Cleaning and conditioning a fusee chain

[Deggsie]

I’m currently rebuilding a fusee design pocket watch and before I install the chain I’d like to clean, inspect and correctly oil / lubricate it. Could anyone give tips on how to do this and also on what to look for in terms of damage etc.

 

What I will say is that the sides of the plates are quite bright where the blue has been worn off by the fusee cone

 

 

 

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[khunter]

Try this thread....several opinions, as is usual when it comes to lubrication  

[Deggsie]

Try this thread....several opinions, as is usual when it comes to lubrication [emoji4] 

Thank you khunter, I appreciate your help[emoji106]


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[canthus]

When I did mine (see my post re main watch) I soaked it in lighter fuel for a few hours in a plastic pot then popped the pot in the U/S cleaner for a minute or two.  I then worked the spring over a polished bar whilst brushing with lighter fuel to ensure all the links were free and then cleaned again, repeating if necessary. When the chain was nice and free I lubed with some Moebius HP500 by applying a small amount on the chain then working it into the links (again using the polished bar to work the links) then wiped off any excess, this seems to work ok.  Apart from loose/tight links and excessive wear, then make sure the hooks are not damaged or badly worn and check them in the fusee ends etc before winding up the fusee. Unless the wear is such that the link so thin it is likely to break, or the links are very sloppy (indicating heavy wear on the rivets, then loss of bluing should not be a problem.  There are often chains on the bay and other sources if you know the correct size/length/hooks.