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First time lumed dial..

DJW

By DJW
in Your Walkthroughs and Techniques

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DJW Super WRT Addict

DJW

Posted
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I'm very satisfied with how this dial turned out. I'm building and Elgin pocket watch conversion into wristwatch and wanted a vintage military dial look. 

I had recently purchased a lume kit but hadn't had the chance to use it yet. I design the dial with bold outlined numerals for the purpose of filling with lume. It really turned out better than I ever hoped!

The first dial I did turned out very acceptable, except that I had another issue with it and had to start over. I learned quite a bit just from doing that one dial.

Once I had the printing plate made I repainted the original Elgin dial to a flat white. I then Inked the plate and printed the new dial. Once everything was dry I then slowly added the lume using a 100 - 0 paintbrush which is about the size of a watch Oiler. I went around the dial 4 times adding a layer little by little. I'm very surprised just how much Lume this process adds. The markers have a nice three-dimensional heft to them...

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Edited by DJW
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Tmuir Distinguished Member

Tmuir

Posted
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Very nice, If you ever feel like posting how you created the dial I would be interested in that too.

szbalogh Super WRT Addict

szbalogh

Posted
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This is so nice job! Is the pad printer a DIY one?

In a few decades i will also be able to do this job :)

Next, You could also try to print the lume paint with the pad printer ;) 

Chopin Super WRT Addict

Chopin

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Beautiful in all aspects. I too am VERY curious as to how you've done it. Not that I would ever be able to do this haha...

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DJW Super WRT Addict

DJW

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I will try to put together a walk-through of the process of dial printing along with creating the plate itself. Honestly I spend more time on the computer designing the dial layout then it takes two create the actual plate or print the dial.:wacko:

 

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Gary Super WRT Addict

Gary

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Posted

Amazing and fantastic! I too, would love to see a walk through and all the details of creating the design and program you used! Beautiful end result piece!


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Mattaphysics WRT Addict

Mattaphysics

Posted
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Yes!!! I've been wanting to that to make dials for the Chinese movements that seem to not have any unless you but some brand that uses the dial. I know they have number stickers but if I could design my own I would simply be in heaven!

Deggsie WRT Addict

Deggsie

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Yes!!! I've been wanting to that to make dials for the Chinese movements that seem to not have any unless you but some brand that uses the dial. I know they have number stickers but if I could design my own I would simply be in heaven!

Hi again DJW, if it makes life easier for you, do you have a suitable link to a website which explains the dial printing process please? As you might have noticed, the natives are restless and want to know more[emoji6]


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jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

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Posted
20 minutes ago, Deggsie said:

Hi again DJW, if it makes life easier for you, do you have a suitable link to a website which explains the dial printing process please? As you might have noticed, the natives are restless and want to know moreemoji6.png

It's nothing secret, but beside the printing "machine" itself, the need to use a precisely engraved plate places the job largely outside the domain of the average hobbyist and even professional watchmaker  I think that if you can find someone that makes the plate on your design, or are willing to spend pretty good money on a CNC machine that does that, you could be game. I don't know if 3D printing would do a good enough plate. Fact is, at the present time dial making/reprinting specialists are rare.

 

  • 3 months later...
rickhufnagel7 Member

rickhufnagel7

Posted
Posted

This is incredible! Awesome job! I have the same movement I've been trying to figure out how to do the dial forever. I've thought about the whole water slide decals, having vinyl made, trying to have someone hand paint it, nothing is ever as nice as the real deal like you have. I bow at you completing a project I've only begun to think about! It's beautiful.

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