds itself basically in the metal and they have to throw the whole part away they get use it all. So I suspect on all the dry powdery lubricants that they will go into all the basically microscopic cracks and crannies of the metaland that's where it is visually at least until you scrub it off your visually going to see it which is good because you want your lubrication the stay word is. But I'm sure it doesn't last forever on the metal it's just a really nice lubrication  
    • Thanks for the info. I can't seem to find tech sheets for those either.  I'll muddle my way though 🙂
    • Ohh spooky I have just aquired the same one mike, but mine has a drill bit inside it.
×
×
  • Create New...